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: $2,280 in Lisbon versus $1,579 in Elblag.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,294 in Lisbon versus $2,196 in Elblag.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,307 in Lisbon versus $2,814 in Elblag.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 44% more expensive than in Elblag, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 71% above, Elblag 19% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Elblag
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75 €13.67
$10.98 zł 41.00
43.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5 €55.1
$29.86 zł 112
112.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.45 €9.07
$7.74 zł 28.93
35.01%
Cappuccino
$2.91 €2.53
$4.16 zł 15.55
-30.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €1.99
$2.14 zł 8.01
7.01%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.30
$1.82 zł 6.79
-17.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.56 €3.09
$3.35 zł 12.52
6.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 €3.44
$4.71 zł 17.60
-15.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Elblag
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.94
$1.15 zł 4.29
-6.09%
White Bread (500g)
$1.76 €1.53
$1.38 zł 5.15
27.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 €1.47
$1.76 zł 6.56
-3.41%
Eggs
$3.25 €2.82
$3.60 zł 13.45
-9.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.25 €11.49
$10.33 zł 38.59
28.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 €6.68
$7.19 zł 26.85
7.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.77 €13.68
$14.39 zł 53.8
9.59%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 €1.98
$1.31 zł 4.88
74.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 €1.44
$1.84 zł 6.87
-9.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.02 €1.75
$2.03 zł 7.59
-0.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.47 €2.15
$3.78 zł 14.11
-34.66%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 €1.55
$1.04 zł 3.90
72.12%
Onion (1kg)
$2.07 €1.79
$1.18 zł 4.40
75.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 €1.71
$1.47 zł 5.48
34.01%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 €0.72
$0.73 zł 2.72
13.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55 €5.69
$4.50 zł 16.80
45.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.57 €4.83
$6.68 zł 24.94
-16.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.15
$1.38 zł 5.17
-3.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 €2.61
$1.94 zł 7.24
55.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Elblag
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.27 €1.97
$1.11 zł 4.14
104.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.35 €40.21
$25.55 zł 95.4
81.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.23 €3.67
$2.70 zł 10.07
56.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 €0.74
$0.98 zł 3.67
-13.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.83 €16.34
$13.78 zł 51.5
36.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.02 €1.75
$1.77 zł 6.62
14.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K €30.3K
$32.3K zł 120.9K
8.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K €34.4K
$27.2K zł 101.8K
45.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Elblag
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €128
$360 zł 1,343
-58.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.80
$10.12 zł 37.82
102.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52 €34.29
$14.86 zł 55.5
165.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Elblag
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.17 €41.79
$35.03 zł 131
37.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39 €15.95
$13.40 zł 50.1
37.24%
Cinema Ticket
$9.10 €7.89
$6.32 zł 23.62
43.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Elblag
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$615 €533
$584 zł 2,181
5.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K €14.1K
$2,080 zł 7,770
683.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Elblag
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 €88.1
$99.5 zł 372
2.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09 €36.52
$48.03 zł 179
-12.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.3 €80.1
$93.4 zł 349
-1.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 €106
$110 zł 410
11.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Elblag
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,612 €1,398
$691 zł 2,582
133.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,254 €1,088
$497 zł 1,856
152.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,069 €2,663
$994 zł 3,715
208.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,037 €1,767
$814 zł 3,042
150.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,751 €6,724
$2,224 zł 8,309
248.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,286 €3,719
$2,251 zł 8,410
90.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Elblag
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,602 €1,390
$1,362 zł 5,089
17.58%
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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Elblag: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Lisbon and $691 in Elblag. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 18% 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 $30.00 in Elblag for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $246 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 44% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or Elblag?
Average pay runs 18% higher in Lisbon, 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: $1,612 in Lisbon versus $691 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 in Elblag?
Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Lisbon or in Elblag?
Dining out is cheaper in Elblag – a meal for two runs $30.00 versus $63.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Lisbon or in Elblag?
At $1,579 in Elblag versus $2,280 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 44% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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