🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,474 in Bydgoszcz versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,272 in Bydgoszcz versus $3,311 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,069 in Bydgoszcz versus $4,411 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Bydgoszcz costs roughly 33% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bydgoszcz10% above, Lisbon65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bydgoszcz
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.69zł 42.62
$15.91€13.69
-26.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.4zł 246
$64.8€55.7
4.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.97zł 29.04
$10.51€9.04
-24.17%
Cappuccino
$4.00zł 14.57
$2.87€2.47
39.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33zł 8.49
$2.24€1.93
4.02%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88zł 6.84
$1.50€1.29
25.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.95zł 14.42
$3.49€3.00
13.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85zł 14.05
$3.88€3.34
-0.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bydgoszcz
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.07zł 3.91
$1.14€0.98
-6.14%
White Bread(500g)
$1.50zł 5.48
$1.75€1.51
-14.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76zł 6.41
$1.76€1.51
-
Eggs
$3.38zł 12.31
$3.22€2.77
4.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.37zł 37.78
$13.49€11.61
-23.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.02zł 25.59
$7.91€6.81
-11.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.49zł 52.8
$15.87€13.65
-8.70%
Apples(1kg)
$1.35zł 4.92
$2.31€1.99
-41.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62zł 5.89
$1.70€1.46
-4.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.64zł 5.97
$2.01€1.73
-18.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.26zł 15.52
$2.46€2.12
73.17%
Potato(1kg)
$0.93zł 3.38
$1.84€1.59
-49.46%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17zł 4.28
$2.00€1.72
-41.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.31zł 4.76
$1.93€1.66
-32.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67zł 2.44
$0.79€0.68
-15.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.03zł 18.33
$6.61€5.68
-23.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.69zł 31.67
$5.72€4.92
51.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11zł 4.04
$1.37€1.17
-18.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59zł 5.80
$2.97€2.56
-46.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Bydgoszcz
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.06zł 3.85
$2.37€2.04
-55.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.74zł 105
$45.56€39.19
-36.92%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.20zł 8.03
$4.29€3.69
-48.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.71zł 2.60
$0.82€0.70
-13.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.67zł 38.91
$18.30€15.74
-41.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.71zł 6.24
$2.06€1.78
-16.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2Kzł 121.1K
$34.3K€29.5K
-3.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.6Kzł 115.2K
$39.3K€33.8K
-19.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bydgoszcz
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$232zł 845
$148€127
56.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.68zł 31.63
$20.52€17.65
-57.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.15zł 62.5
$39.61€34.08
-56.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bydgoszcz
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.10zł 139
$47.85€41.16
-20.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.55zł 74.9
$18.92€16.28
8.62%
Cinema Ticket
$7.88zł 28.74
$9.18€7.90
-14.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bydgoszcz
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$451zł 1,644
$614€528
-26.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,504zł 20.1K
$16.0K€13.8K
-65.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bydgoszcz
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.7zł 356
$105€90.0
-6.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.09zł 139
$42.06€36.18
-9.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110zł 402
$94.0€80.8
17.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128zł 466
$120€103
6.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bydgoszcz
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$704zł 2,567
$1,628€1,400
-56.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$499zł 1,820
$1,255€1,080
-60.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,200zł 4,374
$3,030€2,607
-60.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$896zł 3,266
$2,020€1,738
-55.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,080zł 11.2K
$7,800€6,709
-60.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,294zł 8,362
$4,273€3,675
-46.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bydgoszcz
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,598zł 5,824
$1,603€1,379
-0.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.4
3.81
67.98%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bydgoszcz: May 31, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $704 in Bydgoszcz and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 0% 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: $67.0 in Bydgoszcz vs $65.0 in Lisbon. Groceries flip the comparison at $245 vs $269, with Bydgoszcz 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
Bydgoszcz vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bydgoszcz or Lisbon?
Bydgoszcz wins on cost – living expenses run 50% lower than in Lisbon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bydgoszcz the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Bydgoszcz or Lisbon?
On paper, Lisbon earns 0% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Bydgoszcz vs Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $704 in Bydgoszcz versus $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Bydgoszcz and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $451 in Bydgoszcz versus $614 in Lisbon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Bydgoszcz or Lisbon?
Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Bydgoszcz or Lisbon?
At $1,474 in Bydgoszcz versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bydgoszcz but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Bydgoszcz the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bydgoszcz or Lisbon?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bydgoszcz delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,474 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bydgoszcz hard to pass up.
How safe is Bydgoszcz compared to Lisbon?
Safety-wise, Bydgoszcz 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Bydgoszcz gentler on the wallet – expenses run 50% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.