Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Karlovy Vary Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Karlovy Vary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,359 in Karlovy Vary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $2,236 in Karlovy Vary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $3,112 in Karlovy Vary.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 63% more expensive than Karlovy Vary, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 65% above, Karlovy Vary 1% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.70
$8.51 Kč 177
86.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.8
$43.73 Kč 912
48.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.05
$8.91 Kč 186
17.96%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$2.90 Kč 60.5
-1.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$1.96 Kč 40.87
14.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.30
$1.23 Kč 25.69
21.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.01
$2.05 Kč 42.70
70.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$2.02 Kč 42.06
92.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$1.15 Kč 23.92
-0.87%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$1.50 Kč 31.32
16.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$2.10 Kč 43.81
-16.19%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$2.78 Kč 58.0
15.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.62
$12.50 Kč 261
7.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$7.02 Kč 146
12.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.67
$12.68 Kč 264
25.16%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$1.73 Kč 36.06
33.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$1.72 Kč 35.95
-1.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$2.14 Kč 44.56
-6.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$3.41 Kč 71.1
-27.86%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$1.32 Kč 27.58
39.39%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$1.15 Kč 24.00
73.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$1.18 Kč 24.66
63.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$0.73 Kč 15.14
8.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.69
$6.98 Kč 146
-5.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.93
$7.16 Kč 149
-20.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.18
$0.92 Kč 19.22
48.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$1.82 Kč 37.94
63.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Karlovy Vary
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$2.31 Kč 48.26
2.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.23
$25.86 Kč 539
76.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$2.88 Kč 59.9
48.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$1.32 Kč 27.52
-37.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.76
$15.29 Kč 319
19.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$1.70 Kč 35.51
21.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$28.4K Kč 591.2K
20.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$23.8K Kč 496.3K
65.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$258 Kč 5,382
-42.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.67
$25.42 Kč 530
-19.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.11
$20.69 Kč 431
91.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.20
$57.7 Kč 1,202
-17.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.29
$21.88 Kč 456
-13.53%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.91
$7.04 Kč 147
30.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €529
$187 Kč 3,892
228.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$2,833 Kč 59.1K
466.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.1
$85.0 Kč 1,772
23.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.22
$41.27 Kč 860
1.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.9
$98.7 Kč 2,057
-4.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$113 Kč 2,347
6.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Karlovy Vary
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,402
$730 Kč 15.2K
122.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,081
$388 Kč 8,081
223.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,609
$1,420 Kč 29.6K
113.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,740
$1,145 Kč 23.9K
76.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,716
$7,263 Kč 151.4K
7.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,679
$5,248 Kč 109.4K
-18.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,381
$1,469 Kč 30.6K
9.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
5.56
-31.47%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Karlovy Vary: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $730 in Karlovy Vary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 9% 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 $44.00 in Karlovy Vary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $244 per month, with Karlovy Vary 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 Karlovy Vary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Karlovy Vary cheaper than Lisbon?
Karlovy Vary is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 63% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or Karlovy Vary?
Lisbon pays 9% 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 Karlovy Vary?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $730 in Karlovy Vary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Lisbon or Karlovy Vary?
Dining out is cheaper in Karlovy Vary – a meal for two runs $44.00 versus $65.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Lisbon vs Karlovy Vary?
All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $1,359 in Karlovy Vary – a 63% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Lisbon or Karlovy Vary?
At $1,359 in Karlovy Vary versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Karlovy Vary but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Karlovy Vary the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisbon or Karlovy Vary more family-friendly?
For families, Karlovy Vary 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 Karlovy Vary?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Karlovy Vary 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 Karlovy Vary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 63% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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