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: $2,217 in Lisbon versus $939 in Focsani.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,245 in Lisbon versus $1,438 in Focsani.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,272 in Lisbon versus $1,937 in Focsani.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 136% more expensive than Focsani, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Focsani is 30% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Focsani
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.78 €13.59
$8.30 RON 37.37
90.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.5 €53.8
$45.88 RON 207
36.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.54 €9.07
$5.63 RON 25.34
87.21%
Cappuccino
$2.77 €2.38
$1.87 RON 8.42
48.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 €1.97
$1.58 RON 7.11
44.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 €1.33
$1.35 RON 6.07
14.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.55 €3.05
$1.89 RON 8.52
87.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98 €3.43
$2.83 RON 12.76
40.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Focsani
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.93
$1.55 RON 7.00
-30.32%
White Bread (500g)
$1.77 €1.52
$0.83 RON 3.76
113.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 €1.52
$1.84 RON 8.28
-3.80%
Eggs
$3.12 €2.69
$2.92 RON 13.15
6.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.34 €11.49
$8.66 RON 39.00
54.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.99 €6.88
$6.97 RON 31.39
14.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.92 €13.70
$12.10 RON 54.5
31.57%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 €1.97
$1.01 RON 4.55
125.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 €1.42
$1.40 RON 6.32
17.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.98 €1.70
$1.40 RON 6.30
41.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.45 €2.11
$2.36 RON 10.62
3.81%
Potato (1kg)
$1.77 €1.52
$0.71 RON 3.20
149.30%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 €1.69
$0.89 RON 4.01
121.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 €1.70
$0.55 RON 2.50
258.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 €0.69
$0.80 RON 3.58
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.54 €5.63
$5.93 RON 26.73
10.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.75 €4.95
$4.39 RON 19.79
30.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32 €1.13
$1.10 RON 4.94
20.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 €2.57
$1.13 RON 5.10
164.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Focsani
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.34 €2.01
$0.60 RON 2.72
290.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.85 €39.48
$14.16 RON 63.8
223.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.26 €3.66
$0.75 RON 3.39
468.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.84 €0.73
$0.76 RON 3.43
10.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.86 €16.24
$6.75 RON 30.40
179.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.07 €1.78
$1.57 RON 7.08
31.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.2K €30.3K
$27.5K RON 124.0K
27.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.6K €33.2K
$28.0K RON 126.2K
37.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Focsani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$151 €130
$165 RON 743
-8.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.91 €18.00
$8.22 RON 37.02
154.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.54 €34.05
$9.28 RON 41.81
326.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Focsani
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.39 €41.67
$17.17 RON 77.3
181.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.61 €16.02
$19.39 RON 87.3
-4.02%
Cinema Ticket
$9.04 €7.79
$11.14 RON 50.2
-18.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Focsani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$610 €525
$407 RON 1,835
49.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K €14.0K
$6,575 RON 29.6K
147.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Focsani
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 €87.2
$67.3 RON 303
50.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.58 €34.94
$43.43 RON 196
-6.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.0 €80.1
$58.1 RON 262
60.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €102
$71.5 RON 322
65.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Focsani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,603 €1,380
$344 RON 1,551
365.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,239 €1,067
$271 RON 1,221
356.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,019 €2,599
$579 RON 2,608
421.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,061 €1,775
$434 RON 1,957
374.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,981 €6,872
$1,130 RON 5,087
606.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,533 €3,903
$911 RON 4,102
397.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Focsani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,628 €1,402
$710 RON 3,199
129.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
6.5
-41.38%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 15, 2026

Last update for Focsani: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,603 in Lisbon and $344 in Focsani. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 129% 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: $62.0 in Lisbon vs $46.00 in Focsani for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $203 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 136% 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 Focsani?
Lisbon pays 129% more on average, 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 vs Focsani?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,603 in Lisbon versus $344 in Focsani. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Lisbon vs Focsani?
Dining out is cheaper in Focsani – a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $62.0 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 $2,217 per month in Lisbon versus $939 in Focsani – a 136% 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 Focsani?
At $939 in Focsani versus $2,217 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 $939 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 136% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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