Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Braila Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Braila

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $1,102 in Braila.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $1,688 in Braila.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $2,274 in Braila.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 102% more expensive than Braila, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Braila is 18% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Braila
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17 €13.84
$13.88 RON 60.5
16.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6 €55.3
$46.66 RON 203
38.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 €8.88
$8.25 RON 35.97
25.82%
Cappuccino
$2.77 €2.37
$2.68 RON 11.69
3.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 €1.92
$1.93 RON 8.44
16.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 €1.35
$1.76 RON 7.66
-10.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €2.99
$2.26 RON 9.87
54.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00 €3.43
$3.23 RON 14.09
23.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Braila
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.93
$1.57 RON 6.84
-31.21%
White Bread (500g)
$1.74 €1.49
$1.30 RON 5.67
33.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 €1.49
$1.85 RON 8.05
-5.95%
Eggs
$3.18 €2.72
$3.50 RON 15.25
-9.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.43 €11.50
$8.41 RON 36.67
59.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.99 €6.84
$6.37 RON 27.77
25.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.09 €13.77
$10.39 RON 45.32
54.86%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 €1.95
$1.26 RON 5.48
80.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 €1.48
$1.70 RON 7.41
1.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 €1.66
$1.72 RON 7.50
12.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.54 €2.18
$1.84 RON 8.02
38.04%
Potato (1kg)
$1.83 €1.57
$0.85 RON 3.70
115.29%
Onion (1kg)
$2.04 €1.75
$1.10 RON 4.80
85.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.98 €1.69
$0.66 RON 2.88
200.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.73
$0.80 RON 3.50
6.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85 €5.87
$5.93 RON 25.84
15.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.78 €4.94
$6.62 RON 28.86
-12.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.18
$1.08 RON 4.69
26.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 €2.48
$1.61 RON 7.04
80.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Braila
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €1.95
$0.61 RON 2.65
273.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.84 €40.10
$16.06 RON 70.0
191.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.08 €3.49
$0.89 RON 3.90
358.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$0.64 RON 2.81
28.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.27 €15.64
$7.70 RON 33.57
137.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.01 €1.72
$1.55 RON 6.78
29.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K €30.2K
$27.6K RON 120.5K
27.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K €32.9K
$27.7K RON 120.8K
38.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Braila
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$145 €124
$154 RON 670
-5.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96 €17.94
$7.88 RON 34.37
165.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05 €34.29
$9.25 RON 40.32
332.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Braila
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.79 €41.76
$35.04 RON 153
39.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69 €16.00
$13.67 RON 59.6
36.72%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06 €7.76
$6.86 RON 29.91
32.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Braila
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$607 €519
$300 RON 1,309
101.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K €14.0K
$6,941 RON 30.3K
135.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Braila
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €89.6
$67.4 RON 294
55.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95 €35.06
$55.0 RON 240
-25.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.6 €80.1
$72.0 RON 314
29.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €101
$114 RON 498
3.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Braila
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,604 €1,373
$381 RON 1,662
320.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,236 €1,058
$309 RON 1,347
299.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,046 €2,607
$570 RON 2,485
434.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,057 €1,761
$460 RON 2,005
347.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,709 €6,599
$2,065 RON 9,004
273.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,266 €3,652
$1,457 RON 6,351
192.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Braila
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,584 €1,356
$912 RON 3,975
73.74%
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 Braila: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $381 in Braila. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 74% 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 $47.00 in Braila for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $210 per month, with Braila 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 Braila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Braila?
Braila wins on cost – living expenses run 102% lower than in Lisbon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Braila the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lisbon or Braila?
Lisbon pays 74% 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lisbon vs Braila?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $381 in Braila. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Lisbon vs Braila?
A monthly transit pass in Braila runs roughly 192% less than in Lisbon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Lisbon and Braila?
Childcare runs $607 in Lisbon versus $300 in Braila. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Lisbon or Braila?
At $1,102 in Braila versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Braila but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Braila the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Braila?
Both work as nomad bases, but Braila delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,102 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Braila hard to pass up.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Braila?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Braila are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Braila gentler on the wallet – expenses run 102% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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