Cost of Living Comparison Between Buzau and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Buzau and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,115 in Buzau versus $2,291 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,568 in Buzau versus $3,322 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,020 in Buzau versus $4,354 in Lisbon.

Living in Buzau costs roughly 51% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Buzau is 17% below, Lisbon is 71% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Buzau
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.27 RON 56.3
$16.19 €14.17
-24.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.22 RON 116
$63.3 €55.4
-60.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.79 RON 26.57
$10.32 €9.03
-43.90%
Cappuccino
$2.81 RON 12.88
$2.83 €2.48
-0.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 RON 9.08
$2.29 €2.00
-13.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 RON 7.25
$1.58 €1.38
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 RON 15.05
$3.40 €2.98
-3.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52 RON 16.14
$4.03 €3.52
-12.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Buzau
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.55 RON 7.12
$1.09 €0.95
42.20%
White Bread (500g)
$1.36 RON 6.23
$1.75 €1.53
-22.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 RON 7.79
$1.76 €1.54
-3.41%
Eggs
$3.35 RON 15.36
$3.17 €2.77
5.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.70 RON 39.89
$13.19 €11.54
-34.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.59 RON 30.21
$7.97 €6.97
-17.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.03 RON 45.99
$15.53 €13.59
-35.42%
Apples (1kg)
$0.96 RON 4.39
$2.37 €2.07
-59.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 RON 7.37
$1.71 €1.49
-5.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.18 RON 5.41
$2.01 €1.76
-41.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.72 RON 7.89
$2.43 €2.13
-29.22%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 RON 3.99
$1.76 €1.54
-50.57%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 RON 4.86
$2.03 €1.78
-47.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.61 RON 2.79
$1.92 €1.68
-68.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 RON 2.72
$0.85 €0.74
-30.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.59 RON 25.64
$6.58 €5.76
-15.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.59 RON 30.21
$5.58 €4.88
18.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.05 RON 4.82
$1.33 €1.17
-21.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 RON 7.70
$2.97 €2.60
-43.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Buzau
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.70 RON 3.21
$2.28 €1.99
-69.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.62 RON 90.0
$45.79 €40.06
-57.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.69 RON 3.15
$4.23 €3.70
-83.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.70 RON 3.22
$0.81 €0.71
-13.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.11 RON 32.61
$18.44 €16.13
-61.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.63 RON 7.48
$2.08 €1.82
-21.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K RON 98.8K
$34.7K €30.3K
-37.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.7K RON 104.1K
$39.2K €34.3K
-42.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Buzau
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$126 RON 576
$148 €130
-15.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.41 RON 29.41
$20.46 €17.90
-68.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.76 RON 40.19
$39.56 €34.61
-77.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Buzau
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.26 RON 171
$47.99 €41.99
-22.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.99 RON 91.7
$18.60 €16.27
7.47%
Cinema Ticket
$5.86 RON 26.87
$9.22 €8.07
-36.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Buzau
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$339 RON 1,553
$616 €539
-45.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,608 RON 30.3K
$16.4K €14.4K
-59.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Buzau
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.4 RON 282
$103 €89.9
-40.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.38 RON 199
$41.74 €36.52
3.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.7 RON 444
$94.8 €82.9
2.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.7 RON 444
$122 €107
-20.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Buzau
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$430 RON 1,973
$1,633 €1,428
-73.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$369 RON 1,694
$1,232 €1,078
-70.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$633 RON 2,905
$3,098 €2,711
-79.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 RON 2,119
$2,031 €1,777
-77.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,524 RON 6,988
$7,831 €6,851
-80.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,220 RON 5,594
$4,389 €3,840
-72.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Buzau
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$899 RON 4,123
$1,607 €1,406
-44.07%
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 Buzau: July 11, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $430 in Buzau and $1,633 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 79% 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: $25.00 in Buzau vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $202 vs $267 per month, with Buzau 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
Buzau vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Buzau and in Lisbon?
Buzau and Lisbon differ by about 105% in total monthly costs ($1,115 vs $2,291 including rent). Buzau 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 79% 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 Buzau and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $430 in Buzau versus $1,633 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 32% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Buzau – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $63.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,115 in Buzau versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Buzau but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Buzau the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Buzau 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 Buzau or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Buzau 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: Buzau or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Buzau gentler on the wallet – expenses run 105% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Buzau vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities