Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Dubrovnik and Lisbon

For one person, living is cheaper in Dubrovnik: $1,979 a month against $2,223 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $2,900 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Lisbon outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Dubrovnik
🇭🇷 Croatia
$1,979
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,223
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Dubrovnik and in Lisbon

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Dubrovnik and in Lisbon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,979 per month in Dubrovnik vs $2,223 in Lisbon, rent included.

  • Dubrovnik $1,979
  • Lisbon $2,223

A couple spends around $2,933 per month in Dubrovnik vs $3,271 in Lisbon, rent included.

  • Dubrovnik $2,933
  • Lisbon $3,271

A family of three spends $3,886 per month in Dubrovnik vs $4,319 in Lisbon, rent included.

  • Dubrovnik $3,886
  • Lisbon $4,319

Dubrovnik is about 11% cheaper than Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Dubrovnik and Lisbon sit above the global median – Dubrovnik by 47%, Lisbon by 65%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dubrovnik
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.49 €17.34
$16.50 €14.67
18.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.3 €68.8
$61.3 €54.5
26.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.71 €11.30
$11.27 €10.03
12.78%
Cappuccino
$4.21 €3.74
$3.06 €2.72
37.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.50 €4.01
$2.26 €2.01
99.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.49 €3.99
$1.73 €1.54
159.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.45 €4.85
$3.39 €3.02
60.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.98 €7.10
$3.40 €3.02
134.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dubrovnik
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.96
$1.12 €1.00
-3.57%
White Bread (500g)
$1.21 €1.07
$1.86 €1.65
-34.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.30 €2.05
$1.53 €1.36
50.33%
Eggs
$4.18 €3.72
$3.96 €3.53
5.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.90 €8.81
$12.76 €11.35
-22.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.96 €7.97
$7.90 €7.02
13.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.60 €8.54
$16.97 €15.09
-43.43%
Apples (1kg)
$1.77 €1.58
$2.27 €2.02
-22.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.36 €1.21
$1.75 €1.55
-22.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 €1.51
$1.85 €1.64
-8.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.74 €2.44
$2.57 €2.28
6.61%
Potato (1kg)
$0.86 €0.77
$1.86 €1.65
-53.76%
Onion (1kg)
$0.91 €0.81
$2.02 €1.80
-54.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 €0.98
$1.44 €1.28
-23.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 €1.11
$0.82 €0.73
52.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.36 €4.76
$6.56 €5.83
-18.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.41 €3.92
$5.62 €5.00
-21.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32 €1.18
$1.28 €1.14
3.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 €2.56
$2.07 €1.84
39.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Dubrovnik
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.83 €2.51
$2.35 €2.09
20.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.6 €48.53
$44.18 €39.30
23.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.41 €3.92
$3.99 €3.55
10.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.22 €1.08
$1.09 €0.97
11.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.40 €6.58
$16.64 €14.81
-55.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.80 €1.60
$2.28 €2.03
-21.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.9K €23.0K
$33.7K €30.0K
-23.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K €22.7K
$39.3K €35.0K
-35.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dubrovnik
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$178 €158
$167 €149
5.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.58 €20.09
$18.80 €16.72
20.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.34 €37.66
$33.09 €29.43
27.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dubrovnik
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$70.1 €62.4
$46.01 €40.93
52.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.39 €20.81
$19.19 €17.07
21.89%
Cinema Ticket
$8.00 €7.12
$9.84 €8.75
-18.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dubrovnik
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$90.6 €80.6
$677 €602
-86.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,922 €6,157
$16.9K €15.1K
-59.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dubrovnik
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.3 €65.2
$101 €90.1
-27.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.46 €24.43
$45.76 €40.70
-39.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$66.3 €58.9
$100.0 €88.9
-33.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.4 €69.7
$123 €109
-36.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dubrovnik
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,442 €1,283
$1,614 €1,436
-10.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$906 €806
$1,197 €1,065
-24.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,964 €1,747
$2,862 €2,545
-31.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,442 €1,283
$1,990 €1,770
-27.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,912 €7,038
$7,577 €6,740
4.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,158 €3,698
$4,307 €3,831
-3.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dubrovnik
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,437 €1,279
$1,588 €1,412
-9.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.79
3.85
-1.56%

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

Last update for Dubrovnik: October 11, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Dubrovnik
$906
Lisbon
$1.2K 32.2% $291
Eating Out
Dubrovnik
$324
Lisbon
$242 25.2% $81
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dubrovnik
$242
Lisbon
$219 9.5% $23
Groceries & Markets
Dubrovnik
$235
Lisbon
$269 14.8% $35
Clothing & Footwear
Dubrovnik
$110
Lisbon
$166 50.7% $56
Sport & Entertainment
Dubrovnik
$86
Lisbon
$66 23.7% $20
Getting Around
Dubrovnik
$76
Lisbon
$63 17.5% $13

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,442 in Dubrovnik versus $1,614 in Lisbon. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 10% higher in Lisbon, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $77.0 in Dubrovnik versus $61.0 in Lisbon. Groceries tell a different story – $235 in Dubrovnik vs $269 in Lisbon – so Dubrovnik wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇭🇷 Dubrovnik
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🕒 Local time
04:03 4:03 AM
03:03 3:03 AM
1 h behind Dubrovnik
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
41,562
545,923 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Dubrovnik Lisbon 2,330 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Dubrovnik
  • Lisbon

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Dubrovnik vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Dubrovnik and in Lisbon compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,979 in Dubrovnik, $2,223 in Lisbon – roughly 12% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Dubrovnik compared to Lisbon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,969 per month in Dubrovnik and $3,335 in Lisbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Dubrovnik and Lisbon?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Dubrovnik, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Dubrovnik and in Lisbon?
Public transport costs about 23% less in Dubrovnik. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Dubrovnik and Lisbon?
Kindergarten costs $90.6 per month in Dubrovnik and $677 in Lisbon. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Dubrovnik, where all-in costs run around $1,979, than in Lisbon at $2,223. In Dubrovnik it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Dubrovnik and Lisbon?
It depends on your priorities. Dubrovnik has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,979 in Dubrovnik to $2,223 in Lisbon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Dubrovnik or Lisbon safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Dubrovnik and Lisbon?
If budget matters most, go with Dubrovnik. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lisbon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Dubrovnik vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?