Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Bydgoszcz

For one person, living is cheaper in Bydgoszcz: $1,461 a month against $2,202 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $8,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,202
/mo nomad
Bydgoszcz
🇵🇱 Poland
$1,461
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Bydgoszcz

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lisbon and in Bydgoszcz actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,202 in Lisbon versus $1,461 in Bydgoszcz.

  • Lisbon $2,202
  • Bydgoszcz $1,461

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,274 in Lisbon versus $2,221 in Bydgoszcz.

  • Lisbon $3,274
  • Bydgoszcz $2,221

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,346 in Lisbon versus $2,981 in Bydgoszcz.

  • Lisbon $4,346
  • Bydgoszcz $2,981

Living in Lisbon is roughly 51% more expensive than in Bydgoszcz, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 62% above, Bydgoszcz 8% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Bydgoszcz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.04 €15.15
$12.16 zł 47.25
40.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.3 €55.4
$63.0 zł 245
-1.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.02 €9.80
$7.78 zł 30.21
41.65%
Cappuccino
$3.12 €2.78
$3.42 zł 13.29
-8.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 €2.02
$2.10 zł 8.17
8.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.55
$1.70 zł 6.61
2.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.42 €3.04
$3.87 zł 15.02
-11.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74 €3.33
$3.67 zł 14.25
1.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Bydgoszcz
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 €1.04
$1.04 zł 4.06
12.50%
White Bread (500g)
$1.86 €1.66
$1.68 zł 6.54
10.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.54 €1.37
$0.97 zł 3.77
58.76%
Eggs
$4.06 €3.61
$3.86 zł 14.98
5.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.91 €11.49
$9.19 zł 35.72
40.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.90 €7.03
$6.94 zł 26.95
13.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.64 €15.69
$11.97 zł 46.52
47.37%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 €2.01
$1.36 zł 5.30
66.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.55
$1.69 zł 6.56
3.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 €1.68
$1.54 zł 6.00
22.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.56 €2.27
$3.17 zł 12.30
-19.24%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 €1.64
$0.93 zł 3.62
98.92%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 €1.75
$1.32 zł 5.12
49.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 €1.29
$1.13 zł 4.38
28.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 €0.69
$0.66 zł 2.57
16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.71 €5.97
$5.67 zł 22.02
18.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.67 €5.04
$8.13 zł 31.59
-30.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.22
$1.07 zł 4.16
28.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 €1.88
$1.43 zł 5.55
47.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Bydgoszcz
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.32 €2.07
$0.95 zł 3.71
144.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.43 €39.52
$27.75 zł 108
60.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.95 €3.51
$2.14 zł 8.30
84.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.05 €0.93
$0.78 zł 3.04
34.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.15 €15.26
$10.08 zł 39.18
70.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.19 €1.95
$1.55 zł 6.03
41.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.8K €30.0K
$30.7K zł 119.2K
10.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.3K €34.0K
$29.7K zł 115.2K
29.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Bydgoszcz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$164 €146
$282 zł 1,095
-41.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.48 €16.43
$7.93 zł 30.83
133.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.96 €29.32
$18.87 zł 73.3
74.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Bydgoszcz
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.87 €40.80
$39.69 zł 154
15.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.68 €16.61
$16.79 zł 65.2
11.26%
Cinema Ticket
$9.75 €8.67
$7.71 zł 29.97
26.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Bydgoszcz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$684 €608
$329 zł 1,278
107.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.6K €15.7K
$5,120 zł 19.9K
244.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Bydgoszcz
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 €92.3
$82.1 zł 319
26.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.20 €41.09
$36.18 zł 141
27.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.7 €88.7
$89.4 zł 347
11.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 €111
$101 zł 392
23.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Bydgoszcz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,589 €1,414
$678 zł 2,633
134.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,169 €1,040
$491 zł 1,907
138.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,851 €2,536
$1,116 zł 4,336
155.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,993 €1,773
$896 zł 3,481
122.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,793 €6,932
$2,864 zł 11.1K
172.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,418 €3,930
$2,164 zł 8,409
104.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Bydgoszcz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,600 €1,423
$1,497 zł 5,817
6.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
6.89
-44.12%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lisbon: October 19, 2026

Last update for Bydgoszcz: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Bydgoszcz
$491 58% $678
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$273
Bydgoszcz
$226 17.2% $47
Eating Out
Lisbon
$247
Bydgoszcz
$204 17.8% $44
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$215
Bydgoszcz
$309 43.4% $93
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$168
Bydgoszcz
$139 17.6% $30
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$65
Bydgoszcz
$55 15.7% $10
Getting Around
Lisbon
$63
Bydgoszcz
$38 40.2% $25

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,589 in Lisbon and $678 in Bydgoszcz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 7% 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: $62.0 in Lisbon vs $63.0 in Bydgoszcz. Groceries flip the comparison at $273 vs $226, with Bydgoszcz cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇵🇱 Bydgoszcz
🕒 Local time
13:31 1:31 PM
14:31 2:31 PM
1 h ahead of Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
359,428
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

PLN, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Polish Złoty exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 3.89 PLN (1 PLN = 0.257 USD). 1 EUR = 4.37 PLN (1 PLN = 0.229 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Bydgoszcz 2,620 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Bydgoszcz

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 51% 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 7% 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: $1,589 in Lisbon versus $678 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 $684 in Lisbon versus $329 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 21% 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 $1,461 in Bydgoszcz versus $2,202 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 $1,461 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 51% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Lisbon vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?