Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Mostar Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Mostar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,268 in Lisbon versus $975 in Mostar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,348 in Lisbon versus $1,459 in Mostar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,429 in Lisbon versus $1,943 in Mostar.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 133% more expensive than in Mostar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 64% above, Mostar is 29% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Mostar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.55 €15.13
$7.09 BAM 11.95
147.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.5 €55.6
$29.65 BAM 49.98
117.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.65 €10.04
$6.08 BAM 10.24
91.61%
Cappuccino
$3.26 €2.81
$1.73 BAM 2.92
88.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 €2.15
$1.88 BAM 3.17
32.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 €1.44
$1.29 BAM 2.18
29.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.47 €2.99
$2.35 BAM 3.96
47.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 €3.08
$2.29 BAM 3.85
56.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Mostar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 €1.02
$1.17 BAM 1.97
0.85%
White Bread (500g)
$1.95 €1.68
$1.00 BAM 1.69
95.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 €1.35
$2.07 BAM 3.49
-24.64%
Eggs
$4.01 €3.46
$2.66 BAM 4.49
50.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.27 €11.45
$8.12 BAM 13.69
63.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.42 €7.26
$7.61 BAM 12.82
10.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.23 €15.72
$11.04 BAM 18.61
65.13%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 €2.00
$1.18 BAM 1.99
96.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 €1.49
$1.72 BAM 2.90
0.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 €1.67
$1.41 BAM 2.37
36.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.64 €2.28
$1.19 BAM 2.01
121.85%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 €1.64
$0.84 BAM 1.42
126.19%
Onion (1kg)
$2.11 €1.82
$0.76 BAM 1.28
177.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 €1.24
$0.81 BAM 1.36
77.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 €0.69
$0.74 BAM 1.24
8.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.01 €6.04
$4.06 BAM 6.84
72.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.92 €5.11
$4.26 BAM 7.18
38.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 €1.18
$0.83 BAM 1.40
63.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 €1.85
$0.99 BAM 1.66
117.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Mostar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.38 €2.05
$1.16 BAM 1.95
105.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.22 €39.86
$33.95 BAM 57.2
36.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.19 €3.61
$1.82 BAM 3.07
130.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.10 €0.95
$0.60 BAM 1.02
83.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.26 €14.88
$10.52 BAM 17.73
64.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.25 €1.94
$1.49 BAM 2.52
51.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K €29.7K
$32.1K BAM 54.1K
7.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.6K €35.9K
$22.2K BAM 37.4K
87.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Mostar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$171 €147
$124 BAM 209
38.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.01 €16.39
$18.38 BAM 30.98
3.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.28 €29.56
$26.80 BAM 45.17
27.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Mostar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.65 €42.81
$36.93 BAM 62.3
34.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.51 €16.82
$11.72 BAM 19.76
66.47%
Cinema Ticket
$10.10 €8.71
$5.57 BAM 9.39
81.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Mostar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$699 €603
$151 BAM 254
363.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.8K €15.3K
$14.1K BAM 23.7K
26.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Mostar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.2
$61.2 BAM 103
70.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.97 €41.36
$33.78 BAM 57.0
42.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 €87.8
$87.8 BAM 148
16.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128 €111
$86.2 BAM 145
48.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Mostar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,661 €1,433
$443 BAM 746
275.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,228 €1,059
$258 BAM 434
376.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,915 €2,514
$693 BAM 1,167
320.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,023 €1,745
$480 BAM 809
321.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,129 €7,010
$2,423 BAM 4,084
235.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,635 €3,997
$1,627 BAM 2,743
184.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Mostar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,619 €1,396
$868 BAM 1,463
86.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.78
4.3
-12.09%

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

Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026

Last update for Mostar: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,661 in Lisbon and $443 in Mostar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 87% 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: $64.0 in Lisbon vs $30.00 in Mostar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $281 vs $195 per month, with Mostar 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 Mostar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Mostar?
Lisbon and Mostar differ by about 133% in total monthly costs ($2,268 vs $975 including rent). Mostar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Mostar?
Average pay runs 87% 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 do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in Mostar?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,661 in Lisbon versus $443 in Mostar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lisbon and Mostar?
Childcare runs $699 in Lisbon versus $151 in Mostar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 45% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $975 in Mostar versus $2,268 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mostar but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Mostar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Mostar?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Lisbon or Mostar safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Mostar are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Lisbon or Mostar?
Expats usually find Mostar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 133% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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