😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $1,489 in Bydgoszcz.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $2,280 in Bydgoszcz.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $3,071 in Bydgoszcz.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 54% more expensive than in Bydgoszcz, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon71% above, Bydgoszcz11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Bydgoszcz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.17
$11.35zł 43.11
42.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.4
$67.5zł 256
-6.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.03
$7.94zł 30.14
29.97%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$3.97zł 15.10
-28.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.00
$2.30zł 8.75
-0.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$1.82zł 6.93
-13.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$3.97zł 15.07
-14.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.52
$3.72zł 14.11
8.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Bydgoszcz
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.95
$1.02zł 3.89
6.86%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$1.56zł 5.94
12.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.69zł 6.43
4.14%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$3.49zł 13.26
-9.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.54
$10.19zł 38.69
29.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.97
$7.12zł 27.06
11.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.59
$14.49zł 55.0
7.18%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$1.30zł 4.95
82.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$1.67zł 6.33
2.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$1.65zł 6.27
21.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$4.25zł 16.14
-42.82%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$0.91zł 3.47
93.41%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$1.20zł 4.56
69.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$1.24zł 4.69
54.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$0.66zł 2.50
28.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$5.08zł 19.28
29.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.88
$8.59zł 32.61
-35.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$1.13zł 4.31
17.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$1.63zł 6.20
82.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Bydgoszcz
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$1.05zł 4.00
117.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.06
$28.83zł 110
58.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$2.20zł 8.37
92.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$0.73zł 2.75
10.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.13
$10.65zł 40.44
73.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$1.70zł 6.44
22.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.3K
$33.8Kzł 128.5K
2.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$31.3Kzł 118.7K
25.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Bydgoszcz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$234zł 890
-36.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.90
$8.89zł 33.77
130.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.61
$17.05zł 64.8
132.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Bydgoszcz
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€41.99
$37.23zł 141
28.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.27
$20.42zł 77.6
-8.91%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.07
$7.57zł 28.75
21.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Bydgoszcz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€539
$451zł 1,712
36.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$5,478zł 20.8K
200.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Bydgoszcz
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€89.9
$99.1zł 376
3.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.52
$36.94zł 140
12.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€82.9
$111zł 422
-14.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$129zł 489
-5.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Bydgoszcz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,428
$722zł 2,743
126.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,078
$506zł 1,923
143.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,711
$1,217zł 4,624
154.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,777
$905zł 3,437
124.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,851
$2,936zł 11.2K
166.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,840
$2,189zł 8,312
100.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Bydgoszcz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,406
$1,519zł 5,770
5.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
6.4
-40.47%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Last update for Bydgoszcz: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $722 in Bydgoszcz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 6% 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 $67.0 in Bydgoszcz. Groceries flip the comparison at $267 vs $245, with Bydgoszcz cheaper for home cooking.
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 Bydgoszcz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Bydgoszcz?
Bydgoszcz wins on cost – living expenses run 54% lower than in Lisbon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bydgoszcz the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lisbon or in Bydgoszcz?
Average pay runs 6% 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lisbon compared to Bydgoszcz?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $722 in Bydgoszcz. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Lisbon and in Bydgoszcz?
Childcare runs $616 in Lisbon versus $451 in Bydgoszcz. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Lisbon or in Bydgoszcz?
Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Lisbon or in Bydgoszcz?
At $1,489 in Bydgoszcz versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bydgoszcz but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Bydgoszcz the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Bydgoszcz?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bydgoszcz delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,489 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bydgoszcz hard to pass up.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Bydgoszcz?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Bydgoszcz 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 Bydgoszcz gentler on the wallet – expenses run 54% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.