Cost of Living Comparison Between Elbasan and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Elbasan and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $916 per month in Elbasan vs $2,227 in Lisbon, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,471 per month in Elbasan vs $3,305 in Lisbon, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,026 per month in Elbasan vs $4,384 in Lisbon, rent included.

Elbasan is about 59% cheaper than Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Elbasan sits 32% below the global median, while Lisbon is 66% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Elbasan
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.24 ALL 754
$16.17 €13.84
-42.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.89 ALL 2,604
$64.6 €55.3
-50.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.18 ALL 586
$10.38 €8.88
-30.83%
Cappuccino
$1.80 ALL 147
$2.77 €2.37
-35.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 ALL 103
$2.25 €1.92
-43.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 ALL 55.4
$1.57 €1.35
-56.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.74 ALL 142
$3.49 €2.99
-50.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 ALL 194
$4.00 €3.43
-40.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Elbasan
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.84 ALL 150
$1.08 €0.93
70.37%
White Bread (500g)
$0.92 ALL 74.9
$1.74 €1.49
-47.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 ALL 128
$1.74 €1.49
-10.34%
Eggs
$2.91 ALL 238
$3.18 €2.72
-8.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.77 ALL 798
$13.43 €11.50
-27.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.34 ALL 436
$7.99 €6.84
-33.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.41 ALL 1,013
$16.09 €13.77
-22.87%
Apples (1kg)
$0.91 ALL 74.5
$2.28 €1.95
-60.09%
Banana (1kg)
$2.37 ALL 193
$1.72 €1.48
37.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.26 ALL 103
$1.94 €1.66
-35.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.89 ALL 73.1
$2.54 €2.18
-64.96%
Potato (1kg)
$0.92 ALL 75.3
$1.83 €1.57
-49.73%
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 ALL 88.8
$2.04 €1.75
-46.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 ALL 80.3
$1.98 €1.69
-50.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 ALL 49.04
$0.85 €0.73
-29.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.99 ALL 326
$6.85 €5.87
-41.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.24 ALL 672
$5.78 €4.94
42.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 ALL 75.4
$1.37 €1.18
-32.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 ALL 119
$2.90 €2.48
-49.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Elbasan
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.45 ALL 36.64
$2.28 €1.95
-80.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.66 ALL 1,523
$46.84 €40.10
-60.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.60 ALL 294
$4.08 €3.49
-11.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.29 ALL 105
$0.82 €0.70
57.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.36 ALL 1,173
$18.27 €15.64
-21.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.11 ALL 172
$2.01 €1.72
4.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ALL 1.7M
$35.3K €30.2K
-40.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K ALL 2.2M
$38.5K €32.9K
-28.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Elbasan
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$67.2 ALL 5,487
$145 €124
-53.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.26 ALL 1,409
$20.96 €17.94
-17.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.29 ALL 1,248
$40.05 €34.29
-61.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Elbasan
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$65.6 ALL 5,359
$48.79 €41.76
34.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.37 ALL 1,336
$18.69 €16.00
-12.41%
Cinema Ticket
$5.43 ALL 443
$9.06 €7.76
-40.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Elbasan
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$139 ALL 11.4K
$607 €519
-77.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,789 ALL 146.1K
$16.3K €14.0K
-89.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Elbasan
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 ALL 8,511
$105 €89.6
-0.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.21 ALL 2,793
$40.95 €35.06
-16.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.8 ALL 7,660
$93.6 €80.1
0.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$180 ALL 14.7K
$119 €101
51.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Elbasan
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$289 ALL 23.6K
$1,604 €1,373
-81.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$198 ALL 16.2K
$1,236 €1,058
-83.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$421 ALL 34.4K
$3,046 €2,607
-86.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$300 ALL 24.5K
$2,057 €1,761
-85.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,362 ALL 111.2K
$7,709 €6,599
-82.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$847 ALL 69.1K
$4,266 €3,652
-80.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Elbasan
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 ALL 44.9K
$1,584 €1,356
-65.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.1
3.81
60.10%

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

Last update for Elbasan: April 27, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $289 in Elbasan versus $1,604 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 188% 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 $32.00 in Elbasan versus $65.0 in Lisbon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $207 vs $271 – making Elbasan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Elbasan vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lisbon cheaper than Elbasan?
Yes – Lisbon is pricier by about 143%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,374 per month in Elbasan and $3,341 in Lisbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Elbasan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Elbasan and Lisbon?
Groceries cost about 31% more in Lisbon, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Elbasan or Lisbon?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Elbasan and $65.0 in Lisbon. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Elbasan or Lisbon?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Elbasan, where all-in costs run around $916, than in Lisbon at $2,227. In Elbasan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Elbasan or Lisbon more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Elbasan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Elbasan or Lisbon?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Elbasan. 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.

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