Cost of Living Comparison Between Baia Mare and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Baia Mare and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $876 in Baia Mare versus $2,280 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,406 in Baia Mare versus $3,294 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,937 in Baia Mare versus $4,307 in Lisbon.

Living in Baia Mare costs roughly 62% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Baia Mare is 34% below, Lisbon is 71% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Baia Mare
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.38 RON 42.66
$15.75 €13.64
-40.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.06 RON 168
$63.5 €55.0
-41.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.10 RON 32.26
$10.45 €9.05
-32.06%
Cappuccino
$2.11 RON 9.59
$2.91 €2.52
-27.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82 RON 8.26
$2.29 €1.98
-20.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 RON 5.85
$1.50 €1.30
-14.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.60 RON 7.25
$3.56 €3.09
-55.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20 RON 10.02
$3.96 €3.43
-44.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Baia Mare
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 RON 6.79
$1.08 €0.94
37.96%
White Bread (500g)
$1.22 RON 5.54
$1.76 €1.53
-30.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.52 RON 6.91
$1.70 €1.47
-10.59%
Eggs
$3.34 RON 15.17
$3.25 €2.81
2.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.49 RON 34.04
$13.25 €11.47
-43.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.93 RON 26.96
$7.70 €6.67
-22.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.71 RON 39.61
$15.77 €13.66
-44.77%
Apples (1kg)
$1.21 RON 5.48
$2.28 €1.97
-46.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.60 RON 7.25
$1.66 €1.43
-3.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.68 RON 7.63
$2.02 €1.75
-16.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 RON 9.62
$2.47 €2.14
-14.17%
Potato (1kg)
$0.77 RON 3.49
$1.79 €1.55
-56.98%
Onion (1kg)
$0.94 RON 4.29
$2.07 €1.79
-54.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 RON 4.59
$1.97 €1.71
-48.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 RON 3.60
$0.83 €0.72
-4.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.20 RON 23.66
$6.55 €5.68
-20.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.05 RON 22.96
$5.57 €4.82
-9.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.00 RON 4.53
$1.33 €1.15
-24.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 RON 8.47
$3.01 €2.60
-38.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Baia Mare
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.71 RON 3.22
$2.27 €1.97
-68.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.15 RON 73.4
$46.35 €40.14
-65.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.72 RON 3.29
$4.23 €3.66
-82.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.87 RON 3.95
$0.85 €0.73
2.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.37 RON 42.61
$18.83 €16.31
-50.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 RON 6.94
$2.02 €1.75
-24.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K RON 127.3K
$35.0K €30.3K
-19.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K RON 119.0K
$39.6K €34.3K
-33.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baia Mare
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$114 RON 520
$148 €128
-22.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.42 RON 38.28
$20.52 €17.77
-58.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.49 RON 52.2
$39.52 €34.23
-70.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Baia Mare
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.7 RON 235
$48.17 €41.72
7.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99 RON 95.4
$18.39 €15.92
14.14%
Cinema Ticket
$6.97 RON 31.69
$9.10 €7.88
-23.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Baia Mare
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$435 RON 1,979
$615 €532
-29.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,894 RON 31.3K
$16.3K €14.1K
-57.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Baia Mare
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2 RON 247
$102 €88.0
-46.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.93 RON 177
$42.09 €36.45
-7.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.9 RON 309
$92.3 €79.9
-26.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.3 RON 420
$122 €106
-24.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Baia Mare
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$284 RON 1,292
$1,612 €1,396
-82.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$207 RON 943
$1,254 €1,086
-83.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$537 RON 2,443
$3,069 €2,658
-82.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$401 RON 1,823
$2,037 €1,764
-80.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,106 RON 9,574
$7,751 €6,712
-72.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,463 RON 6,651
$4,286 €3,712
-65.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Baia Mare
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$898 RON 4,081
$1,602 €1,387
-43.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.5
3.81
70.60%

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

Last update for Baia Mare: July 27, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $284 in Baia Mare and $1,612 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 78% 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: $37.00 in Baia Mare vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $194 vs $267 per month, with Baia Mare 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
Baia Mare vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lisbon cheaper than Baia Mare?
Baia Mare is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 160% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Baia Mare or Lisbon?
On paper, salaries run 78% lower in Lisbon. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Baia Mare and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $284 in Baia Mare versus $1,612 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $435 in Baia Mare versus $615 in Lisbon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Baia Mare and in Lisbon?
Supermarket bills run roughly 37% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Baia Mare or in Lisbon?
At $876 in Baia Mare versus $2,280 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Baia Mare but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Baia Mare the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Baia Mare or Lisbon more family-friendly?
For families, Baia Mare is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lisbon, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Baia Mare or Lisbon?
Safety-wise, Baia Mare and Lisbon are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Baia Mare gentler on the wallet – expenses run 160% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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