Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Penza Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Penza

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,280 in Lisbon versus $884 in Penza.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,294 in Lisbon versus $1,327 in Penza.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,307 in Lisbon versus $1,770 in Penza.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 158% more expensive than in Penza, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Penza is 34% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Penza
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75 €13.64
$7.37 ₽587
113.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5 €55.0
$32.74 ₽2,606
93.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.45 €9.05
$5.74 ₽457
82.06%
Cappuccino
$2.91 €2.52
$1.12 ₽88.8
159.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €1.98
$0.92 ₽73.2
148.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.30
$0.61 ₽48.73
145.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.56 €3.09
$1.16 ₽92.1
206.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 €3.43
$2.26 ₽180
75.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Penza
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.94
$1.25 ₽99.1
-13.60%
White Bread (500g)
$1.76 €1.53
$0.73 ₽58.0
141.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 €1.47
$1.67 ₽133
1.80%
Eggs
$3.25 €2.81
$1.82 ₽145
78.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.25 €11.47
$10.28 ₽818
28.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 €6.67
$4.04 ₽322
90.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.77 €13.66
$8.60 ₽685
83.37%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 €1.97
$1.20 ₽95.4
90.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 €1.43
$1.78 ₽142
-6.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.02 €1.75
$1.79 ₽143
12.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.47 €2.14
$2.88 ₽229
-14.24%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 €1.55
$0.46 ₽36.78
289.13%
Onion (1kg)
$2.07 €1.79
$0.53 ₽42.21
290.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 €1.71
$1.87 ₽149
5.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 €0.72
$0.72 ₽57.3
15.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55 €5.68
$2.99 ₽238
119.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.57 €4.82
$9.41 ₽749
-40.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.15
$0.95 ₽75.6
40.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 €2.60
$1.85 ₽147
62.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Penza
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.27 €1.97
$0.43 ₽34.01
427.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.35 €40.14
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.23 €3.66
$1.93 ₽154
119.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 €0.73
$0.55 ₽43.79
54.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.83 €16.31
$4.37 ₽348
330.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.02 €1.75
$0.75 ₽59.5
169.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K €30.3K
$34.8K ₽2.8M
0.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K €34.3K
$35.6K ₽2.8M
11.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Penza
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €128
$108 ₽8,576
37.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.77
$5.84 ₽465
251.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52 €34.23
$8.02 ₽638
392.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Penza
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.17 €41.72
$31.20 ₽2,483
54.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39 €15.92
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.10 €7.88
$3.74 ₽298
143.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Penza
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$615 €532
$318 ₽25.3K
93.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K €14.1K
$6,936 ₽552.0K
134.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Penza
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 €88.0
$70.8 ₽5,637
43.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09 €36.45
$43.73 ₽3,480
-3.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.3 €79.9
$116 ₽9,267
-20.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 €106
$108 ₽8,558
13.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Penza
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,612 €1,396
$443 ₽35.3K
263.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,254 €1,086
$253 ₽20.1K
395.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,069 €2,658
$789 ₽62.8K
288.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,037 €1,764
$361 ₽28.7K
464.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,751 €6,712
$2,440 ₽194.2K
217.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,286 €3,712
$1,162 ₽92.5K
268.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Penza
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,602 €1,387
$609 ₽48.5K
162.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
8
-52.37%

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

Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026

Last update for Penza: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Lisbon and $443 in Penza. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 163% 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 $33.00 in Penza for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $195 per month, with Penza 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 Penza: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Penza?
Lisbon and Penza differ by about 158% in total monthly costs ($2,280 vs $884 including rent). Penza is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Penza?
Average pay runs 163% 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 Penza?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,612 in Lisbon versus $443 in Penza. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 37% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Penza?
All in, you'll spend $2,280 per month in Lisbon versus $884 in Penza – a 158% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $884 in Penza versus $2,280 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Penza but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Penza the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Penza?
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 Penza safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Penza 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 Penza?
Expats usually find Penza gentler on the wallet – expenses run 158% 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