Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Elblag Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Elblag

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $1,561 in Elblag.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $2,198 in Elblag.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $2,835 in Elblag.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 43% more expensive than Elblag, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 66% above, Elblag 17% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Elblag
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17 €13.84
$10.68 zł 38.87
51.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6 €55.3
$28.84 zł 105
123.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 €8.88
$7.75 zł 28.22
33.94%
Cappuccino
$2.77 €2.37
$4.13 zł 15.03
-32.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 €1.92
$2.06 zł 7.49
9.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 €1.35
$1.86 zł 6.76
-15.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €2.99
$3.31 zł 12.05
5.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00 €3.43
$4.70 zł 17.12
-14.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Elblag
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.93
$1.14 zł 4.14
-5.26%
White Bread (500g)
$1.74 €1.49
$1.35 zł 4.91
28.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 €1.49
$1.83 zł 6.66
-4.92%
Eggs
$3.18 €2.72
$3.52 zł 12.80
-9.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.43 €11.50
$10.02 zł 36.46
34.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.99 €6.84
$7.07 zł 25.72
13.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.09 €13.77
$14.14 zł 51.5
13.79%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 €1.95
$1.30 zł 4.72
75.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 €1.48
$1.84 zł 6.69
-6.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 €1.66
$2.02 zł 7.36
-3.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.54 €2.18
$3.71 zł 13.52
-31.54%
Potato (1kg)
$1.83 €1.57
$1.08 zł 3.94
69.44%
Onion (1kg)
$2.04 €1.75
$1.22 zł 4.45
67.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.98 €1.69
$1.45 zł 5.28
36.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.73
$0.69 zł 2.50
23.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85 €5.87
$4.36 zł 15.87
57.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.78 €4.94
$6.85 zł 24.92
-15.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.18
$1.44 zł 5.24
-4.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 €2.48
$1.88 zł 6.84
54.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Elblag
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €1.95
$1.11 zł 4.05
105.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.84 €40.10
$25.55 zł 93.0
83.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.08 €3.49
$2.79 zł 10.16
46.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$1.02 zł 3.71
-19.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.27 €15.64
$13.36 zł 48.65
36.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.01 €1.72
$1.70 zł 6.20
18.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K €30.2K
$32.6K zł 118.8K
8.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K €32.9K
$26.5K zł 96.5K
45.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Elblag
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$145 €124
$356 zł 1,297
-59.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96 €17.94
$9.98 zł 36.33
110.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05 €34.29
$14.90 zł 54.3
168.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Elblag
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.79 €41.76
$35.28 zł 128
38.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69 €16.00
$13.47 zł 49.03
38.75%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06 €7.76
$6.33 zł 23.04
43.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Elblag
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$607 €519
$574 zł 2,088
5.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K €14.0K
$2,070 zł 7,534
689.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Elblag
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €89.6
$97.6 zł 355
7.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95 €35.06
$47.96 zł 175
-14.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.6 €80.1
$95.2 zł 347
-1.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €101
$110 zł 402
7.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Elblag
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,604 €1,373
$687 zł 2,500
133.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,236 €1,058
$497 zł 1,808
148.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,046 €2,607
$991 zł 3,606
207.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,057 €1,761
$824 zł 2,999
149.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,709 €6,599
$2,332 zł 8,487
230.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,266 €3,652
$2,307 zł 8,397
84.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Elblag
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,584 €1,356
$1,393 zł 5,071
13.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
7
-45.57%

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

Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026

Last update for Elblag: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $687 in Elblag. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 14% 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: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $29.00 in Elblag for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $243 per month, with Elblag cheaper across the board.

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 Elblag: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Elblag cheaper than Lisbon?
Elblag is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 43% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or Elblag?
Lisbon pays 14% 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 Elblag?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $687 in Elblag. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Lisbon and Elblag?
Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Lisbon or Elblag?
Dining out is cheaper in Elblag – a meal for two runs $29.00 versus $65.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Lisbon or Elblag?
At $1,561 in Elblag versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Elblag but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Elblag the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisbon or Elblag more family-friendly?
For families, Elblag 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 Elblag?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Elblag 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 Elblag gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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