😐A single person spends $2,227 per month in Lisbon vs $900 in Balikesir, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,305 per month in Lisbon vs $1,488 in Balikesir, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,384 per month in Lisbon vs $2,075 in Balikesir, rent included.
😐Lisbon costs about 147% more than Balikesir, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Lisbon sits 66% above the global median, while Balikesir is 33% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Balikesir
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.84
$7.54₺340
114.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.3
$26.23₺1,184
146.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.88
$7.54₺340
37.67%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.37
$2.42₺109
14.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$0.95₺42.98
136.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$0.33₺14.85
375.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€2.99
$2.49₺112
40.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.43
$3.52₺159
13.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Balikesir
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$0.98₺44.32
10.20%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.49
$0.53₺24.05
228.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.49
$1.26₺57.0
38.10%
Eggs
$3.18€2.72
$1.94₺87.4
63.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43€11.50
$7.60₺343
76.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.84
$5.08₺229
57.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€13.77
$17.89₺808
-10.06%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
$1.58₺71.5
44.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$2.35₺106
-26.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$1.42₺64.1
36.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
$1.55₺69.8
63.87%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$0.67₺30.32
173.13%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$0.60₺27.23
240.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98€1.69
$0.92₺41.64
115.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$0.53₺24.10
60.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.87
$2.23₺101
207.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€4.94
$10.05₺454
-42.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$2.33₺105
-41.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
$3.25₺147
-10.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Balikesir
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.95
$0.66₺29.60
245.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€40.10
$28.89₺1,304
62.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.49
$1.99₺89.8
105.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.64₺29.01
28.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27€15.64
$9.05₺408
101.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.72
$1.17₺53.0
71.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.2K
$41.1K₺1.9M
-14.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
$44.4K₺2.0M
-13.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Balikesir
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145€124
$63.8₺2,879
127.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96€17.94
$11.68₺527
79.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05€34.29
$11.62₺525
244.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Balikesir
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79€41.76
$58.2₺2,627
-16.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€16.00
$12.67₺572
47.51%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06€7.76
$5.31₺240
70.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Balikesir
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607€519
$838₺37.8K
-27.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$5,344₺241.2K
205.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Balikesir
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.6
$32.05₺1,447
226.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€35.06
$40.84₺1,844
0.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€80.1
$88.5₺3,996
5.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€101
$62.9₺2,840
88.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Balikesir
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,373
$418₺18.9K
283.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,058
$252₺11.4K
391.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046€2,607
$882₺39.8K
245.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057€1,761
$593₺26.8K
246.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709€6,599
$1,336₺60.3K
477.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,652
$851₺38.4K
401.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Balikesir
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584€1,356
$978₺44.1K
62.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
29.75
-87.19%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Last update for Balikesir: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,604 in Lisbon versus $418 in Balikesir. 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 62% 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 $65.0 in Lisbon versus $26.00 in Balikesir. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $271 vs $217 – making Balikesir 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
Lisbon vs Balikesir: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Balikesir?
Lisbon costs about 147% more than Balikesir, with the gap driven mainly by 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 Lisbon vs Balikesir?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,341 per month in Lisbon and $1,350 in Balikesir. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Lisbon or Balikesir?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Balikesir, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Lisbon compared to Balikesir?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,227 in Lisbon and $900 in Balikesir. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Lisbon vs Balikesir?
Public transport costs about 62% less in Balikesir. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Lisbon or Balikesir?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Balikesir, where all-in costs run around $900, than in Lisbon at $2,227. In Balikesir it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Balikesir?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Balikesir costs $900 versus $2,227 in Lisbon. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Balikesir?
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.
Should I move to Lisbon or Balikesir?
If budget matters most, go with Balikesir. 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.