😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $1,314 in Biala Podlaska.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $1,906 in Biala Podlaska.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $2,497 in Biala Podlaska.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 72% more expensive than Biala Podlaska, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Biala Podlaska is 2% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Biala Podlaska
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94€13.73
$8.06zł 29.47
97.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4€54.6
$21.50zł 78.6
194.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.95
$7.94zł 29.02
30.73%
Cappuccino
$2.79€2.40
$3.47zł 12.68
-19.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34€2.01
$1.90zł 6.93
23.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$1.69zł 6.18
-7.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43€2.95
$3.27zł 11.97
4.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.37
$4.13zł 15.08
-5.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Biala Podlaska
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.09zł 3.97
-0.92%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.52
$1.19zł 4.33
48.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71€1.47
$1.21zł 4.43
41.32%
Eggs
$3.15€2.71
$3.13zł 11.46
0.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.68€11.79
$8.52zł 31.13
60.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.90
$6.87zł 25.12
16.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.52€13.37
$10.88zł 39.77
42.65%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.98
$1.21zł 4.43
89.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.41
$1.72zł 6.30
-4.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.67
$1.91zł 6.98
1.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.51€2.17
$2.95zł 10.80
-14.92%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.54
$0.97zł 3.56
84.54%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.24zł 4.52
62.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.69
$1.15zł 4.21
71.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.55zł 2.01
52.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79€5.85
$5.00zł 18.27
35.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.67€4.89
$6.67zł 24.38
-14.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$1.21zł 4.44
14.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.60
$1.87zł 6.82
61.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Biala Podlaska
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.95
$1.06zł 3.88
114.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.44€39.15
$33.04zł 121
37.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.70
$2.18zł 7.97
96.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$0.98zł 3.58
-13.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.28€15.75
$9.45zł 34.53
93.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99€1.71
$1.69zł 6.16
17.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.2K
$33.1Kzł 121.1K
5.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K€34.1K
$29.6Kzł 108.3K
33.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Biala Podlaska
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146€126
$204zł 744
-28.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45€17.62
$8.76zł 32.00
133.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98€33.58
$13.46zł 49.21
189.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Biala Podlaska
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.98€42.21
$35.82zł 131
36.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83€16.22
$19.52zł 71.4
-3.53%
Cinema Ticket
$9.52€8.21
$5.40zł 19.74
76.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Biala Podlaska
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$608€524
$339zł 1,237
79.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.2K
$9,403zł 34.4K
75.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Biala Podlaska
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€89.5
$93.1zł 340
11.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12€36.29
$30.43zł 111
38.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.2€79.5
$74.8zł 273
23.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$95.9zł 350
25.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Biala Podlaska
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621€1,397
$645zł 2,357
151.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,268€1,092
$503zł 1,840
151.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,048€2,626
$996zł 3,641
206.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,009€1,731
$802zł 2,933
150.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,663€6,602
$3,051zł 11.1K
151.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,329€3,730
$2,351zł 8,592
84.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Biala Podlaska
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,585€1,366
$1,069zł 3,906
48.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
6.78
-43.81%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026
Last update for Biala Podlaska: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $645 in Biala Podlaska. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 48% 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: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $21.00 in Biala Podlaska for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $211 per month, with Biala Podlaska cheaper across the board.
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 Biala Podlaska: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Biala Podlaska?
Lisbon and Biala Podlaska differ by about 72% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $1,314 including rent). Biala Podlaska is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Biala Podlaska?
Lisbon pays 48% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Biala Podlaska?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $645 in Biala Podlaska. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lisbon and Biala Podlaska?
Childcare runs $608 in Lisbon versus $339 in Biala Podlaska. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 27% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,314 in Biala Podlaska versus $2,263 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Biala Podlaska but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Biala Podlaska the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Biala Podlaska?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Lisbon or Biala Podlaska safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Biala Podlaska are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Lisbon or Biala Podlaska?
Expats usually find Biala Podlaska gentler on the wallet – expenses run 72% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.