Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kardzhali and Lisbon

For one person, living is cheaper in Kardzhali: $651 a month against $2,210 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $18,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Kardzhali, Bulgaria
Lisbon, Portugal
Kardzhali
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
$651
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,210
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kardzhali 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 Kardzhali and in Lisbon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $651 per month in Kardzhali vs $2,210 in Lisbon, rent included.

  • Kardzhali $651
  • Lisbon $2,210

A couple spends around $1,068 per month in Kardzhali vs $3,275 in Lisbon, rent included.

  • Kardzhali $1,068
  • Lisbon $3,275

A family of three spends $1,484 per month in Kardzhali vs $4,341 in Lisbon, rent included.

  • Kardzhali $1,484
  • Lisbon $4,341

Kardzhali is about 71% cheaper than Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Kardzhali sits 52% below the global median, while Lisbon is 62% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kardzhali
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.02 BGN 19.28
$16.65 €14.92
-33.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.11 BGN 40.45
$61.7 €55.3
-62.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.87 BGN 15.52
$11.36 €10.18
-21.92%
Cappuccino
$1.12 BGN 1.96
$2.97 €2.66
-62.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 BGN 1.85
$2.29 €2.05
-53.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 BGN 1.29
$1.74 €1.56
-57.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.59 BGN 2.78
$3.40 €3.05
-53.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33 BGN 2.33
$3.31 €2.97
-59.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kardzhali
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.69 BGN 2.96
$1.16 €1.04
45.69%
White Bread (500g)
$0.72 BGN 1.25
$1.91 €1.71
-62.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 BGN 2.64
$1.51 €1.36
-
Eggs
$2.83 BGN 4.95
$4.02 €3.60
-29.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.21 BGN 17.87
$12.94 €11.59
-21.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.53 BGN 9.68
$7.77 €6.97
-28.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.58 BGN 11.52
$17.76 €15.92
-62.95%
Apples (1kg)
$0.84 BGN 1.47
$2.30 €2.06
-63.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.97 BGN 3.44
$1.73 €1.55
13.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 BGN 3.28
$1.86 €1.66
0.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.20 BGN 3.85
$2.59 €2.32
-15.06%
Potato (1kg)
$0.69 BGN 1.21
$1.82 €1.63
-62.09%
Onion (1kg)
$1.31 BGN 2.29
$1.97 €1.76
-33.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 BGN 1.18
$1.47 €1.32
-54.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 BGN 1.31
$0.72 €0.65
4.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.56 BGN 6.23
$6.58 €5.90
-45.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.38 BGN 7.66
$5.61 €5.02
-21.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.00 BGN 1.75
$1.36 €1.22
-26.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 BGN 2.47
$2.14 €1.91
-34.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Kardzhali
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 BGN 0.96
$2.33 €2.09
-76.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.11 BGN 19.44
$44.68 €40.04
-75.13%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.71 BGN 2.99
$3.85 €3.45
-55.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.71 BGN 1.23
$1.07 €0.96
-33.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.44 BGN 9.52
$16.46 €14.75
-66.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.62 BGN 2.84
$2.20 €1.97
-26.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K BGN 52.9K
$34.2K €30.6K
-11.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.0K BGN 42.1K
$38.7K €34.7K
-37.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kardzhali
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.4 BGN 107
$161 €144
-61.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.56 BGN 9.73
$18.41 €16.50
-69.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.88 BGN 13.80
$32.74 €29.34
-75.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kardzhali
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.90 BGN 40.08
$44.55 €39.92
-48.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.10 €17.11
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.76 BGN 15.33
$9.60 €8.60
-8.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kardzhali
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$230 BGN 402
$668 €598
-65.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.6K BGN 25.6K
$17.6K €15.8K
-16.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kardzhali
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.89 BGN 40.05
$102 €91.4
-77.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$12.69 BGN 22.21
$44.46 €39.85
-71.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$46.21 BGN 80.9
$98.5 €88.3
-53.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.9 BGN 131
$124 €111
-39.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kardzhali
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$115 BGN 201
$1,608 €1,441
-92.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$114 BGN 199
$1,190 €1,066
-90.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$232 BGN 406
$2,812 €2,520
-91.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$274 BGN 479
$2,013 €1,804
-86.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,141 BGN 1,997
$7,839 €7,025
-85.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$855 BGN 1,497
$4,576 €4,100
-81.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kardzhali
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,287 BGN 2,251
$1,575 €1,411
-18.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.25
3.85
-15.58%

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

Last update for Kardzhali: October 27, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Kardzhali
$187
Lisbon
$272 45.7% $85
Eating Out
Kardzhali
$146
Lisbon
$243 66.2% $97
Accommodation & Living
Kardzhali
$114
Lisbon
$1.2K 947% $1.1K
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kardzhali
$75
Lisbon
$212 184% $138
Clothing & Footwear
Kardzhali
$71
Lisbon
$166 135% $95
Sport & Entertainment
Kardzhali
$40
Lisbon
$64 57.7% $23
Getting Around
Kardzhali
$19
Lisbon
$63 241% $45

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $115 in Kardzhali versus $1,608 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 22% 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 $23 in Kardzhali versus $62 in Lisbon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $187 vs $272 – making Kardzhali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇧🇬 Kardzhali
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🕒 Local time
08:00 8:00 AM
06:00 6:00 AM
2 h behind Kardzhali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
49,421
545,923 Capital
💱 Currency
Bulgarian Lev BGN лв.
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to BGN – Bulgarian Lev Converter

Bulgarian Lev exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 1.75 BGN (1 BGN = 0.571 USD). 1 EUR = 1.95 BGN (1 BGN = 0.512 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kardzhali Lisbon 2,930 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Kardzhali
  • 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
Kardzhali vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kardzhali or Lisbon?
Lisbon costs about 240% more than Kardzhali, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Kardzhali and in Lisbon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $976 per month in Kardzhali and $3,315 in Lisbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kardzhali or Lisbon?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kardzhali, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $115 there versus $1,608 in Lisbon.
How much does it cost to live in Kardzhali compared to Lisbon?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $651 in Kardzhali and $2,210 in Lisbon. That makes Kardzhali about 71% cheaper.
How expensive is transport in Kardzhali compared to Lisbon?
Public transport costs about 75% less in Kardzhali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $800/month in Kardzhali or in Lisbon?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Kardzhali, where all-in costs run around $651, than in Lisbon at $2,210. In Kardzhali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Kardzhali – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Kardzhali compared to Lisbon?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Should I move to Kardzhali or to Lisbon?
If budget matters most, go with Kardzhali. If higher salaries 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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