Cost of Living Comparison Between Iasi and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Iasi and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,156 per month in Iasi vs $2,291 in Lisbon, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,753 per month in Iasi vs $3,322 in Lisbon, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,350 per month in Iasi vs $4,354 in Lisbon, rent included.

Iasi is about 50% cheaper than Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Iasi sits 13% below the global median, while Lisbon is 71% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Iasi
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.39 RON 47.70
$16.19 €14.18
-35.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6 RON 237
$63.3 €55.5
-18.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.12 RON 32.67
$10.32 €9.04
-31.01%
Cappuccino
$2.63 RON 12.09
$2.83 €2.48
-7.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 RON 9.67
$2.29 €2.01
-7.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71 RON 7.86
$1.58 €1.38
8.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.47 RON 11.35
$3.40 €2.98
-27.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.36 RON 15.43
$4.03 €3.53
-16.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iasi
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 RON 6.55
$1.09 €0.96
31.19%
White Bread (500g)
$1.22 RON 5.59
$1.75 €1.53
-30.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.89 RON 8.66
$1.76 €1.54
7.39%
Eggs
$3.09 RON 14.16
$3.17 €2.77
-2.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.12 RON 37.29
$13.19 €11.56
-38.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.93 RON 31.79
$7.97 €6.98
-13.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.88 RON 49.95
$15.53 €13.60
-29.94%
Apples (1kg)
$1.23 RON 5.66
$2.37 €2.07
-48.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 RON 7.14
$1.71 €1.49
-9.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 RON 7.86
$2.01 €1.76
-14.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.92 RON 8.80
$2.43 €2.13
-20.99%
Potato (1kg)
$0.94 RON 4.31
$1.76 €1.54
-46.59%
Onion (1kg)
$1.00 RON 4.60
$2.03 €1.78
-50.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.00 RON 4.59
$1.92 €1.68
-47.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86 RON 3.94
$0.85 €0.74
1.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.28 RON 28.81
$6.58 €5.76
-4.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.39 RON 29.32
$5.58 €4.89
14.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10 RON 5.04
$1.33 €1.17
-17.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 RON 8.83
$2.97 €2.60
-35.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Iasi
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 RON 3.65
$2.28 €1.99
-65.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.96 RON 128
$45.79 €40.10
-38.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.94 RON 4.31
$4.23 €3.70
-77.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.71 RON 3.26
$0.81 €0.71
-12.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.14 RON 37.36
$18.44 €16.15
-55.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.68 RON 7.71
$2.08 €1.82
-19.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K RON 130.9K
$34.7K €30.4K
-17.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K RON 127.2K
$39.2K €34.3K
-29.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iasi
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$157 RON 718
$148 €130
5.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.51 RON 39.08
$20.46 €17.92
-58.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.26 RON 47.09
$39.56 €34.64
-74.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iasi
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.27 RON 217
$47.99 €42.03
-1.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.50 RON 84.9
$18.60 €16.29
-0.54%
Cinema Ticket
$8.00 RON 36.74
$9.22 €8.08
-13.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iasi
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$471 RON 2,160
$616 €540
-23.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,866 RON 31.5K
$16.4K €14.4K
-58.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iasi
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.0 RON 280
$103 €90.0
-40.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.56 RON 200
$41.74 €36.55
4.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 RON 398
$94.8 €83.0
-8.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.5 RON 401
$122 €107
-28.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iasi
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$473 RON 2,172
$1,633 €1,430
-71.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$359 RON 1,649
$1,232 €1,079
-70.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$742 RON 3,405
$3,098 €2,713
-76.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$533 RON 2,448
$2,031 €1,779
-73.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,911 RON 13.4K
$7,831 €6,858
-62.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,932 RON 8,869
$4,389 €3,844
-55.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iasi
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,182 RON 5,426
$1,607 €1,408
-26.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.37
3.81
93.44%

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

Last update for Iasi: July 11, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $473 in Iasi versus $1,633 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 36% 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 $52.0 in Iasi versus $63.0 in Lisbon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $211 vs $267 – making Iasi 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
Iasi vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Iasi and in Lisbon compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,156 in Iasi, $2,291 in Lisbon – roughly 98% apart. Lisbon costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Iasi compared to Lisbon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,734 per month in Iasi and $3,437 in Lisbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Iasi and Lisbon?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Iasi, 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 Iasi and in Lisbon?
Public transport costs about 64% less in Iasi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Iasi and Lisbon?
Kindergarten costs $471 per month in Iasi and $616 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 $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Iasi, where all-in costs run around $1,156, than in Lisbon at $2,291. In Iasi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Iasi and Lisbon?
It depends on your priorities. Lisbon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,156 in Iasi to $2,291 in Lisbon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Iasi 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 Iasi and Lisbon?
If budget matters most, go with Iasi. 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.

Iasi vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities