Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Kotor Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Kotor

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $1,535 in Kotor.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $2,484 in Kotor.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $3,434 in Kotor.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 49% more expensive than in Kotor, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 71% above, Kotor 15% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Kotor
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19 €14.18
$16.39 €14.35
-1.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3 €55.5
$57.9 €50.7
9.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.32 €9.04
$9.36 €8.20
10.26%
Cappuccino
$2.83 €2.48
$2.57 €2.25
10.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.01
$2.28 €1.99
0.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 €1.38
$1.49 €1.30
6.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 €2.98
$2.84 €2.49
19.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03 €3.53
$3.77 €3.30
6.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Kotor
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 €0.96
$1.44 €1.26
-24.31%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.53
$1.04 €0.91
68.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$2.38 €2.09
-26.05%
Eggs
$3.17 €2.77
$3.14 €2.75
0.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.19 €11.56
$9.06 €7.93
45.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.97 €6.98
$8.21 €7.19
-2.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.53 €13.60
$12.13 €10.63
28.03%
Apples (1kg)
$2.37 €2.07
$1.24 €1.09
91.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 €1.49
$1.74 €1.53
-1.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.76
$1.65 €1.45
21.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.43 €2.13
$2.49 €2.18
-2.41%
Potato (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$1.00 €0.88
76.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.03 €1.78
$1.10 €0.97
84.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.92 €1.68
$1.77 €1.55
8.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.74
$0.82 €0.72
3.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58 €5.76
$4.32 €3.78
52.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.58 €4.89
$6.76 €5.92
-17.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.17
$1.23 €1.07
8.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.60
$1.80 €1.58
65.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Kotor
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €1.99
$1.41 €1.23
61.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.79 €40.10
$38.32 €33.56
19.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.23 €3.70
$0.67 €0.58
531.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 €0.71
$1.07 €0.93
-24.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.44 €16.15
$11.42 €10.01
61.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.08 €1.82
$1.71 €1.49
21.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K €30.4K
$29.4K €25.7K
18.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K €34.3K
$26.1K €22.9K
49.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Kotor
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €130
$125 €109
18.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46 €17.92
$18.63 €16.31
9.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56 €34.64
$32.12 €28.13
23.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Kotor
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.99 €42.03
$45.18 €39.57
6.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60 €16.29
$14.60 €12.79
27.40%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22 €8.08
$5.82 €5.09
58.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Kotor
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$616 €540
$287 €251
114.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.4K €14.4K
$7,553 €6,615
117.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Kotor
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 €90.0
$84.9 €74.4
20.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74 €36.55
$44.54 €39.01
-6.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.8 €83.0
$93.5 €81.9
1.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 €107
$113 €98.9
8.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Kotor
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,633 €1,430
$681 €597
139.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,232 €1,079
$688 €602
79.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,098 €2,713
$1,271 €1,114
143.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,031 €1,779
$1,342 €1,175
51.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,831 €6,858
$4,003 €3,505
95.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,389 €3,844
$2,805 €2,457
56.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Kotor
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,607 €1,408
$968 €848
66.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
5.93
-35.75%

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

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Last update for Kotor: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $681 in Kotor. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 66% 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 $58.0 in Kotor for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $233 per month, with Kotor 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 Kotor: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kotor cheaper than Lisbon?
Kotor is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 49% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or Kotor?
Average pay runs 66% 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 Kotor?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $681 in Kotor. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $616 in Lisbon versus $287 in Kotor. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Lisbon and in Kotor?
Supermarket bills run roughly 15% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Lisbon or in Kotor?
At $1,535 in Kotor versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kotor but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Kotor the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisbon or Kotor more family-friendly?
For families, Kotor 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 Kotor?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Kotor 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 Kotor gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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