Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Oradea

For one person, living is cheaper in Oradea: $1,023 a month against $2,210 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $14,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lisbon, Portugal
Oradea, Romania
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,210
/mo nomad
Oradea
🇷🇴 Romania
$1,023
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Oradea

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 Oradea actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,023 in Oradea.

  • Lisbon $2,210
  • Oradea $1,023

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,275 in Lisbon versus $1,523 in Oradea.

  • Lisbon $3,275
  • Oradea $1,523

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,341 in Lisbon versus $2,022 in Oradea.

  • Lisbon $4,341
  • Oradea $2,022

Living in Lisbon is roughly 116% more expensive than in Oradea, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 62% above, Oradea is 25% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Oradea
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.65 €14.92
$8.26 RON 39.50
101.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.7 €55.3
$41.28 RON 198
49.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.36 €10.18
$7.42 RON 35.48
53.10%
Cappuccino
$2.97 €2.66
$2.58 RON 12.34
15.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.05
$1.90 RON 9.07
20.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.56
$1.78 RON 8.54
-2.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 €3.05
$2.14 RON 10.26
58.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 €2.97
$3.19 RON 15.25
3.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Oradea
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.16 €1.04
$1.47 RON 7.05
-21.09%
White Bread (500g)
$1.91 €1.71
$1.05 RON 5.04
81.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 €1.36
$1.16 RON 5.54
30.17%
Eggs
$4.02 €3.60
$2.78 RON 13.28
44.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.94 €11.59
$8.13 RON 38.91
59.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.77 €6.97
$6.13 RON 29.33
26.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.76 €15.92
$8.81 RON 42.16
101.59%
Apples (1kg)
$2.30 €2.06
$1.07 RON 5.12
114.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 €1.55
$1.50 RON 7.18
15.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.86 €1.66
$1.44 RON 6.90
29.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.59 €2.32
$1.36 RON 6.52
90.44%
Potato (1kg)
$1.82 €1.63
$0.80 RON 3.83
127.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 €1.76
$0.87 RON 4.15
126.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.47 €1.32
$0.68 RON 3.25
116.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 €0.65
$0.81 RON 3.88
-11.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58 €5.90
$5.63 RON 26.92
16.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.61 €5.02
$5.90 RON 28.23
-4.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 €1.22
$0.99 RON 4.71
37.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 €1.91
$1.76 RON 8.42
21.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Oradea
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.33 €2.09
$0.82 RON 3.92
184.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.68 €40.04
$22.55 RON 108
98.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.85 €3.45
$0.74 RON 3.55
420.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.07 €0.96
$0.70 RON 3.33
52.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.46 €14.75
$7.27 RON 34.77
126.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.20 €1.97
$1.78 RON 8.50
23.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2K €30.6K
$28.0K RON 134.2K
21.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K €34.7K
$24.8K RON 118.6K
56.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Oradea
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$161 €144
$137 RON 655
17.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.41 €16.50
$6.29 RON 30.10
192.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.74 €29.34
$7.80 RON 37.32
319.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Oradea
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.55 €39.92
$47.06 RON 225
-5.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10 €17.11
$16.40 RON 78.5
16.46%
Cinema Ticket
$9.60 €8.60
$7.54 RON 36.06
27.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Oradea
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$668 €598
$385 RON 1,841
73.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.6K €15.8K
$8,983 RON 43.0K
96.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Oradea
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 €91.4
$60.6 RON 290
68.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.46 €39.85
$37.01 RON 177
20.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.5 €88.3
$55.6 RON 266
77.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €111
$62.9 RON 301
96.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Oradea
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,608 €1,441
$428 RON 2,049
275.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,190 €1,066
$346 RON 1,654
244.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,812 €2,520
$643 RON 3,077
337.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,013 €1,804
$504 RON 2,411
299.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,839 €7,025
$2,267 RON 10.8K
245.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,576 €4,100
$1,806 RON 8,641
153.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Oradea
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,575 €1,411
$896 RON 4,289
75.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
7.1
-45.77%

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

Last update for Lisbon: October 27, 2026

Last update for Oradea: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Oradea
$346 70.9% $844
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$272
Oradea
$186 31.6% $86
Eating Out
Lisbon
$243
Oradea
$151 37.7% $92
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$212
Oradea
$151 28.9% $61
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$166
Oradea
$97 41.4% $69
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$64
Oradea
$62 2.5% $1.6
Getting Around
Lisbon
$63
Oradea
$30 52.5% $33

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,608 in Lisbon and $428 in Oradea. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 76% 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: $62 in Lisbon vs $41 in Oradea for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $272 vs $186 per month, with Oradea cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇷🇴 Oradea
🕒 Local time
04:32 4:32 AM
06:32 6:32 AM
2 h ahead of Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
196,367
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

RON, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Romanian Leu exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 4.78 RON (1 RON = 0.209 USD). 1 EUR = 5.34 RON (1 RON = 0.187 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Oradea 2,670 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Oradea

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 Oradea: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Oradea?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $2,210 in Lisbon and $1,023 in Oradea, so Oradea is about 54% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Oradea?
Average pay runs 76% 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 Oradea?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,608 in Lisbon versus $428 in Oradea. 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 Oradea?
Childcare runs $668 in Lisbon versus $385 in Oradea. 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 46% 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 $1,023 in Oradea versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Oradea but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Oradea the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Oradea?
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 Oradea safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Oradea are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Where should expats move: Lisbon or Oradea?
Expats usually find Oradea gentler on the wallet – expenses run 54% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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