Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Cricova Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Cricova

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $23.22 in Cricova.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $29.00 in Cricova.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $34.47 in Cricova.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 9491% more expensive than Cricova, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Cricova is 98% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.17 €13.84

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.6 €55.3

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.38 €8.88

Cappuccino

$2.77 €2.37

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 €1.92

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 €1.35

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.49 €2.99

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.00 €3.43

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 €0.93

White Bread (500g)

$1.74 €1.49

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.74 €1.49

Eggs

$3.18 €2.72

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.43 €11.50

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.99 €6.84

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.09 €13.77

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 €1.95

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 €1.48

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 €1.66

Tomato (1kg)

$2.54 €2.18

Potato (1kg)

$1.83 €1.57

Onion (1kg)

$2.04 €1.75

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 €1.69

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 €0.73

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.85 €5.87

Wine (Bottle)

$5.78 €4.94

$11.44 MDL 197

-49.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 €1.18

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 €2.48

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.28 €1.95

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.84 €40.10

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.08 €3.49

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 €0.70

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.27 €15.64

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.01 €1.72

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.3K €30.2K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$38.5K €32.9K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$145 €124

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$20.96 €17.94

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.05 €34.29

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.79 €41.76

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.69 €16.00

Cinema Ticket

$9.06 €7.76

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$607 €519

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.3K €14.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €89.6

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.95 €35.06

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.6 €80.1

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 €101

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,604 €1,373

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,236 €1,058

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,046 €2,607

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,057 €1,761

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,709 €6,599

$2,836 MDL 48.9K

171.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,266 €3,652

$2,033 MDL 35.1K

109.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,584 €1,356

$579 MDL 9,981

173.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.81

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

Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026

Last update for Cricova: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Lisbon pays 174% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

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 Cricova: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lisbon and Cricova differ by about 9491% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $23.22 including rent). Cricova is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Lisbon pays 174% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1083% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,227 per month in Lisbon versus $23.22 in Cricova – a 9491% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $23.22 in Cricova versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Cricova but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Cricova the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Lisbon and Cricova are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Cricova gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9491% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.