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: $1,265 in Brasov versus $2,210 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,970 in Brasov versus $3,311 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,675 in Brasov versus $4,411 in Lisbon.

Living in Brasov costs roughly 43% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Brasov is 6% below, Lisbon is 65% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brasov
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.18 RON 55.1
$15.91 €13.69
-23.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.75 RON 225
$64.8 €55.7
-23.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.19 RON 37.02
$10.51 €9.04
-22.07%
Cappuccino
$3.47 RON 15.69
$2.87 €2.47
20.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 RON 8.81
$2.24 €1.93
-12.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 RON 9.48
$1.50 €1.29
40.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.25 RON 14.67
$3.49 €3.00
-6.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50 RON 15.80
$3.88 €3.34
-9.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brasov
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 RON 6.72
$1.14 €0.98
30.70%
White Bread (500g)
$1.33 RON 6.02
$1.75 €1.51
-24.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.75 RON 7.89
$1.76 €1.51
-0.57%
Eggs
$3.39 RON 15.32
$3.22 €2.77
5.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.49 RON 38.38
$13.49 €11.61
-37.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.96 RON 31.46
$7.91 €6.81
-12.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.91 RON 53.8
$15.87 €13.65
-24.95%
Apples (1kg)
$1.19 RON 5.39
$2.31 €1.99
-48.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 RON 7.39
$1.70 €1.46
-3.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 RON 7.24
$2.01 €1.73
-20.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.53 RON 11.43
$2.46 €2.12
2.85%
Potato (1kg)
$0.95 RON 4.30
$1.84 €1.59
-48.37%
Onion (1kg)
$1.07 RON 4.82
$2.00 €1.72
-46.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.88 RON 3.99
$1.93 €1.66
-54.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 RON 3.83
$0.79 €0.68
7.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.82 RON 26.30
$6.61 €5.68
-11.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.03 RON 40.82
$5.72 €4.92
57.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 RON 5.14
$1.37 €1.17
-16.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 RON 7.50
$2.97 €2.56
-44.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Brasov
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.91 RON 4.11
$2.37 €2.04
-61.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.00 RON 85.9
$45.56 €39.19
-58.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.77 RON 3.47
$4.29 €3.69
-82.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.60 RON 2.73
$0.82 €0.70
-26.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.88 RON 31.10
$18.30 €15.74
-62.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.59 RON 7.20
$2.06 €1.78
-22.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K RON 125.4K
$34.3K €29.5K
-19.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.4K RON 123.9K
$39.3K €33.8K
-30.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brasov
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$167 RON 754
$148 €127
12.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.88 RON 35.63
$20.52 €17.65
-61.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.28 RON 41.94
$39.61 €34.08
-76.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brasov
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$59.8 RON 270
$47.85 €41.16
24.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.86 RON 71.7
$18.92 €16.28
-16.17%
Cinema Ticket
$10.84 RON 48.99
$9.18 €7.90
18.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brasov
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$441 RON 1,995
$614 €528
-28.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,608 RON 29.9K
$16.0K €13.8K
-58.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brasov
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.8 RON 297
$105 €90.0
-37.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.49 RON 192
$42.06 €36.18
1.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.8 RON 433
$94.0 €80.8
1.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.2 RON 440
$120 €103
-18.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brasov
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$621 RON 2,808
$1,628 €1,400
-61.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$419 RON 1,892
$1,255 €1,080
-66.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,051 RON 4,751
$3,030 €2,607
-65.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$701 RON 3,171
$2,020 €1,738
-65.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,190 RON 14.4K
$7,800 €6,709
-59.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 RON 11.3K
$4,273 €3,675
-41.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brasov
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,082 RON 4,892
$1,603 €1,379
-32.50%
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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $621 in Brasov and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 48% 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: $50.0 in Brasov vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $225 vs $269 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 Lisbon?
Brasov and Lisbon differ by about 75% in total monthly costs ($1,265 vs $2,210 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, Lisbon earns 48% less. 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 Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $621 in Brasov versus $1,628 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 $50.0 versus $65.0 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 $1,265 per month in Brasov versus $2,210 in Lisbon – a 75% 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 $1,265 in Brasov versus $2,210 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 75% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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