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: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $1,003 in Mostar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $1,465 in Mostar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $1,927 in Mostar.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 128% more expensive than in Mostar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Mostar is 25% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Mostar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19 €14.18
$6.95 BAM 11.90
132.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3 €55.5
$35.81 BAM 61.3
76.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.32 €9.04
$5.54 BAM 9.50
86.28%
Cappuccino
$2.83 €2.48
$1.64 BAM 2.80
72.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.01
$1.80 BAM 3.09
27.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 €1.38
$1.20 BAM 2.05
31.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 €2.98
$2.08 BAM 3.57
63.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03 €3.53
$2.10 BAM 3.59
91.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Mostar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 €0.96
$1.42 BAM 2.43
-23.24%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.53
$1.25 BAM 2.14
40.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$1.59 BAM 2.72
10.69%
Eggs
$3.17 €2.77
$2.81 BAM 4.81
12.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.19 €11.56
$9.21 BAM 15.77
43.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.97 €6.98
$7.23 BAM 12.39
10.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.53 €13.60
$11.88 BAM 20.35
30.72%
Apples (1kg)
$2.37 €2.07
$1.23 BAM 2.10
92.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 €1.49
$1.65 BAM 2.83
3.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.76
$1.85 BAM 3.17
8.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.43 €2.13
$1.73 BAM 2.96
40.46%
Potato (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$0.85 BAM 1.46
107.06%
Onion (1kg)
$2.03 €1.78
$0.75 BAM 1.28
170.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.92 €1.68
$0.92 BAM 1.57
108.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.74
$0.71 BAM 1.22
19.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58 €5.76
$3.57 BAM 6.11
84.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.58 €4.89
$4.04 BAM 6.92
38.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.17
$0.71 BAM 1.22
87.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.60
$1.10 BAM 1.88
170.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Mostar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €1.99
$1.16 BAM 1.98
96.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.79 €40.10
$34.13 BAM 58.5
34.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.23 €3.70
$1.45 BAM 2.48
191.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 €0.71
$0.89 BAM 1.53
-8.99%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.44 €16.15
$8.89 BAM 15.22
107.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.08 €1.82
$1.43 BAM 2.45
45.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K €30.4K
$23.8K BAM 40.8K
45.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K €34.3K
$26.4K BAM 45.3K
48.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Mostar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €130
$121 BAM 208
21.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46 €17.92
$19.20 BAM 32.89
6.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56 €34.64
$23.63 BAM 40.47
67.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Mostar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.99 €42.03
$34.96 BAM 59.9
37.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60 €16.29
$11.57 BAM 19.81
60.76%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22 €8.08
$4.83 BAM 8.27
90.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Mostar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$616 €540
$155 BAM 265
297.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.4K €14.4K
$3,298 BAM 5,649
398.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Mostar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 €90.0
$74.0 BAM 127
38.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74 €36.55
$35.05 BAM 60.0
19.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.8 €83.0
$89.0 BAM 152
6.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 €107
$121 BAM 207
1.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Mostar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,633 €1,430
$260 BAM 444
529.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,232 €1,079
$279 BAM 477
342.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,098 €2,713
$440 BAM 753
604.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,031 €1,779
$313 BAM 537
548.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,831 €6,858
$2,321 BAM 3,976
237.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,389 €3,844
$1,624 BAM 2,782
170.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Mostar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,607 €1,408
$884 BAM 1,514
81.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
4.14
-7.97%

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

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Last update for Mostar: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $260 in Mostar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 82% 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 $36.00 in Mostar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $206 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 128% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $1,003 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 82% 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: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $260 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 $616 in Lisbon versus $155 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 30% 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 $1,003 in Mostar versus $2,291 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 128% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Lisbon vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities