Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Focsani Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Focsani

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $1,060 in Focsani.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $1,708 in Focsani.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $2,356 in Focsani.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 117% more expensive than in Focsani, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Focsani is 23% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Focsani
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59 €15.33
$7.79 RON 35.72
125.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9 €54.8
$44.04 RON 202
42.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.58 €10.10
$7.71 RON 35.39
50.19%
Cappuccino
$3.10 €2.70
$2.52 RON 11.56
23.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 €2.17
$1.99 RON 9.15
25.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.52
$1.72 RON 7.91
1.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.48 €3.03
$1.93 RON 8.83
80.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 €3.00
$2.69 RON 12.35
27.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Focsani
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 €1.00
$1.81 RON 8.33
-36.46%
White Bread (500g)
$1.91 €1.66
$1.14 RON 5.24
67.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 €1.31
$1.36 RON 6.23
10.29%
Eggs
$3.98 €3.47
$3.27 RON 15.01
21.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.29 €11.59
$9.31 RON 42.72
42.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.01 €6.98
$7.21 RON 33.06
11.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.04 €15.73
$10.87 RON 49.88
65.96%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 €2.05
$1.28 RON 5.89
83.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.53
$1.65 RON 7.59
6.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 €1.62
$1.63 RON 7.47
13.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.55 €2.22
$2.29 RON 10.49
11.35%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.61
$0.88 RON 4.04
109.09%
Onion (1kg)
$2.10 €1.83
$0.77 RON 3.52
172.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.49 €1.30
$0.64 RON 2.92
132.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 €0.71
$0.74 RON 3.39
10.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10 €6.19
$6.09 RON 27.95
16.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.91 €5.15
$4.45 RON 20.44
32.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 €1.15
$1.21 RON 5.54
8.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 €1.86
$1.58 RON 7.27
34.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Focsani
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.36 €2.05
$0.86 RON 3.94
174.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.62 €40.63
$16.82 RON 77.2
177.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.08 €3.55
$0.68 RON 3.12
500.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.14 €0.99
$0.64 RON 2.92
78.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.09 €14.90
$6.50 RON 29.81
162.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.31 €2.01
$1.79 RON 8.21
29.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K €29.7K
$26.6K RON 121.9K
28.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K €36.1K
$25.9K RON 118.8K
59.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Focsani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 €147
$178 RON 816
-5.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33 €16.85
$8.43 RON 38.69
129.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51 €29.21
$10.03 RON 46.02
234.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Focsani
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.84 €42.57
$29.24 RON 134
67.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43 €16.94
$38.02 RON 174
-48.90%
Cinema Ticket
$9.57 €8.34
$8.72 RON 40.02
9.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Focsani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$696 €607
$325 RON 1,491
114.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.4K €15.1K
$14.8K RON 68.0K
17.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Focsani
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €91.8
$93.9 RON 431
12.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75 €41.62
$39.77 RON 182
20.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 €87.6
$82.4 RON 378
22.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €108
$97.8 RON 449
27.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Focsani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,662 €1,449
$396 RON 1,817
319.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,246 €1,086
$302 RON 1,387
312.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,965 €2,584
$958 RON 4,395
209.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,049 €1,786
$671 RON 3,077
205.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,834 €6,829
$1,124 RON 5,159
596.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,464 €3,892
$924 RON 4,242
382.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Focsani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,632 €1,422
$707 RON 3,245
130.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.78
6.76
-44.08%

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

Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026

Last update for Focsani: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $396 in Focsani. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 131% 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 $44.00 in Focsani for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $213 per month, with Focsani 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 Focsani: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Focsani?
Focsani wins on cost – living expenses run 117% lower than in Lisbon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Focsani the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lisbon or in Focsani?
Average pay runs 131% higher in Lisbon, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lisbon compared to Focsani?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $396 in Focsani. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Lisbon and in Focsani?
Dining out is cheaper in Focsani – a meal for two runs $44.00 versus $63.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Lisbon compared to Focsani?
All in, you'll spend $2,296 per month in Lisbon versus $1,060 in Focsani – a 117% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Lisbon or in Focsani?
At $1,060 in Focsani versus $2,296 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Focsani but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Focsani the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Focsani?
Both work as nomad bases, but Focsani delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,060 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Focsani hard to pass up.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Focsani?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Focsani 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Focsani gentler on the wallet – expenses run 117% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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