🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $787 in Ialoveni versus $2,227 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,268 in Ialoveni versus $3,305 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,749 in Ialoveni versus $4,384 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Ialoveni costs roughly 65% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ialoveni is 41% below, Lisbon is 66% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ialoveni
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.95MDL 155
$16.17€13.81
-44.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.01MDL 433
$64.6€55.1
-61.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.48MDL 130
$10.38€8.86
-27.94%
Cappuccino
$1.81MDL 31.25
$2.77€2.37
-34.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MDL 16.83
$2.25€1.92
-56.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70MDL 12.16
$1.57€1.34
-55.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.77MDL 30.57
$3.49€2.98
-49.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32MDL 40.12
$4.00€3.42
-42.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ialoveni
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23MDL 21.37
$1.08€0.93
13.89%
White Bread(500g)
$0.52MDL 9.07
$1.74€1.49
-70.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.72MDL 12.48
$1.74€1.48
-58.62%
Eggs
$2.60MDL 45.00
$3.18€2.71
-18.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.30MDL 91.8
$13.43€11.47
-60.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.55MDL 96.0
$7.99€6.83
-30.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.15MDL 89.1
$16.09€13.74
-67.99%
Apples(1kg)
$0.90MDL 15.63
$2.28€1.95
-60.53%
Banana(1kg)
$1.83MDL 31.60
$1.72€1.47
6.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70MDL 29.37
$1.94€1.66
-12.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.07MDL 35.87
$2.54€2.17
-18.50%
Potato(1kg)
$0.77MDL 13.29
$1.83€1.56
-57.92%
Onion(1kg)
$0.56MDL 9.66
$2.04€1.74
-72.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.30MDL 22.54
$1.98€1.69
-34.34%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88MDL 15.27
$0.85€0.73
3.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.27MDL 56.6
$6.85€5.85
-52.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.99MDL 86.4
$5.78€4.93
-13.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21MDL 20.86
$1.37€1.17
-11.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90MDL 32.90
$2.90€2.48
-34.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Ialoveni
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MDL 5.84
$2.28€1.95
-85.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.82MDL 118
$46.84€40.00
-85.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.11MDL 36.54
$4.08€3.48
-48.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.25MDL 4.31
$0.82€0.70
-69.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.14MDL 89.1
$18.27€15.60
-71.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37MDL 23.70
$2.01€1.71
-31.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4KMDL 561.0K
$35.3K€30.1K
-8.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1KMDL 537.6K
$38.5K€32.9K
-19.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ialoveni
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$172MDL 2,985
$145€124
18.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.69MDL 133
$20.96€17.90
-63.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.63MDL 184
$40.05€34.21
-73.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ialoveni
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.00MDL 502
$48.79€41.66
-40.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.64MDL 201
$18.69€15.97
-37.72%
Cinema Ticket
$6.00MDL 104
$9.06€7.74
-33.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ialoveni
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$390MDL 6,750
$607€518
-35.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,571MDL 131.1K
$16.3K€13.9K
-53.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ialoveni
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.34MDL 819
$105€89.4
-54.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.42MDL 509
$40.95€34.97
-28.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.1MDL 1,525
$93.6€79.9
-5.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.2MDL 1,718
$119€101
-16.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ialoveni
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$173MDL 2,997
$1,604€1,370
-89.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$116MDL 2,010
$1,236€1,055
-90.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$386MDL 6,678
$3,046€2,601
-87.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$373MDL 6,450
$2,057€1,756
-81.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,709€6,583
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,266€3,644
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ialoveni
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$598MDL 10.3K
$1,584€1,353
-62.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.24
3.81
142.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ialoveni: April 27, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $173 in Ialoveni and $1,604 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 165% 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 Ialoveni vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $162 vs $271 per month, with Ialoveni 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
Ialoveni vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ialoveni or Lisbon?
Ialoveni wins on cost – living expenses run 183% lower than in Lisbon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ialoveni the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ialoveni or Lisbon?
On paper, Lisbon earns 165% 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 Ialoveni vs Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $173 in Ialoveni versus $1,604 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Ialoveni vs Lisbon?
A monthly transit pass in Ialoveni runs roughly 587% less than in Lisbon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Ialoveni and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $390 in Ialoveni versus $607 in Lisbon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ialoveni or Lisbon?
At $787 in Ialoveni versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ialoveni but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Ialoveni the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ialoveni or Lisbon?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ialoveni delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $787 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ialoveni hard to pass up.
How safe is Ialoveni compared to Lisbon?
Safety-wise, Ialoveni 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 Ialoveni gentler on the wallet – expenses run 183% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.