😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,217 in Lisbon versus $773 in Ialoveni.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,245 in Lisbon versus $1,249 in Ialoveni.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,272 in Lisbon versus $1,726 in Ialoveni.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 187% more expensive than in Ialoveni, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Ialoveni is 42% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Ialoveni
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.78€13.77
$8.52MDL 147
85.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.5€54.5
$24.36MDL 421
156.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.54€9.19
$7.38MDL 127
42.82%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.41
$1.79MDL 30.85
54.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28€1.99
$0.91MDL 15.75
150.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55€1.35
$0.64MDL 11.14
142.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.55€3.09
$1.71MDL 29.61
107.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98€3.47
$2.39MDL 41.28
66.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Ialoveni
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.94
$1.24MDL 21.46
-12.90%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.54
$0.52MDL 8.91
240.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77€1.54
$0.73MDL 12.68
142.47%
Eggs
$3.12€2.72
$2.54MDL 43.82
22.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.34€11.64
$5.35MDL 92.4
149.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.98
$5.50MDL 95.0
45.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.92€13.89
$4.93MDL 85.2
222.92%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.99
$0.86MDL 14.84
165.12%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.43
$1.83MDL 31.55
-10.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$1.72MDL 29.73
15.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.45€2.14
$2.10MDL 36.37
16.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.77€1.54
$0.78MDL 13.50
126.92%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97€1.72
$0.58MDL 10.10
239.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.72
$1.30MDL 22.54
51.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80€0.70
$0.83MDL 14.41
-3.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.54€5.70
$3.20MDL 55.3
104.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.75€5.01
$4.67MDL 80.7
23.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32€1.15
$1.22MDL 21.15
8.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99€2.60
$1.97MDL 34.09
51.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Ialoveni
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.34€2.04
$0.34MDL 5.86
588.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.85€40.01
$7.04MDL 122
551.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.26€3.71
$2.10MDL 36.27
102.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.84€0.74
$0.25MDL 4.31
236.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.86€16.45
$5.29MDL 91.4
256.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.07€1.81
$1.36MDL 23.50
52.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.2K€30.8K
$32.7KMDL 565.0K
7.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.6K€33.7K
$30.8KMDL 532.9K
25.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Ialoveni
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151€132
$172MDL 2,975
-12.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.91€18.24
$7.38MDL 127
183.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.54€34.50
$10.63MDL 184
271.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Ialoveni
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.39€42.22
$29.42MDL 508
64.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.61€16.24
$11.48MDL 198
62.11%
Cinema Ticket
$9.04€7.89
$6.00MDL 104
50.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Ialoveni
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$610€532
$396MDL 6,836
54.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.2K
$7,743MDL 133.8K
110.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Ialoveni
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101€88.3
$46.04MDL 796
119.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.58€35.41
$28.75MDL 497
41.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.0€81.2
$87.8MDL 1,516
6.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€104
$98.6MDL 1,704
20.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Ialoveni
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,603€1,398
$173MDL 2,987
826.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,239€1,081
$119MDL 2,054
942.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,019€2,634
$373MDL 6,441
709.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,061€1,798
$383MDL 6,616
438.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,981€6,963
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,533€3,955
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Ialoveni
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,628€1,421
$609MDL 10.5K
167.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
9.24
-58.77%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 15, 2026
Last update for Ialoveni: June 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,603 in Lisbon and $173 in Ialoveni. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 167% 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 $24.00 in Ialoveni for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $160 per month, with Ialoveni 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 Ialoveni: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Ialoveni?
Ialoveni wins on cost – living expenses run 187% lower than in Lisbon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ialoveni the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lisbon or in Ialoveni?
Average pay runs 167% 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 Ialoveni?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,603 in Lisbon versus $173 in Ialoveni. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Lisbon compared to Ialoveni?
A monthly transit pass in Ialoveni runs roughly 551% less than in Lisbon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Lisbon and in Ialoveni?
Childcare runs $610 in Lisbon versus $396 in Ialoveni. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Lisbon or in Ialoveni?
At $773 in Ialoveni versus $2,217 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ialoveni but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Ialoveni the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Ialoveni?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ialoveni delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $773 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ialoveni hard to pass up.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Ialoveni?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Ialoveni 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 Ialoveni gentler on the wallet – expenses run 187% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.