Cost of Living Comparison Between Brasov and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Brasov and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,254 in Brasov versus $2,291 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,956 in Brasov versus $3,322 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,657 in Brasov versus $4,354 in Lisbon.

Living in Brasov costs roughly 45% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Brasov is 6% below, Lisbon is 71% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brasov
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.42 RON 57.0
$16.19 €14.17
-23.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.8 RON 233
$63.3 €55.4
-19.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.07 RON 37.03
$10.32 €9.03
-21.80%
Cappuccino
$3.58 RON 16.40
$2.83 €2.48
26.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90 RON 8.73
$2.29 €2.00
-17.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 RON 9.24
$1.58 €1.38
27.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.25 RON 14.91
$3.40 €2.98
-4.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42 RON 15.67
$4.03 €3.52
-15.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brasov
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.54 RON 7.07
$1.09 €0.95
41.28%
White Bread (500g)
$1.29 RON 5.92
$1.75 €1.53
-26.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.81 RON 8.32
$1.76 €1.54
2.84%
Eggs
$3.36 RON 15.41
$3.17 €2.77
5.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.83 RON 40.47
$13.19 €11.54
-33.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.03 RON 32.24
$7.97 €6.97
-11.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.75 RON 53.9
$15.53 €13.59
-24.34%
Apples (1kg)
$1.14 RON 5.25
$2.37 €2.07
-51.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 RON 7.60
$1.71 €1.49
-2.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.55 RON 7.11
$2.01 €1.76
-22.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.49 RON 11.40
$2.43 €2.13
2.47%
Potato (1kg)
$0.94 RON 4.33
$1.76 €1.54
-46.59%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 RON 4.88
$2.03 €1.78
-47.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.88 RON 4.02
$1.92 €1.68
-54.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 RON 3.64
$0.85 €0.74
-7.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.85 RON 26.82
$6.58 €5.76
-11.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.84 RON 35.94
$5.58 €4.88
40.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 RON 5.08
$1.33 €1.17
-16.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71 RON 7.85
$2.97 €2.60
-42.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Brasov
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.91 RON 4.16
$2.28 €1.99
-60.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.69 RON 85.7
$45.79 €40.06
-59.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.77 RON 3.53
$4.23 €3.70
-81.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.60 RON 2.76
$0.81 €0.71
-25.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.78 RON 31.11
$18.44 €16.13
-63.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.61 RON 7.36
$2.08 €1.82
-22.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1K RON 128.9K
$34.7K €30.3K
-18.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K RON 126.2K
$39.2K €34.3K
-29.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brasov
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$165 RON 757
$148 €130
11.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.19 RON 37.54
$20.46 €17.90
-59.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.83 RON 40.49
$39.56 €34.61
-77.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brasov
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.0 RON 275
$47.99 €41.99
25.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.81 RON 72.5
$18.60 €16.27
-15.00%
Cinema Ticket
$10.79 RON 49.49
$9.22 €8.07
17.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brasov
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$447 RON 2,051
$616 €539
-27.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,652 RON 30.5K
$16.4K €14.4K
-59.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brasov
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.0 RON 312
$103 €89.9
-33.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.68 RON 196
$41.74 €36.52
2.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.6 RON 439
$94.8 €82.9
0.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.3 RON 451
$122 €107
-19.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brasov
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$626 RON 2,870
$1,633 €1,428
-61.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$428 RON 1,962
$1,232 €1,078
-65.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,029 RON 4,720
$3,098 €2,711
-66.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$699 RON 3,205
$2,031 €1,777
-65.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,177 RON 14.6K
$7,831 €6,851
-59.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,402 RON 11.0K
$4,389 €3,840
-45.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brasov
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,127 RON 5,171
$1,607 €1,406
-29.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.7
3.81
102.10%

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

Last update for Brasov: July 12, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $626 in Brasov and $1,633 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 43% 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: $51.0 in Brasov vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $223 vs $267 per month, with Brasov 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
Brasov vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Brasov and in Lisbon?
Brasov and Lisbon differ by about 83% in total monthly costs ($1,254 vs $2,291 including rent). Brasov is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 43% 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Brasov and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $626 in Brasov versus $1,633 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Brasov – a meal for two runs $51.0 versus $63.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Brasov or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $1,254 per month in Brasov versus $2,291 in Lisbon – a 83% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,254 in Brasov versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Brasov but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Brasov the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Brasov and Lisbon?
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.
Is Brasov or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Brasov 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.
Where should expats move: Brasov or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Brasov gentler on the wallet – expenses run 83% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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