😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,474 in Bydgoszcz.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $2,272 in Bydgoszcz.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $3,069 in Bydgoszcz.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 50% more expensive than Bydgoszcz, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon65% above, Bydgoszcz10% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Bydgoszcz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.69
$11.69zł 42.62
36.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.7
$67.4zł 246
-3.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.04
$7.97zł 29.04
31.87%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$4.00zł 14.57
-28.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$2.33zł 8.49
-3.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$1.88zł 6.84
-20.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.00
$3.95zł 14.42
-11.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$3.85zł 14.05
0.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Bydgoszcz
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.07zł 3.91
6.54%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$1.50zł 5.48
16.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$1.76zł 6.41
-
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$3.38zł 12.31
-4.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$10.37zł 37.78
30.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$7.02zł 25.59
12.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.65
$14.49zł 52.8
9.52%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$1.35zł 4.92
71.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$1.62zł 5.89
4.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.64zł 5.97
22.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$4.26zł 15.52
-42.25%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$0.93zł 3.38
97.85%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$1.17zł 4.28
70.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$1.31zł 4.76
47.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.67zł 2.44
17.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.68
$5.03zł 18.33
31.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.92
$8.69zł 31.67
-34.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.17
$1.11zł 4.04
23.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$1.59zł 5.80
86.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Bydgoszcz
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$1.06zł 3.85
123.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.19
$28.74zł 105
58.52%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$2.20zł 8.03
95.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.71zł 2.60
15.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.74
$10.67zł 38.91
71.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$1.71zł 6.24
20.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$33.2Kzł 121.1K
3.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$31.6Kzł 115.2K
24.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Bydgoszcz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$232zł 845
-36.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.65
$8.68zł 31.63
136.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.08
$17.15zł 62.5
130.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Bydgoszcz
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.16
$38.10zł 139
25.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.28
$20.55zł 74.9
-7.93%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.90
$7.88zł 28.74
16.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Bydgoszcz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€528
$451zł 1,644
36.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$5,504zł 20.1K
191.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Bydgoszcz
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.0
$97.7zł 356
7.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.18
$38.09zł 139
10.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.8
$110zł 402
-14.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$128zł 466
-6.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Bydgoszcz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,400
$704zł 2,567
131.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,080
$499zł 1,820
151.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,607
$1,200zł 4,374
152.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,738
$896zł 3,266
125.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,709
$3,080zł 11.2K
153.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,675
$2,294zł 8,362
86.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Bydgoszcz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,379
$1,598zł 5,824
0.36%
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Bydgoszcz: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $704 in Bydgoszcz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 0% 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 $67.0 in Bydgoszcz. Groceries flip the comparison at $269 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 50% 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 Bydgoszcz?
Lisbon pays 0% 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 Bydgoszcz?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $704 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 Bydgoszcz?
Childcare runs $614 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 Bydgoszcz?
Supermarket bills run roughly 10% 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 Bydgoszcz?
At $1,474 in Bydgoszcz versus $2,210 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 $1,474 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 50% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.