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: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,001 in Mostar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,475 in Mostar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $1,949 in Mostar.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 121% more expensive than Mostar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Mostar is 25% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Mostar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.69
$7.07 BAM 11.88
125.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.7
$35.96 BAM 60.4
80.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.04
$5.45 BAM 9.16
92.84%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$1.59 BAM 2.68
80.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$1.87 BAM 3.14
19.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$1.16 BAM 1.95
29.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.00
$2.10 BAM 3.53
66.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$2.12 BAM 3.56
83.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Mostar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$1.36 BAM 2.28
-16.18%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$1.28 BAM 2.16
36.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$1.63 BAM 2.73
7.98%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$2.79 BAM 4.68
15.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.61
$9.26 BAM 15.57
45.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$7.52 BAM 12.64
5.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.65
$11.93 BAM 20.05
33.03%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$1.28 BAM 2.15
80.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$1.66 BAM 2.78
2.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$1.86 BAM 3.12
8.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$1.73 BAM 2.90
42.20%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$0.78 BAM 1.31
135.90%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$0.74 BAM 1.25
170.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$0.98 BAM 1.65
96.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$0.73 BAM 1.23
8.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.68
$3.61 BAM 6.07
83.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.92
$4.12 BAM 6.93
38.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.17
$0.70 BAM 1.18
95.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$1.13 BAM 1.90
162.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Mostar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$1.15 BAM 1.93
106.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.19
$34.06 BAM 57.2
33.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$1.45 BAM 2.43
195.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$0.90 BAM 1.52
-8.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.74
$9.07 BAM 15.23
101.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$1.43 BAM 2.40
44.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$23.4K BAM 39.3K
46.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$26.1K BAM 43.9K
50.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Mostar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$125 BAM 210
18.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.65
$18.89 BAM 31.74
8.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.08
$23.79 BAM 39.97
66.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Mostar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.16
$34.88 BAM 58.6
37.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.28
$11.97 BAM 20.11
58.06%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.90
$4.82 BAM 8.10
90.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Mostar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €528
$152 BAM 256
303.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$3,216 BAM 5,403
399.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Mostar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.0
$74.8 BAM 126
39.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.18
$34.58 BAM 58.1
21.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.8
$90.9 BAM 153
3.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$117 BAM 196
2.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Mostar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,400
$263 BAM 443
517.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,080
$270 BAM 454
364.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,607
$443 BAM 744
584.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,738
$311 BAM 523
549.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,709
$2,392 BAM 4,019
226.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,675
$1,624 BAM 2,728
163.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Mostar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,379
$890 BAM 1,496
80.09%
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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Mostar: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $263 in Mostar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 80% 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 $36.00 in Mostar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $208 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 Mostar?
Lisbon and Mostar differ by about 121% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $1,001 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?
Lisbon pays 80% more on average, 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 Mostar?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $263 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 $614 in Lisbon versus $152 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 29% 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 $1,001 in Mostar versus $2,210 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 121% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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