😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $1,024 in Botosani.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $1,541 in Botosani.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $2,059 in Botosani.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 117% more expensive than Botosani, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Botosani is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Botosani
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.81
$12.42RON 54.0
30.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.1
$30.60RON 133
111.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.86
$7.95RON 34.59
30.57%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.37
$2.60RON 11.29
6.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$1.49RON 6.46
51.01%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.34
$1.35RON 5.89
16.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€2.98
$2.08RON 9.06
67.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.42
$2.59RON 11.27
54.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Botosani
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.47RON 6.37
-26.53%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.49
$1.28RON 5.58
35.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.48
$1.58RON 6.87
10.13%
Eggs
$3.18€2.71
$3.29RON 14.30
-3.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43€11.47
$8.85RON 38.50
51.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.83
$6.92RON 30.09
15.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€13.74
$9.93RON 43.18
62.03%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
$1.13RON 4.90
101.77%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.47
$1.43RON 6.22
20.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$1.42RON 6.16
36.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.17
$2.40RON 10.44
5.83%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.56
$0.97RON 4.21
88.66%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.74
$1.06RON 4.63
92.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98€1.69
$0.72RON 3.14
175.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$0.79RON 3.44
7.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.85
$5.80RON 25.23
18.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€4.93
$6.93RON 30.13
-16.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.17
$1.08RON 4.71
26.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
$1.65RON 7.19
75.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Botosani
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.95
$0.71RON 3.09
221.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€40.00
$28.14RON 122
66.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.48
$0.70RON 3.05
482.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.72RON 3.11
13.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27€15.60
$7.02RON 30.54
160.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.71
$1.57RON 6.83
28.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.1K
$28.5KRON 123.8K
23.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
$27.3KRON 118.9K
40.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Botosani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145€124
$166RON 724
-12.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96€17.90
$8.13RON 35.35
157.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05€34.21
$9.23RON 40.16
333.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Botosani
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79€41.66
$34.09RON 148
43.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€15.97
$26.85RON 117
-30.39%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06€7.74
$5.88RON 25.60
54.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Botosani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607€518
$343RON 1,493
76.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€13.9K
$6,539RON 28.4K
149.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Botosani
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.4
$48.97RON 213
113.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€34.97
$34.71RON 151
17.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€79.9
$70.0RON 305
33.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€101
$72.0RON 313
64.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Botosani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,370
$396RON 1,723
305.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,055
$291RON 1,264
325.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046€2,601
$512RON 2,225
495.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057€1,756
$428RON 1,860
380.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709€6,583
$1,491RON 6,486
416.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,644
$1,090RON 4,743
291.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Botosani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584€1,353
$1,024RON 4,452
54.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
6.25
-39.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Last update for Botosani: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $396 in Botosani. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 55% 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 $31.00 in Botosani for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $210 per month, with Botosani 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 Botosani: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Botosani?
Lisbon and Botosani differ by about 117% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $1,024 including rent). Botosani is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Botosani?
Lisbon pays 55% 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 Botosani?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $396 in Botosani. 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 Botosani?
Childcare runs $607 in Lisbon versus $343 in Botosani. 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 29% 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 $1,024 in Botosani versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Botosani but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Botosani the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Botosani?
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 Botosani safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Botosani 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 Botosani?
Expats usually find Botosani gentler on the wallet – expenses run 117% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.