😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $1,413 in Biala Podlaska.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $2,026 in Biala Podlaska.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $2,639 in Biala Podlaska.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 62% more expensive than in Biala Podlaska, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon68% above, Biala Podlaska3% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Biala Podlaska
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59€15.31
$8.00zł 30.36
119.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€54.7
$21.49zł 81.6
192.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.58€10.08
$9.21zł 34.95
25.73%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$3.87zł 14.70
-19.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.17
$2.79zł 10.58
-10.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74€1.52
$2.86zł 10.87
-39.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.48€3.03
$4.90zł 18.60
-28.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€3.00
$5.31zł 20.16
-35.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Biala Podlaska
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15€1.00
$1.03zł 3.91
11.65%
White Bread(500g)
$1.91€1.66
$1.10zł 4.19
73.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50€1.31
$1.40zł 5.30
7.14%
Eggs
$3.98€3.47
$3.48zł 13.20
14.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.57
$11.01zł 41.80
20.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.97
$7.34zł 27.85
9.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.04€15.70
$12.36zł 46.94
45.95%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35€2.05
$1.19zł 4.52
97.48%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75€1.52
$1.67zł 6.32
4.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85€1.61
$2.49zł 9.44
-25.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.22
$3.07zł 11.64
-16.94%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.60
$0.88zł 3.36
109.09%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10€1.83
$0.90zł 3.40
133.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.29
$1.46zł 5.54
2.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.71
$0.64zł 2.43
28.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10€6.18
$6.04zł 22.93
17.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.91€5.14
$6.77zł 25.71
-12.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.14
$1.15zł 4.38
13.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.86
$1.81zł 6.86
17.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Biala Podlaska
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.36€2.05
$1.16zł 4.40
103.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.62€40.57
$32.52zł 123
43.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.55
$1.57zł 5.98
159.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.99
$0.58zł 2.18
96.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.09€14.88
$9.38zł 35.61
82.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.31€2.01
$1.59zł 6.03
45.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.7K
$31.3Kzł 118.7K
9.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€36.0K
$28.1Kzł 106.7K
47.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Biala Podlaska
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169€147
$197zł 747
-14.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33€16.83
$8.87zł 33.66
117.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51€29.17
$13.29zł 50.5
152.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Biala Podlaska
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.84€42.51
$39.66zł 151
23.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43€16.92
$25.39zł 96.4
-23.47%
Cinema Ticket
$9.57€8.33
$5.34zł 20.29
79.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Biala Podlaska
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696€606
$524zł 1,991
32.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.4K€15.1K
$10.8Kzł 41.0K
60.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Biala Podlaska
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€91.7
$76.5zł 290
37.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75€41.56
$42.80zł 162
11.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.5
$92.9zł 353
8.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€108
$99.6zł 378
25.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Biala Podlaska
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,662€1,446
$656zł 2,489
153.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,246€1,085
$537zł 2,040
131.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,965€2,580
$1,073zł 4,072
176.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,049€1,783
$983zł 3,731
108.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,834€6,819
$3,015zł 11.4K
159.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,464€3,886
$2,339zł 8,881
90.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Biala Podlaska
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,632€1,420
$1,071zł 4,064
52.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
6.87
-44.98%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Last update for Biala Podlaska: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $656 in Biala Podlaska. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 52% 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 $277 vs $230 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 in Biala Podlaska?
Lisbon and Biala Podlaska differ by about 62% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $1,413 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?
Average pay runs 52% higher in Lisbon, 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 in Biala Podlaska?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $656 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 $696 in Lisbon versus $524 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 21% 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 $1,413 in Biala Podlaska versus $2,296 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 62% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.