Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Balikesir

For one person, living is cheaper in Balikesir: $923 a month against $2,210 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $15,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lisbon, Portugal
Balikesir, Turkey
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,210
/mo nomad
Balikesir
🇹🇷 Turkey
$923
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Balikesir

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lisbon and in Balikesir actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,210 per month in Lisbon vs $923 in Balikesir, rent included.

  • Lisbon $2,210
  • Balikesir $923

A couple spends around $3,275 per month in Lisbon vs $1,456 in Balikesir, rent included.

  • Lisbon $3,275
  • Balikesir $1,456

A family of three spends $4,341 per month in Lisbon vs $1,989 in Balikesir, rent included.

  • Lisbon $4,341
  • Balikesir $1,989

Lisbon costs about 139% more than Balikesir, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Lisbon sits 62% above the global median, while Balikesir is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Balikesir
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.65 €14.95
$7.12 ₺355
133.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.7 €55.5
$28.14 ₺1,402
119.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.36 €10.20
$7.56 ₺377
50.26%
Cappuccino
$2.97 €2.67
$3.53 ₺176
-15.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.06
$1.35 ₺67.2
69.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.56
$0.35 ₺17.24
397.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 €3.06
$3.26 ₺163
4.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 €2.97
$4.16 ₺207
-20.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Balikesir
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.16 €1.04
$0.89 ₺44.28
30.34%
White Bread (500g)
$1.91 €1.72
$0.99 ₺49.52
92.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 €1.36
$2.15 ₺107
-29.77%
Eggs
$4.02 €3.61
$1.97 ₺98.0
104.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.94 €11.62
$7.79 ₺388
66.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.77 €6.98
$3.85 ₺192
101.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.76 €15.95
$18.25 ₺910
-2.68%
Apples (1kg)
$2.30 €2.07
$1.86 ₺92.5
23.66%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 €1.56
$1.83 ₺91.2
-5.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.86 €1.67
$1.16 ₺57.9
60.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.59 €2.33
$1.01 ₺50.4
156.44%
Potato (1kg)
$1.82 €1.64
$0.52 ₺26.09
250.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 €1.77
$0.35 ₺17.34
462.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.47 €1.32
$0.89 ₺44.49
65.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 €0.65
$0.70 ₺34.96
2.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58 €5.91
$1.95 ₺97.2
237.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.61 €5.04
$10.11 ₺504
-44.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 €1.22
$1.99 ₺99.4
-31.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 €1.92
$3.25 ₺162
-34.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Balikesir
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.33 €2.10
$0.59 ₺29.29
294.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.68 €40.14
$39.58 ₺1,973
12.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.85 €3.46
$1.12 ₺55.6
243.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.07 €0.96
$1.08 ₺53.6
-0.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.46 €14.79
$4.20 ₺209
291.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.20 €1.98
$1.30 ₺64.9
69.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2K €30.7K
$41.6K ₺2.1M
-17.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K €34.8K
$39.2K ₺2.0M
-1.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Balikesir
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$161 €145
$61.3 ₺3,055
163.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.41 €16.54
$12.14 ₺605
51.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.74 €29.41
$14.89 ₺742
119.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Balikesir
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.55 €40.02
$42.41 ₺2,113
5.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10 €17.16
$30.16 ₺1,503
-36.67%
Cinema Ticket
$9.60 €8.62
$4.00 ₺199
140.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Balikesir
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$668 €600
$455 ₺22.7K
46.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.6K €15.8K
$12.3K ₺611.1K
43.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Balikesir
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 €91.6
$23.90 ₺1,191
326.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.46 €39.94
$16.06 ₺800
176.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.5 €88.5
$81.5 ₺4,061
20.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €111
$51.2 ₺2,551
141.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Balikesir
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,608 €1,445
$371 ₺18.5K
334.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,190 €1,069
$291 ₺14.5K
308.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,812 €2,526
$779 ₺38.8K
261.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,013 €1,808
$553 ₺27.6K
263.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,839 €7,042
$1,120 ₺55.8K
599.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,576 €4,110
$800 ₺39.9K
471.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Balikesir
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,575 €1,415
$1,268 ₺63.2K
24.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
39.8
-90.33%

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

Last update for Lisbon: October 27, 2026

Last update for Balikesir: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Balikesir
$291 75.5% $899
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$272
Balikesir
$214 21.6% $59
Eating Out
Lisbon
$243
Balikesir
$153 36.8% $89
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$212
Balikesir
$88 58.4% $124
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$166
Balikesir
$78 53.2% $88
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$64
Balikesir
$50 20.9% $13
Getting Around
Lisbon
$63
Balikesir
$48 23.4% $15

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,608 in Lisbon versus $371 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 24% 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 $62 in Lisbon versus $28 in Balikesir. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $272 vs $214 – making Balikesir the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇹🇷 Balikesir
🕒 Local time
21:19 9:19 PM
00:19 12:19 AM
3 h ahead of Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
1,196,170
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

TRY, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 0.898 EUR (1 EUR = 1.11 USD).

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 49.83 TRY (100 TRY = 2.01 USD). 1 EUR = 55.48 TRY (100 TRY = 1.8 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Balikesir 3,170 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Balikesir

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
Lisbon vs Balikesir: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Balikesir?
Lisbon costs about 139% more than Balikesir, 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 Lisbon and in Balikesir?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,315 per month in Lisbon and $1,385 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $371 there versus $1,608 in Lisbon.
How much does it cost to live in Lisbon compared to Balikesir?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,210 in Lisbon and $923 in Balikesir. That makes Balikesir about 58% cheaper.
How expensive is transport in Lisbon compared to Balikesir?
Public transport costs about 11% less in Balikesir. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $800/month in Lisbon or in Balikesir?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,210 in Lisbon and $923 in Balikesir. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Balikesir – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Balikesir?
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 Lisbon or to Balikesir?
If budget matters most, go with Balikesir. 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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