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: $864 in Sveti Nikole versus $849 in Kocani.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,289 in Sveti Nikole versus $1,281 in Kocani.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,715 in Sveti Nikole versus $1,713 in Kocani.

Living in Sveti Nikole is roughly 2% more expensive than in Kocani, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.70 MKD 304

$5.48 MKD 293

4.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.77 MKD 1,484

$27.76 MKD 1,484

0.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.13 MKD 274

$4.96 MKD 265

3.43%

Cappuccino

$1.71 MKD 91.2

$1.12 MKD 59.8

52.68%

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

$1.66 MKD 88.7

$1.52 MKD 81.2

9.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.22 MKD 65.0

$1.15 MKD 61.4

6.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.31 MKD 123

$2.30 MKD 123

0.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 MKD 144

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 MKD 70.1

$1.23 MKD 65.8

6.50%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 MKD 38.13

$0.57 MKD 30.49

24.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.73 MKD 92.5

$1.47 MKD 78.6

17.69%

Eggs

$2.03 MKD 108

$1.90 MKD 101

6.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.22 MKD 439

$10.32 MKD 552

-20.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.22 MKD 333

$5.55 MKD 297

12.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.81 MKD 738

$13.30 MKD 711

3.83%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 MKD 55.0

$0.76 MKD 40.73

35.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 MKD 76.0

$1.40 MKD 74.8

1.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.29 MKD 69.0

$1.26 MKD 67.3

2.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 MKD 86.3

$1.48 MKD 79.1

8.78%

Potato (1kg)

$0.89 MKD 47.35

$0.98 MKD 52.5

-9.18%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 MKD 52.7

$1.29 MKD 69.1

-23.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 MKD 35.05

$0.59 MKD 31.30

11.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MKD 28.71

$0.53 MKD 28.16

1.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.97 MKD 159

$2.96 MKD 158

0.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.39 MKD 342

$3.64 MKD 194

75.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 MKD 53.3

$0.98 MKD 52.4

2.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 MKD 81.9

$1.79 MKD 95.7

-14.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 MKD 34.47

$0.69 MKD 37.00

-7.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.23 MKD 1,081

$20.42 MKD 1,091

-0.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.33 MKD 70.9

$1.15 MKD 61.4

15.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 MKD 26.22

$0.53 MKD 28.32

-7.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.55 MKD 350

$3.78 MKD 202

73.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 MKD 79.8

$1.49 MKD 79.6

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

$31.6K MKD 1.7M

-0.01%

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

$29.6K MKD 1.6M

$34.3K MKD 1.8M

-13.87%

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

$146 MKD 7,816

$146 MKD 7,778

0.49%

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

$17.49 MKD 934

$17.45 MKD 933

0.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.26 MKD 815

$15.29 MKD 817

-0.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.90 MKD 1,384

$20.89 MKD 1,116

23.98%

Cinema Ticket

$4.78 MKD 256

$4.81 MKD 257

-0.62%

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

$215 MKD 11.5K

$217 MKD 11.6K

-0.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,185 MKD 63.3K

$1,203 MKD 64.3K

-1.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 MKD 4,116

$77.3 MKD 4,133

-0.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.23 MKD 2,150

$48.39 MKD 2,586

-16.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.1 MKD 4,014

$76.3 MKD 4,075

-1.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 MKD 5,967

$111 MKD 5,917

0.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$279 MKD 14.9K

-0.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$195 MKD 10.4K

$193 MKD 10.3K

0.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$554 MKD 29.6K

0.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$311 MKD 16.6K

$304 MKD 16.3K

2.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,628 MKD 87.0K

$1,446 MKD 77.3K

12.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,244 MKD 66.5K

$1,254 MKD 67.0K

-0.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$552 MKD 29.5K

$466 MKD 24.9K

18.40%

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Kocani: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $279 in Sveti Nikole and $279 in Kocani. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sveti Nikole pays 18% 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 $194 vs $185, 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 ($864 vs $849 including rent). Kocani is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 18% higher in Sveti Nikole, 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: $279 in Sveti Nikole versus $279 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 1% less than in Sveti Nikole. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $215 in Sveti Nikole versus $217 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.