Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and ResenCost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Resen
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $909 in Resen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $1,378 in Resen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $1,846 in Resen.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 145% more expensive than Resen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Resen is 32% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Resen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.84
$5.52MKD 291
192.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.3
$33.15MKD 1,748
94.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.88
$6.55MKD 345
58.47%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.37
$2.20MKD 116
25.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$1.94MKD 102
15.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$1.22MKD 64.6
28.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€2.99
$2.59MKD 137
34.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.43
$2.77MKD 146
44.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Resen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.28MKD 67.3
-15.62%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.49
$0.73MKD 38.68
138.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.49
$1.69MKD 89.4
2.96%
Eggs
$3.18€2.72
$2.06MKD 108
54.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43€11.50
$9.44MKD 498
42.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.84
$7.23MKD 381
10.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€13.77
$13.61MKD 718
18.22%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
$1.01MKD 53.4
125.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$1.41MKD 74.6
21.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$1.27MKD 66.9
52.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
$1.61MKD 84.9
57.76%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$0.81MKD 42.75
125.93%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$0.96MKD 50.7
112.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98€1.69
$0.58MKD 30.68
241.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$0.53MKD 27.79
60.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.87
$3.03MKD 160
126.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€4.94
$7.77MKD 410
-25.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$0.96MKD 50.4
42.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
$1.52MKD 80.1
90.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Resen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.95
$0.67MKD 35.51
240.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€40.10
$20.30MKD 1,071
130.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.49
$0.92MKD 48.33
343.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.53MKD 27.70
54.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27€15.64
$6.71MKD 354
172.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.72
$1.49MKD 78.5
34.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.2K
$31.9KMKD 1.7M
10.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
$29.5KMKD 1.6M
30.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Resen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145€124
$146MKD 7,706
-0.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96€17.94
$17.41MKD 918
20.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05€34.29
$15.43MKD 813
159.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Resen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79€41.76
$25.94MKD 1,368
88.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€16.00
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.06€7.76
$4.75MKD 250
90.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Resen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607€519
$222MKD 11.7K
172.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$1,208MKD 63.7K
1251.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Resen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.6
$77.0MKD 4,061
35.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€35.06
$39.53MKD 2,084
3.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€80.1
$75.8MKD 3,999
23.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€101
$109MKD 5,765
8.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Resen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,373
$280MKD 14.8K
472.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,058
$197MKD 10.4K
525.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046€2,607
$555MKD 29.3K
449.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057€1,761
$315MKD 16.6K
552.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709€6,599
$1,535MKD 80.9K
402.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,652
$1,122MKD 59.2K
280.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Resen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584€1,356
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
4.54
-16.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Last update for Resen: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $280 in Resen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $33.00 in Resen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $203 per month, with Resen 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 Resen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Resen?
Lisbon and Resen differ by about 145% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $909 including rent). Resen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Resen?
You'd need roughly $3,341 in Lisbon and $1,364 in Resen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Resen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $280 in Resen. 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 Resen?
Childcare runs $607 in Lisbon versus $222 in Resen. 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 33% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $909 in Resen versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Resen but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Resen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Resen?
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 Resen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Resen 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 Resen?
Expats usually find Resen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 145% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.