😐A single person spends $2,291 per month in Lisbon vs $707 in Ciuciuleni, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,322 per month in Lisbon vs $1,084 in Ciuciuleni, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,354 per month in Lisbon vs $1,461 in Ciuciuleni, rent included.
😐Lisbon costs about 224% more than Ciuciuleni, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Lisbon sits 71% above the global median, while Ciuciuleni is 47% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Ciuciuleni
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.17
$8.51MDL 148
90.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.4
$36.08MDL 628
75.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.03
$7.46MDL 130
38.34%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$1.89MDL 32.97
49.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.00
$0.90MDL 15.73
154.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$0.69MDL 11.97
128.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$1.70MDL 29.58
100.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.52
$2.28MDL 39.61
76.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Ciuciuleni
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.95
$1.24MDL 21.57
-12.10%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$0.53MDL 9.16
230.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.52MDL 26.50
15.79%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$2.62MDL 45.66
20.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.54
$10.45MDL 182
26.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.97
$5.52MDL 96.1
44.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.59
$8.60MDL 150
80.58%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$0.90MDL 15.67
163.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$1.74MDL 30.25
-1.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$1.78MDL 30.93
12.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$2.06MDL 35.81
17.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$0.84MDL 14.55
109.52%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$0.59MDL 10.20
244.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$1.30MDL 22.66
47.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$0.84MDL 14.61
1.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$3.27MDL 57.0
101.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.88
$4.43MDL 77.1
25.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$1.25MDL 21.78
6.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$1.92MDL 33.46
54.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Ciuciuleni
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.06
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$2.07MDL 36.09
104.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$0.27MDL 4.75
200.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.13
$5.38MDL 93.6
242.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$1.43MDL 24.95
45.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.3K
$32.3KMDL 561.8K
7.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$31.6KMDL 549.4K
24.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Ciuciuleni
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$170MDL 2,959
-12.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.90
$7.32MDL 127
179.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.61
$10.79MDL 188
266.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Ciuciuleni
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€41.99
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.27
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.07
$7.68MDL 134
20.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Ciuciuleni
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€539
$395MDL 6,875
56.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$7,606MDL 132.4K
116.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Ciuciuleni
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€89.9
$65.1MDL 1,134
57.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.52
$53.1MDL 924
-21.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€82.9
$111MDL 1,929
-14.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$124MDL 2,153
-1.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Ciuciuleni
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,428
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,078
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,711
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,777
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,851
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,840
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Ciuciuleni
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,406
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
9.24
-58.77%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Last update for Ciuciuleni: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Lisbon versus $36.00 in Ciuciuleni. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $267 vs $189 – 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 224%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $3,437 per month in Lisbon and $1,060 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 $2,291 in Lisbon and $707 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 $616 per month in Lisbon and $395 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 $707, than in Lisbon at $2,291. 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.