Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Mostar

For one person, living is cheaper in Mostar: $911 a month against $2,206 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $15,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lisbon, Portugal
Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,206
/mo nomad
Mostar
🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina
$911
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Mostar

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lisbon and in Mostar actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,206 in Lisbon versus $911 in Mostar.

  • Lisbon $2,206
  • Mostar $911

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,276 in Lisbon versus $1,423 in Mostar.

  • Lisbon $3,276
  • Mostar $1,423

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,346 in Lisbon versus $1,935 in Mostar.

  • Lisbon $4,346
  • Mostar $1,935

Living in Lisbon is roughly 142% more expensive than in Mostar, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 63% above, Mostar is 33% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Mostar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.86 €15.02
$6.86 BAM 11.94
145.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.0 €54.4
$37.32 BAM 65.0
63.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.98 €9.78
$5.63 BAM 9.81
95.03%
Cappuccino
$3.05 €2.72
$1.64 BAM 2.85
85.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 €2.03
$1.82 BAM 3.16
25.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 €1.50
$1.21 BAM 2.10
38.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.44 €3.06
$2.25 BAM 3.92
52.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 €3.48
$2.16 BAM 3.77
81.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Mostar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 €1.02
$1.15 BAM 2.01
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 €1.68
$0.93 BAM 1.63
103.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 €1.34
$2.00 BAM 3.48
-25.00%
Eggs
$4.12 €3.67
$2.53 BAM 4.41
62.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.01 €11.59
$7.69 BAM 13.40
69.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.04 €7.17
$7.19 BAM 12.53
11.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.89 €15.94
$10.50 BAM 18.29
70.38%
Apples (1kg)
$2.27 €2.02
$1.10 BAM 1.91
106.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 €1.55
$1.66 BAM 2.89
4.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.82 €1.62
$1.38 BAM 2.40
31.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.69 €2.39
$1.17 BAM 2.04
129.91%
Potato (1kg)
$1.77 €1.57
$0.99 BAM 1.73
78.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.94 €1.73
$0.97 BAM 1.69
100.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.46 €1.30
$0.72 BAM 1.25
102.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 €0.68
$0.72 BAM 1.26
5.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.66 €5.93
$3.99 BAM 6.94
66.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.64 €5.02
$4.11 BAM 7.15
37.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29 €1.15
$0.79 BAM 1.37
63.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 €1.91
$0.95 BAM 1.66
125.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Mostar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.30 €2.05
$1.17 BAM 2.04
96.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.02 €39.21
$34.28 BAM 59.7
28.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.98 €3.55
$1.69 BAM 2.95
135.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 €0.57
$0.60 BAM 1.04
6.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.93 €16.86
$8.50 BAM 14.79
122.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.28 €2.03
$1.59 BAM 2.78
43.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.4K €29.7K
$30.6K BAM 53.3K
9.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K €34.3K
$21.0K BAM 36.5K
83.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Mostar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$158 €141
$90.3 BAM 157
75.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.54 €15.62
$17.94 BAM 31.24
-2.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.18 €27.78
$26.09 BAM 45.44
19.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Mostar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.64 €39.77
$40.85 BAM 71.1
9.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.98 €16.91
$9.84 BAM 17.14
92.89%
Cinema Ticket
$9.58 €8.53
$6.21 BAM 10.82
54.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Mostar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$674 €600
$137 BAM 239
390.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.7K €16.7K
$23.5K BAM 41.0K
-20.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Mostar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 €91.0
$58.0 BAM 101
76.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.90 €40.89
$31.92 BAM 55.6
43.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 €91.0
$86.7 BAM 151
17.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 €109
$83.9 BAM 146
45.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Mostar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 €1,461
$422 BAM 735
288.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,187 €1,058
$256 BAM 446
363.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,825 €2,516
$658 BAM 1,146
329.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,018 €1,798
$452 BAM 787
346.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,836 €6,980
$2,225 BAM 3,876
252.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,701 €4,188
$1,515 BAM 2,639
210.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Mostar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,687 €1,503
$865 BAM 1,506
95.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.82
4.3
-11.16%

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

Last update for Lisbon: November 1, 2026

Last update for Mostar: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Mostar
$256 78.4% $931
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$275
Mostar
$187 31.9% $88
Eating Out
Lisbon
$245
Mostar
$119 51.4% $126
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$207
Mostar
$134 35.1% $73
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$168
Mostar
$117 30% $50
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$64
Mostar
$53 16.5% $11
Getting Around
Lisbon
$60
Mostar
$44 27.8% $17

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,641 in Lisbon and $422 in Mostar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 95% 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: $61 in Lisbon vs $37 in Mostar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $275 vs $187 per month, with Mostar cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇧🇦 Mostar
🕒 Local time
19:19 7:19 PM
20:19 8:19 PM
1 h ahead of Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
60,195
Exchange rates and currency converter

BAM, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 0.891 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Bosnia and Herzegovina Convertible Mark exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 1.74 BAM (1 BAM = 0.574 USD). 1 EUR = 1.96 BAM (1 BAM = 0.511 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Mostar 2,310 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Mostar

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $2,206 in Lisbon and $911 in Mostar, so Mostar is about 59% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Mostar?
Average pay runs 95% 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: $1,641 in Lisbon versus $422 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 $674 in Lisbon versus $137 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 47% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,200 per month?
At $911 in Mostar versus $2,206 in Lisbon, a $1,200 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 both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Where should expats move: Lisbon or Mostar?
Expats usually find Mostar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 59% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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