😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,681 in Medellin versus $871 in Kocani.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $1,344 in Kocani.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $1,817 in Kocani.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 93% more expensive than in Kocani, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Kocani is 36% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Kocani
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.4K
$9.52MKD 510
-15.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 152.0K
$35.59MKD 1,905
34.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 31.4K
$6.58MKD 352
50.30%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,937
$1.15MKD 61.3
172.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 6,058
$1.51MKD 80.9
26.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,794
$1.15MKD 61.4
31.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,917
$2.75MKD 147
13.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 18.3K
$3.32MKD 178
73.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kocani
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,587
$1.28MKD 68.7
12.50%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,894
$0.63MKD 33.68
295.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,631
$1.72MKD 92.0
2.91%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,396
$1.87MKD 100.0
58.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 32.0K
$6.60MKD 353
52.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 32.1K
$4.59MKD 246
120.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 45.4K
$8.26MKD 442
73.12%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 13.1K
$1.28MKD 68.6
223.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,106
$1.42MKD 75.8
13.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,129
$1.29MKD 69.0
74.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,150
$1.83MKD 97.8
22.95%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,486
$0.72MKD 38.63
183.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,873
$0.86MKD 46.04
79.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,715
$0.55MKD 29.38
112.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,148
$0.49MKD 26.40
167.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.4K
$3.63MKD 194
7.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 44.5K
$3.72MKD 199
276.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,534
$0.85MKD 45.62
104.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 9,112
$1.10MKD 58.9
160.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Kocani
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,858
$0.74MKD 39.67
64.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 255.5K
$23.81MKD 1,275
238.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,155
$1.14MKD 61.1
14.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,944
$0.64MKD 34.05
242.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.7K
$3.31MKD 177
163.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,334
$1.48MKD 79.1
-7.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 88.4M
$36.0KMKD 1.9M
-22.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 113.6M
$28.4KMKD 1.5M
26.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kocani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 562.9K
$165MKD 8,819
7.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 44.1K
$18.04MKD 965
-23.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 94.4K
$15.29MKD 818
94.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kocani
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 142.5K
$16.84MKD 901
166.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 54.4K
$19.87MKD 1,064
-13.84%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 21.1K
$7.73MKD 414
-13.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kocani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.6M
$364MKD 19.5K
123.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 29.2M
$5,677MKD 303.8K
61.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kocani
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 284.1K
$65.6MKD 3,509
36.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 187.2K
$38.79MKD 2,076
52.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 438.8K
$93.5MKD 5,005
47.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 324.2K
$104MKD 5,552
-1.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kocani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.4M
$278MKD 14.9K
282.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$194MKD 10.4K
241.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 6.0M
$543MKD 29.0K
248.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.3M
$321MKD 17.2K
219.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.3M
$1,617MKD 86.5K
158.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.3M
$1,019MKD 54.5K
64.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kocani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.2M
$465MKD 24.9K
45.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
4.23
158.63%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Kocani: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,062 in Medellin and $278 in Kocani. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 46% 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: $48.00 in Medellin vs $36.00 in Kocani for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $305 vs $156 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 93% in total monthly costs ($1,681 vs $871 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 46% 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: $1,062 in Medellin versus $278 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 238% 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 $813 in Medellin versus $364 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 $871 in Kocani versus $1,681 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 93% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.