Cost of Living Comparison Between Karlovac and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Karlovac and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,254 in Karlovac versus $2,291 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,865 in Karlovac versus $3,322 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,476 in Karlovac versus $4,354 in Lisbon.

Living in Karlovac costs roughly 45% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Karlovac is 6% below, Lisbon is 71% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karlovac
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.65 €11.07
$16.19 €14.17
-21.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.88 €41.02
$63.3 €55.4
-25.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.13 €7.11
$10.32 €9.03
-21.22%
Cappuccino
$1.99 €1.74
$2.83 €2.48
-29.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 €2.14
$2.29 €2.00
6.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 €1.20
$1.58 €1.38
-12.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.29 €2.00
$3.40 €2.98
-32.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 €1.98
$4.03 €3.52
-43.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karlovac
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.99
$1.09 €0.95
4.59%
White Bread (500g)
$1.17 €1.02
$1.75 €1.53
-33.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.86 €1.63
$1.76 €1.54
5.68%
Eggs
$3.57 €3.13
$3.17 €2.77
12.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.71 €8.50
$13.19 €11.54
-26.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.80 €10.32
$7.97 €6.97
48.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.05 €12.30
$15.53 €13.59
-9.53%
Apples (1kg)
$1.78 €1.56
$2.37 €2.07
-24.89%
Banana (1kg)
$2.05 €1.80
$1.71 €1.49
19.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$2.01 €1.76
-12.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.01 €1.76
$2.43 €2.13
-17.28%
Potato (1kg)
$1.64 €1.43
$1.76 €1.54
-6.82%
Onion (1kg)
$1.01 €0.89
$2.03 €1.78
-50.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.72 €1.50
$1.92 €1.68
-10.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.06 €0.93
$0.85 €0.74
24.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.62 €4.91
$6.58 €5.76
-14.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.03 €6.15
$5.58 €4.88
25.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 €1.50
$1.33 €1.17
28.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 €2.33
$2.97 €2.60
-10.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Karlovac
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.77 €1.55
$2.28 €1.99
-22.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.29 €37.00
$45.79 €40.06
-7.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.04 €2.66
$4.23 €3.70
-28.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.32 €1.16
$0.81 €0.71
62.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.72 €7.63
$18.44 €16.13
-52.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.76 €1.54
$2.08 €1.82
-15.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.6K €32.0K
$34.7K €30.3K
5.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K €23.0K
$39.2K €34.3K
-32.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karlovac
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 €164
$148 €130
26.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.15 €20.25
$20.46 €17.90
13.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.87 €28.76
$39.56 €34.61
-16.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karlovac
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.33 €30.04
$47.99 €41.99
-28.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.93 €13.06
$18.60 €16.27
-19.73%
Cinema Ticket
$6.42 €5.62
$9.22 €8.07
-30.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karlovac
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$238 €208
$616 €539
-61.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,385 €1,212
$16.4K €14.4K
-91.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karlovac
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 €90.9
$103 €89.9
1.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.79 €30.44
$41.74 €36.52
-16.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$69.3 €60.7
$94.8 €82.9
-26.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.9 €65.5
$122 €107
-38.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karlovac
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$426 €373
$1,633 €1,428
-73.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$334 €293
$1,232 €1,078
-72.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$639 €559
$3,098 €2,711
-79.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$480 €420
$2,031 €1,777
-76.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,897 €2,534
$7,831 €6,851
-63.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,475 €2,166
$4,389 €3,840
-43.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karlovac
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,387 €1,214
$1,607 €1,406
-13.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.47
3.81
17.32%

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

Last update for Karlovac: July 13, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $426 in Karlovac and $1,633 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 16% 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: $47.00 in Karlovac vs $63.0 in Lisbon. Groceries flip the comparison at $268 vs $267, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.

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
Karlovac vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lisbon cheaper than Karlovac?
Karlovac is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 83% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Karlovac or Lisbon?
On paper, salaries run 16% lower in Lisbon. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Karlovac and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $426 in Karlovac versus $1,633 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Karlovac and in Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $1,254 per month in Karlovac versus $2,291 in Lisbon – a 83% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Karlovac runs roughly 8% less than in Lisbon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Karlovac or in Lisbon?
At $1,254 in Karlovac versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Karlovac but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Karlovac the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Karlovac or Lisbon more family-friendly?
For families, Karlovac is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lisbon, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Karlovac or Lisbon?
Safety-wise, Karlovac 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Karlovac gentler on the wallet – expenses run 83% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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