Cost of Living Comparison Between Sveti Nikole and Kocani Cost of Living Comparison Between Sveti Nikole and Kocani

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $870 in Sveti Nikole versus $857 in Kocani.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,321 in Sveti Nikole versus $1,277 in Kocani.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,772 in Sveti Nikole versus $1,697 in Kocani.

Living in Sveti Nikole is roughly 2% more expensive than Kocani, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sveti Nikole 35% lower, Kocani 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.58 MKD 296

$5.68 MKD 302

-1.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.19 MKD 1,496

$28.13 MKD 1,492

0.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.96 MKD 263

$5.11 MKD 271

-2.94%

Cappuccino

$1.66 MKD 87.9

$1.15 MKD 61.3

44.35%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 MKD 85.5

$1.48 MKD 78.7

8.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.23 MKD 65.4

$1.15 MKD 60.9

6.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 MKD 117

$2.27 MKD 121

-2.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 MKD 142

$2.73 MKD 145

-2.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 MKD 69.0

$1.29 MKD 68.3

0.78%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 MKD 38.26

$0.54 MKD 28.91

33.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 MKD 89.2

$1.54 MKD 81.6

9.09%

Eggs

$2.11 MKD 112

$1.92 MKD 102

9.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.58 MKD 455

$10.08 MKD 535

-14.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.47 MKD 343

$5.74 MKD 304

12.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.82 MKD 733

$13.64 MKD 724

1.32%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 MKD 54.3

$0.71 MKD 37.93

43.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 MKD 73.8

$1.37 MKD 72.8

1.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.31 MKD 69.3

$1.31 MKD 69.7

Tomato (1kg)

$1.57 MKD 83.3

$1.54 MKD 81.9

1.95%

Potato (1kg)

$0.89 MKD 47.37

$0.97 MKD 51.6

-8.25%

Onion (1kg)

$0.93 MKD 49.58

$1.34 MKD 71.0

-30.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 MKD 33.99

$0.54 MKD 28.68

18.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 MKD 30.61

$0.52 MKD 27.76

11.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.02 MKD 160

$2.96 MKD 157

2.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.53 MKD 346

$3.78 MKD 200

72.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 MKD 50.0

$0.99 MKD 52.6

-5.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 MKD 77.6

$1.81 MKD 96.2

-19.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.65 MKD 34.34

$0.69 MKD 36.50

-5.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.02 MKD 1,062

$20.43 MKD 1,084

-2.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 MKD 67.6

$1.15 MKD 61.0

10.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.52 MKD 27.64

$0.49 MKD 25.79

6.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.69 MKD 355

$3.77 MKD 200

77.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 MKD 75.7

$1.44 MKD 76.6

-0.69%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$31.9K MKD 1.7M

$32.2K MKD 1.7M

-1.09%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$29.4K MKD 1.6M

$33.6K MKD 1.8M

-12.49%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$145 MKD 7,688

$143 MKD 7,565

1.62%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$17.51 MKD 929

$17.50 MKD 928

0.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.52 MKD 823

$15.76 MKD 836

-1.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.81 MKD 1,422

$20.37 MKD 1,081

31.62%

Cinema Ticket

$4.82 MKD 256

$4.81 MKD 255

0.21%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$222 MKD 11.8K

$216 MKD 11.5K

2.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,180 MKD 62.6K

$1,201 MKD 63.7K

-1.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.3 MKD 4,046

$77.2 MKD 4,097

-1.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.98 MKD 2,069

$47.07 MKD 2,497

-17.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.3 MKD 4,046

$75.5 MKD 4,004

1.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 MKD 5,952

$111 MKD 5,911

0.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$284 MKD 15.1K

$282 MKD 14.9K

0.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$195 MKD 10.3K

-0.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$573 MKD 30.4K

$563 MKD 29.9K

1.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 MKD 16.4K

$315 MKD 16.7K

-1.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,656 MKD 87.9K

$1,512 MKD 80.2K

9.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,311 MKD 69.6K

$1,239 MKD 65.7K

5.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$567 MKD 30.1K

$461 MKD 24.5K

22.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.54

7.1

-36.06%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Sveti Nikole: June 9, 2026

Last update for Kocani: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $284 in Sveti Nikole and $282 in Kocani. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sveti Nikole pays 23% 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: $28.00 in Sveti Nikole vs $28.00 in Kocani. Groceries flip the comparison at $196 vs $187, with Kocani cheaper for home cooking.

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

Sveti Nikole vs Kocani: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sveti Nikole and Kocani differ by about 2% in total monthly costs ($870 vs $857 including rent). Kocani is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Sveti Nikole pays 23% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $284 in Sveti Nikole versus $282 in Kocani. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Kocani runs roughly 2% less than in Sveti Nikole. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $222 in Sveti Nikole versus $216 in Kocani. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Kocani gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

Safety-wise, Sveti Nikole and Kocani are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Kocani gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Sveti Nikole. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.