😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,003 in Medellin versus $849 in Kocani.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Medellin versus $1,281 in Kocani.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $1,713 in Kocani.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 18% more expensive than in Kocani, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin25% lower, Kocani36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Kocani
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91COP 18.6K
$5.48MKD 293
7.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96COP 103.8K
$27.76MKD 1,484
18.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.43COP 23.4K
$4.96MKD 265
49.80%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,207
$1.12MKD 59.8
47.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,468
$1.52MKD 81.2
-27.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,458
$1.15MKD 61.4
-32.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,412
$2.30MKD 123
-25.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 10.0K
$2.69MKD 144
18.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kocani
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10COP 3,474
$1.23MKD 65.8
-10.57%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 3,962
$0.57MKD 30.49
121.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,349
$1.47MKD 78.6
-6.12%
Eggs
$2.18COP 6,858
$1.90MKD 101
14.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.49COP 14.1K
$10.32MKD 552
-56.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.79COP 18.2K
$5.55MKD 297
4.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 28.2K
$13.30MKD 711
-32.56%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32COP 7,308
$0.76MKD 40.73
205.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,352
$1.40MKD 74.8
-24.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 4,774
$1.26MKD 67.3
20.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,270
$1.48MKD 79.1
-8.11%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,552
$0.98MKD 52.5
15.31%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,689
$1.29MKD 69.1
-9.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,838
$0.59MKD 31.30
52.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COP 2,823
$0.53MKD 28.16
69.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23COP 7,034
$2.96MKD 158
-24.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.12COP 38.2K
$3.64MKD 194
232.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 3,743
$0.98MKD 52.4
21.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 7,815
$1.79MKD 95.7
38.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Kocani
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85COP 2,687
$0.69MKD 37.00
23.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.62COP 131.0K
$20.42MKD 1,091
103.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,459
$1.15MKD 61.4
23.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.95COP 6,141
$0.53MKD 28.32
267.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.89COP 24.8K
$3.78MKD 202
108.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,118
$1.49MKD 79.6
-33.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
$31.6KMKD 1.7M
-44.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
$34.3KMKD 1.8M
-21.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kocani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0COP 261.4K
$146MKD 7,778
-42.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70COP 30.5K
$17.45MKD 933
-44.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52COP 74.1K
$15.29MKD 817
53.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kocani
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.26COP 79.5K
$20.89MKD 1,116
20.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10COP 60.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.95COP 12.4K
$4.81MKD 257
-17.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kocani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$316COP 994.2K
$217MKD 11.6K
45.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,975COP 18.8M
$1,203MKD 64.3K
396.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kocani
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 188.9K
$77.3MKD 4,133
-22.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 100.2K
$48.39MKD 2,586
-34.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COP 320.1K
$76.3MKD 4,075
33.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 338.3K
$111MKD 5,917
-2.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kocani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$475COP 1.5M
$279MKD 14.9K
69.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$374COP 1.2M
$193MKD 10.3K
93.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$849COP 2.7M
$554MKD 29.6K
53.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$719COP 2.3M
$304MKD 16.3K
136.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,265COP 10.3M
$1,446MKD 77.3K
125.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441COP 4.5M
$1,254MKD 67.0K
14.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kocani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$624COP 2.0M
$466MKD 24.9K
33.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
7.1
89.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Last update for Kocani: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $475 in Medellin and $279 in Kocani. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 34% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $28.00 in Kocani for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $185 per month, with Kocani cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Medellin vs Kocani: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Kocani?
Medellin and Kocani differ by about 18% in total monthly costs ($1,003 vs $849 including rent). Kocani is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Medellin or Kocani?
Average pay runs 34% higher in Medellin, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and in Kocani?
Rent for a central apartment: $475 in Medellin versus $279 in Kocani. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Medellin and in Kocani?
A monthly transit pass in Kocani runs roughly 104% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Medellin and Kocani?
Childcare runs $316 in Medellin versus $217 in Kocani. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $849 in Kocani versus $1,003 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kocani but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Kocani the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Kocani?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Kocani?
Expats usually find Kocani gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.