Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Constanta Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Constanta

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $1,300 in Constanta.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $2,124 in Constanta.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $2,947 in Constanta.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 74% more expensive than Constanta, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Constanta is 3% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Constanta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94 €13.82
$13.58 RON 61.7
17.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4 €54.9
$69.9 RON 317
-9.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 €9.00
$7.96 RON 36.13
30.40%
Cappuccino
$2.79 €2.42
$3.35 RON 15.19
-16.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 €2.03
$1.90 RON 8.64
23.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 €1.36
$1.30 RON 5.92
20.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.43 €2.97
$2.26 RON 10.25
51.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 €3.39
$3.26 RON 14.79
19.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Constanta
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.93
$1.71 RON 7.76
-36.84%
White Bread (500g)
$1.77 €1.53
$1.25 RON 5.68
41.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 €1.48
$1.90 RON 8.61
-10.00%
Eggs
$3.15 €2.73
$3.23 RON 14.65
-2.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.68 €11.86
$9.92 RON 45.05
37.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.01 €6.94
$6.76 RON 30.71
18.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.52 €13.45
$11.78 RON 53.5
31.75%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 €1.99
$1.45 RON 6.58
57.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 €1.42
$1.73 RON 7.87
-5.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 €1.68
$1.76 RON 8.01
10.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.51 €2.18
$2.52 RON 11.45
-0.40%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 €1.55
$1.01 RON 4.57
77.23%
Onion (1kg)
$2.01 €1.74
$1.11 RON 5.04
81.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 €1.70
$1.02 RON 4.64
93.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 €0.73
$0.90 RON 4.10
-6.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79 €5.88
$6.27 RON 28.47
8.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.67 €4.92
$6.76 RON 30.69
-16.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 €1.20
$1.10 RON 5.00
26.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 €2.61
$1.87 RON 8.51
61.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Constanta
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.27 €1.97
$0.67 RON 3.02
238.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.44 €39.38
$18.09 RON 82.1
151.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.72
$0.95 RON 4.30
351.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 €0.74
$0.70 RON 3.16
21.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.28 €15.84
$7.83 RON 35.54
133.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.99 €1.72
$1.68 RON 7.63
18.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K €30.4K
$28.0K RON 127.3K
24.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K €34.3K
$27.9K RON 126.6K
41.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Constanta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$146 €127
$187 RON 850
-21.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45 €17.72
$7.96 RON 36.13
156.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98 €33.78
$9.03 RON 40.99
331.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Constanta
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.98 €42.46
$58.2 RON 264
-15.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83 €16.32
$37.53 RON 170
-49.83%
Cinema Ticket
$9.52 €8.25
$8.16 RON 37.06
16.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Constanta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$608 €527
$539 RON 2,448
12.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K €14.3K
$8,309 RON 37.7K
98.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Constanta
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 €90.0
$69.0 RON 313
50.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12 €36.50
$65.7 RON 298
-35.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.2 €79.9
$75.8 RON 344
21.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €104
$79.3 RON 360
51.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Constanta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,621 €1,405
$589 RON 2,675
175.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,268 €1,099
$458 RON 2,080
176.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,048 €2,642
$1,133 RON 5,145
168.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,009 €1,741
$864 RON 3,923
132.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,663 €6,641
$2,572 RON 11.7K
197.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,329 €3,752
$2,018 RON 9,159
114.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Constanta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,585 €1,374
$985 RON 4,469
60.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
6.78
-43.81%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026

Last update for Constanta: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $589 in Constanta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 61% 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 $70.0 in Constanta. Groceries flip the comparison at $269 vs $229, with Constanta 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 Constanta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Constanta cheaper than Lisbon?
Constanta is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 74% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or Constanta?
Lisbon pays 61% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Lisbon and Constanta?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $589 in Constanta. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Lisbon or Constanta?
Dining out is cheaper in Constanta – a meal for two runs $70.0 versus $63.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Lisbon vs Constanta?
All in, you'll spend $2,263 per month in Lisbon versus $1,300 in Constanta – a 74% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Lisbon or Constanta?
At $1,300 in Constanta versus $2,263 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Constanta but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Constanta the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisbon or Constanta more family-friendly?
For families, Constanta is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lisbon, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Constanta?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Constanta 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Constanta gentler on the wallet – expenses run 74% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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