😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $1,299 in Biala Podlaska.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $1,900 in Biala Podlaska.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $2,501 in Biala Podlaska.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 71% more expensive than Biala Podlaska, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Biala Podlaska is 3% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Biala Podlaska
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.84
$8.02zł 29.18
101.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.3
$21.69zł 79.0
197.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.88
$8.33zł 30.33
24.61%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.37
$3.43zł 12.50
-19.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$1.86zł 6.75
20.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$1.64zł 5.96
-4.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€2.99
$3.21zł 11.68
8.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.43
$4.00zł 14.55
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Biala Podlaska
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.08zł 3.91
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.49
$1.24zł 4.52
40.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.49
$1.21zł 4.42
43.80%
Eggs
$3.18€2.72
$2.99zł 10.88
6.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43€11.50
$8.47zł 30.83
58.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.84
$6.96zł 25.33
14.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€13.77
$10.82zł 39.37
48.71%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
$1.15zł 4.19
98.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$1.72zł 6.27
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$1.91zł 6.96
1.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
$2.92zł 10.62
-13.01%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$0.89zł 3.23
105.62%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$1.25zł 4.54
63.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98€1.69
$1.19zł 4.33
66.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$0.56zł 2.03
51.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.87
$5.28zł 19.23
29.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€4.94
$6.94zł 25.28
-16.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$1.26zł 4.57
8.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
$1.92zł 7.00
51.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Biala Podlaska
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.95
$1.07zł 3.89
113.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€40.10
$32.67zł 119
43.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.49
$2.21zł 8.05
84.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$1.01zł 3.69
-18.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27€15.64
$9.30zł 33.86
96.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.72
$1.70zł 6.19
18.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.2K
$34.1Kzł 124.2K
3.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
$29.3Kzł 106.8K
31.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Biala Podlaska
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145€124
$202zł 736
-28.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96€17.94
$8.71zł 31.69
140.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05€34.29
$13.32zł 48.49
200.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Biala Podlaska
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79€41.76
$35.87zł 131
36.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€16.00
$19.26zł 70.1
-2.96%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06€7.76
$5.57zł 20.28
62.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Biala Podlaska
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607€519
$341zł 1,242
77.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$9,347zł 34.0K
74.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Biala Podlaska
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.6
$90.6zł 330
15.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€35.06
$30.44zł 111
34.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€80.1
$77.2zł 281
21.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€101
$93.4zł 340
26.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Biala Podlaska
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,373
$645zł 2,347
148.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,058
$496zł 1,805
149.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046€2,607
$994zł 3,618
206.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057€1,761
$821zł 2,990
150.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709€6,599
$3,084zł 11.2K
150.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,652
$2,313zł 8,419
84.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Biala Podlaska
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584€1,356
$1,109zł 4,038
42.79%
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: April 26, 2026
Last update for Biala Podlaska: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $645 in Biala Podlaska. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 43% 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: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $22.00 in Biala Podlaska for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $212 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 71% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $1,299 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 43% 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: $1,604 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 $607 in Lisbon versus $341 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 28% 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 $1,299 in Biala Podlaska versus $2,227 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 71% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.