😐A single person spends $2,268 per month in Lisbon vs $642 in Ciuciuleni, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,348 per month in Lisbon vs $966 in Ciuciuleni, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,429 per month in Lisbon vs $1,290 in Ciuciuleni, rent included.
😐Lisbon costs about 253% more than Ciuciuleni, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Lisbon sits 64% above the global median, while Ciuciuleni is 53% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Ciuciuleni
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.55€15.13
$8.49MDL 146
106.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.5€55.6
$29.94MDL 514
115.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.65€10.04
$10.86MDL 186
7.27%
Cappuccino
$3.26€2.81
$1.82MDL 31.29
79.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.15
$1.14MDL 19.53
118.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67€1.44
$0.72MDL 12.37
131.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47€2.99
$1.97MDL 33.79
76.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58€3.08
$2.26MDL 38.84
58.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Ciuciuleni
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18€1.02
$1.30MDL 22.37
-9.23%
White Bread(500g)
$1.95€1.68
$0.51MDL 8.78
282.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56€1.35
$1.60MDL 27.47
-2.50%
Eggs
$4.01€3.46
$2.26MDL 38.72
77.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.27€11.45
$6.78MDL 116
95.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.42€7.26
$4.90MDL 84.0
71.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.23€15.72
$6.32MDL 108
188.45%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32€2.00
$1.06MDL 18.18
118.87%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73€1.49
$2.34MDL 40.09
-26.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93€1.67
$1.86MDL 32.00
3.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.64€2.28
$2.35MDL 40.29
12.34%
Potato(1kg)
$1.90€1.64
$0.79MDL 13.51
140.51%
Onion(1kg)
$2.11€1.82
$0.54MDL 9.35
290.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.24
$0.47MDL 8.11
206.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80€0.69
$0.60MDL 10.34
33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.01€6.04
$3.36MDL 57.6
108.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.92€5.11
$4.52MDL 77.6
30.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36€1.18
$1.42MDL 24.35
-4.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15€1.85
$2.05MDL 35.24
4.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Ciuciuleni
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.38€2.05
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.22€39.86
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.19€3.61
$2.83MDL 48.64
48.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.10€0.95
$0.27MDL 4.63
307.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.26€14.88
$5.81MDL 99.7
197.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.25€1.94
$1.53MDL 26.28
47.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K€29.7K
$34.5KMDL 591.9K
-0.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.6K€35.9K
$25.2KMDL 433.2K
64.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Ciuciuleni
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$171€147
$233MDL 4,002
-26.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.01€16.39
$8.29MDL 142
129.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.28€29.56
$11.50MDL 197
198.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Ciuciuleni
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.65€42.81
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.51€16.82
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.10€8.71
$7.90MDL 136
27.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Ciuciuleni
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$699€603
$114MDL 1,953
514.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.8K€15.3K
$5,356MDL 91.9K
231.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Ciuciuleni
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.2
$46.56MDL 799
124.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.97€41.36
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.8
$58.9MDL 1,011
72.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128€111
$52.5MDL 900
144.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Ciuciuleni
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,661€1,433
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,228€1,059
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,915€2,514
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,023€1,745
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,129€7,010
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,635€3,997
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Ciuciuleni
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,619€1,396
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
8
-52.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026
Last update for Ciuciuleni: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $64.0 in Lisbon versus $30.00 in Ciuciuleni. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $281 vs $169 – making Ciuciuleni the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Ciuciuleni: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ciuciuleni cheaper than Lisbon?
Yes – Lisbon is pricier by about 253%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,402 per month in Lisbon and $964 in Ciuciuleni. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Lisbon and in Ciuciuleni?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,268 in Lisbon and $642 in Ciuciuleni. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $699 per month in Lisbon and $114 in Ciuciuleni. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Lisbon or in Ciuciuleni?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ciuciuleni, where all-in costs run around $642, than in Lisbon at $2,268. In Ciuciuleni it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Lisbon or Ciuciuleni more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ciuciuleni – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Ciuciuleni?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ciuciuleni. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lisbon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.