😐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: Lisbon65% above, Karlovy Vary1% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.70
$8.51Kč 177
86.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.8
$43.73Kč 912
48.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.05
$8.91Kč 186
17.96%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$2.90Kč 60.5
-1.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$1.96Kč 40.87
14.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$1.23Kč 25.69
21.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.01
$2.05Kč 42.70
70.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$2.02Kč 42.06
92.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.15Kč 23.92
-0.87%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$1.50Kč 31.32
16.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$2.10Kč 43.81
-16.19%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$2.78Kč 58.0
15.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.62
$12.50Kč 261
7.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$7.02Kč 146
12.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.67
$12.68Kč 264
25.16%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$1.73Kč 36.06
33.53%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$1.72Kč 35.95
-1.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$2.14Kč 44.56
-6.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$3.41Kč 71.1
-27.86%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$1.32Kč 27.58
39.39%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$1.15Kč 24.00
73.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$1.18Kč 24.66
63.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.73Kč 15.14
8.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.69
$6.98Kč 146
-5.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.93
$7.16Kč 149
-20.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$0.92Kč 19.22
48.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$1.82Kč 37.94
63.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Karlovy Vary
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$2.31Kč 48.26
2.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.23
$25.86Kč 539
76.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$2.88Kč 59.9
48.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$1.32Kč 27.52
-37.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.76
$15.29Kč 319
19.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$1.70Kč 35.51
21.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$28.4KKč 591.2K
20.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$23.8KKč 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
$258Kč 5,382
-42.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.67
$25.42Kč 530
-19.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.11
$20.69Kč 431
91.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.20
$57.7Kč 1,202
-17.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.29
$21.88Kč 456
-13.53%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.91
$7.04Kč 147
30.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€529
$187Kč 3,892
228.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$2,833Kč 59.1K
466.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.1
$85.0Kč 1,772
23.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.22
$41.27Kč 860
1.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.9
$98.7Kč 2,057
-4.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$113Kč 2,347
6.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Karlovy Vary
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,402
$730Kč 15.2K
122.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,081
$388Kč 8,081
223.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,609
$1,420Kč 29.6K
113.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,740
$1,145Kč 23.9K
76.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,716
$7,263Kč 151.4K
7.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,679
$5,248Kč 109.4K
-18.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,381
$1,469Kč 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.