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: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $1,357 in Karlovy Vary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $2,239 in Karlovy Vary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $3,121 in Karlovy Vary.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 69% more expensive than in Karlovy Vary, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 71% above, Karlovy Vary 2% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19 €14.18
$8.30 Kč 176
95.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3 €55.5
$43.72 Kč 926
44.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.32 €9.04
$8.96 Kč 190
15.18%
Cappuccino
$2.83 €2.48
$2.89 Kč 61.2
-2.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.01
$1.89 Kč 40.06
21.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 €1.38
$1.24 Kč 26.18
27.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 €2.98
$2.11 Kč 44.72
61.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03 €3.53
$2.02 Kč 42.84
99.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 €0.96
$1.13 Kč 23.95
-3.54%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.53
$1.49 Kč 31.65
17.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$2.18 Kč 46.11
-19.27%
Eggs
$3.17 €2.77
$2.79 Kč 59.1
13.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.19 €11.56
$12.17 Kč 258
8.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.97 €6.98
$6.91 Kč 146
15.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.53 €13.60
$13.10 Kč 278
18.55%
Apples (1kg)
$2.37 €2.07
$1.73 Kč 36.68
36.99%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 €1.49
$1.70 Kč 36.07
0.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.76
$2.08 Kč 44.17
-3.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.43 €2.13
$3.43 Kč 72.6
-29.15%
Potato (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$1.32 Kč 28.02
33.33%
Onion (1kg)
$2.03 €1.78
$1.20 Kč 25.42
69.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.92 €1.68
$1.24 Kč 26.35
54.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.74
$0.72 Kč 15.20
18.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58 €5.76
$7.08 Kč 150
-7.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.58 €4.89
$7.09 Kč 150
-21.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.17
$0.87 Kč 18.41
52.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.60
$1.88 Kč 39.81
57.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Karlovy Vary
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €1.99
$2.29 Kč 48.51
-0.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.79 €40.10
$25.52 Kč 541
79.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.23 €3.70
$2.73 Kč 57.9
54.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 €0.71
$1.37 Kč 29.12
-40.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.44 €16.15
$15.68 Kč 332
17.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.08 €1.82
$1.62 Kč 34.40
28.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K €30.4K
$27.9K Kč 592.2K
24.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K €34.3K
$24.4K Kč 516.2K
60.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €130
$251 Kč 5,328
-41.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46 €17.92
$25.78 Kč 546
-20.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56 €34.64
$20.79 Kč 441
90.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.99 €42.03
$59.3 Kč 1,256
-19.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60 €16.29
$21.38 Kč 453
-13.00%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22 €8.08
$6.91 Kč 146
33.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$616 €540
$186 Kč 3,942
231.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.4K €14.4K
$2,752 Kč 58.3K
497.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 €90.0
$85.0 Kč 1,800
20.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74 €36.55
$40.85 Kč 866
2.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.8 €83.0
$97.1 Kč 2,057
-2.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 €107
$112 Kč 2,365
9.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Karlovy Vary
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,633 €1,430
$720 Kč 15.3K
126.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,232 €1,079
$401 Kč 8,493
207.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,098 €2,713
$1,424 Kč 30.2K
117.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,031 €1,779
$1,149 Kč 24.4K
76.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,831 €6,858
$7,039 Kč 149.2K
11.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,389 €3,844
$5,125 Kč 108.6K
-14.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Karlovy Vary
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,607 €1,408
$1,429 Kč 30.3K
12.52%
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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Karlovy Vary: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $720 in Karlovy Vary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 13% 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 Karlovy Vary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $243 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 69% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or Karlovy Vary?
Average pay runs 13% higher in Lisbon, 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: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $720 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 in Karlovy Vary?
Dining out is cheaper in Karlovy Vary – 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.
What are total monthly expenses in Lisbon and in Karlovy Vary?
All in, you'll spend $2,291 per month in Lisbon versus $1,357 in Karlovy Vary – a 69% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Lisbon or in Karlovy Vary?
At $1,357 in Karlovy Vary versus $2,291 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 69% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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