🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,516 in Bydgoszcz versus $2,316 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,288 in Bydgoszcz versus $3,361 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,060 in Bydgoszcz versus $4,405 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Bydgoszcz costs roughly 35% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bydgoszcz10% above, Lisbon69% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bydgoszcz
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.81zł 47.59
$17.30€14.87
-25.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.5zł 251
$63.3€54.4
6.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.91zł 29.38
$11.39€9.79
-30.55%
Cappuccino
$3.83zł 14.21
$3.19€2.74
20.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29zł 8.50
$2.45€2.10
-6.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79zł 6.64
$1.76€1.52
1.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.15zł 15.40
$3.59€3.09
15.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79zł 14.07
$3.39€2.92
11.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bydgoszcz
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05zł 3.90
$1.24€1.06
-15.32%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75zł 6.52
$1.98€1.71
-11.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.98zł 3.65
$1.52€1.31
-35.53%
Eggs
$4.02zł 14.94
$4.04€3.47
-0.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.13zł 33.94
$13.54€11.64
-32.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.47zł 27.75
$8.39€7.21
-10.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.19zł 45.29
$18.25€15.69
-33.21%
Apples(1kg)
$1.39zł 5.16
$2.29€1.97
-39.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.76zł 6.54
$1.74€1.50
1.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.64zł 6.08
$1.86€1.60
-11.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.34zł 12.41
$2.63€2.26
27.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.04zł 3.85
$1.92€1.65
-45.83%
Onion(1kg)
$1.37zł 5.10
$2.09€1.80
-34.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20zł 4.46
$1.44€1.24
-16.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70zł 2.59
$0.84€0.72
-16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.09zł 22.61
$6.78€5.83
-10.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.81zł 32.73
$5.71€4.91
54.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.06zł 3.95
$1.38€1.18
-23.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42zł 5.28
$2.22€1.91
-36.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Bydgoszcz
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.01zł 3.75
$2.40€2.06
-57.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.39zł 109
$46.78€40.22
-37.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.35zł 8.72
$4.17€3.59
-43.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.87zł 3.24
$1.14€0.98
-23.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.45zł 38.81
$17.68€15.20
-40.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.60zł 5.93
$2.32€2.00
-31.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.5Kzł 120.7K
$35.3K€30.4K
-8.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.9Kzł 107.4K
$41.4K€35.6K
-30.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bydgoszcz
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$271zł 1,008
$170€146
59.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.22zł 30.55
$19.34€16.62
-57.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.64zł 69.3
$33.64€28.92
-44.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bydgoszcz
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.51zł 150
$48.10€41.35
-15.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.47zł 64.9
$19.90€17.11
-12.21%
Cinema Ticket
$8.00zł 29.73
$9.92€8.53
-19.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bydgoszcz
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$347zł 1,289
$717€617
-51.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,429zł 20.2K
$17.5K€15.0K
-68.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bydgoszcz
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7zł 315
$105€90.1
-19.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.80zł 144
$46.95€40.36
-17.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.0zł 346
$103€88.9
-10.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107zł 399
$124€107
-13.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bydgoszcz
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$720zł 2,675
$1,677€1,441
-57.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$526zł 1,956
$1,271€1,093
-58.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,134zł 4,213
$2,985€2,566
-62.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$924zł 3,432
$1,992€1,713
-53.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,953zł 11.0K
$7,826€6,728
-62.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,241zł 8,326
$4,658€4,004
-51.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bydgoszcz
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,585zł 5,887
$1,583€1,361
0.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.89
3.79
81.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bydgoszcz: August 30, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $720 in Bydgoszcz and $1,677 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bydgoszcz pays 0% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $67.0 in Bydgoszcz vs $63.0 in Lisbon. Groceries flip the comparison at $235 vs $283, 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 53% 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 in Lisbon?
Average pay runs 0% higher in Bydgoszcz, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Bydgoszcz compared to Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $720 in Bydgoszcz versus $1,677 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 in Lisbon?
Childcare runs $347 in Bydgoszcz versus $717 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 in Lisbon?
Supermarket bills run roughly 20% 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 in Lisbon?
At $1,516 in Bydgoszcz versus $2,316 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 $1,516 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 53% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.