😐A single person spends $2,316 per month in Lisbon vs $1,528 in Bialystok, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,361 per month in Lisbon vs $2,178 in Bialystok, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,405 per month in Lisbon vs $2,828 in Bialystok, rent included.
😐Lisbon costs about 52% more than Bialystok, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Lisbon and Bialystok sit above the global median – Lisbon by 69%, Bialystok by 11%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Bialystok
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.30€14.89
$10.20zł 37.90
69.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€54.4
$48.08zł 179
31.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.39€9.80
$9.46zł 35.15
20.40%
Cappuccino
$3.19€2.75
$3.86zł 14.35
-17.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45€2.10
$1.90zł 7.06
28.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.52
$1.64zł 6.10
7.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.59€3.09
$3.70zł 13.73
-2.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39€2.92
$3.27zł 12.14
3.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Bialystok
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.06
$1.12zł 4.14
10.71%
White Bread(500g)
$1.98€1.71
$1.09zł 4.05
81.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.52€1.31
$2.35zł 8.71
-35.32%
Eggs
$4.04€3.48
$3.98zł 14.79
1.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.54€11.65
$9.46zł 35.12
43.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.39€7.22
$6.11zł 22.69
37.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.25€15.70
$11.65zł 43.29
56.65%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.97
$1.32zł 4.91
73.48%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74€1.50
$1.86zł 6.90
-6.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86€1.60
$1.73zł 6.43
7.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.63€2.26
$2.06zł 7.64
27.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$1.15zł 4.28
66.96%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09€1.80
$1.28zł 4.74
63.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.24
$1.24zł 4.59
16.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.72
$0.59zł 2.19
42.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.83
$5.46zł 20.26
24.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.71€4.91
$6.71zł 24.94
-14.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.18
$1.22zł 4.55
13.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22€1.91
$1.52zł 5.64
46.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Bialystok
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.40€2.06
$1.16zł 4.31
106.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.78€40.25
$35.38zł 131
32.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.17€3.59
$2.13zł 7.90
95.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.98
$0.72zł 2.67
58.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.68€15.21
$13.58zł 50.4
30.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.32€2.00
$1.59zł 5.90
45.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.4K
$32.6Kzł 121.0K
8.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€35.7K
$28.5Kzł 105.7K
45.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Bialystok
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170€147
$314zł 1,165
-45.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.34€16.64
$8.66zł 32.16
123.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.64€28.95
$18.79zł 69.8
79.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Bialystok
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.10€41.39
$42.74zł 159
12.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.90€17.12
$29.07zł 108
-31.54%
Cinema Ticket
$9.92€8.54
$7.08zł 26.31
40.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Bialystok
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$717€617
$376zł 1,397
90.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.5K€15.0K
$4,452zł 16.5K
292.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Bialystok
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.2
$103zł 383
1.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.95€40.40
$38.06zł 141
23.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.0
$90.9zł 338
13.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€107
$94.6zł 352
30.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Bialystok
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,677€1,443
$563zł 2,092
197.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,271€1,094
$529zł 1,966
140.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,985€2,568
$857zł 3,185
248.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,992€1,715
$764zł 2,836
160.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,826€6,734
$2,840zł 10.5K
175.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,658€4,008
$2,386zł 8,861
95.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Bialystok
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,583€1,362
$1,504zł 5,585
5.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.79
7.07
-46.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Last update for Bialystok: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,677 in Lisbon versus $563 in Bialystok. 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 5% 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 $63.0 in Lisbon versus $48.00 in Bialystok. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $283 vs $217 – making Bialystok 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 Bialystok: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Bialystok?
Lisbon costs about 52% more than Bialystok, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Bialystok?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,474 per month in Lisbon and $2,292 in Bialystok. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Lisbon or Bialystok?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bialystok, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Lisbon and in Bialystok?
Kindergarten costs $717 per month in Lisbon and $376 in Bialystok. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Lisbon or in Bialystok?
Groceries cost about 30% more in Lisbon, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Lisbon or in Bialystok?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bialystok, where all-in costs run around $1,528, than in Lisbon at $2,316. In Bialystok 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 Bialystok?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bialystok costs $1,528 versus $2,316 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 Bialystok?
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 to Bialystok?
If budget matters most, go with Bialystok. 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.