😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $996 in Rostov-on-Don.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,555 in Rostov-on-Don.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $2,113 in Rostov-on-Don.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 122% more expensive than Rostov-on-Don, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Rostov-on-Don is 26% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.70
$11.24₽829
41.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.8
$38.44₽2,836
68.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.05
$4.99₽369
110.62%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$2.51₽186
14.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$1.20₽88.8
86.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$0.70₽51.5
114.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.01
$1.24₽91.3
181.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$2.28₽168
70.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.02₽75.4
11.76%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$0.55₽40.41
218.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$1.15₽84.9
53.04%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$1.57₽116
105.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.62
$8.12₽599
66.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$4.77₽352
65.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.67
$7.38₽545
115.04%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$1.26₽93.2
83.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$1.65₽121
3.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.46₽108
37.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$2.41₽178
2.07%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$0.72₽53.0
155.56%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$0.56₽41.22
257.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$1.19₽87.7
62.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.68₽50.0
16.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.69
$3.32₽245
99.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.93
$7.93₽586
-27.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$0.91₽67.5
50.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$2.11₽156
40.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$0.51₽37.82
364.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.23
$18.86₽1,392
141.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$1.94₽143
121.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.35₽26.16
134.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.76
$6.36₽469
187.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$0.78₽57.8
164.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$25.3K₽1.9M
35.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$39.9K₽2.9M
-1.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$96.2₽7,100
53.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.67
$7.01₽517
192.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.11
$8.06₽595
391.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.20
$40.50₽2,989
18.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.29
$25.14₽1,855
-24.74%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.91
$4.94₽365
85.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€529
$288₽21.2K
113.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$8,215₽606.2K
95.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.1
$48.54₽3,582
115.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.22
$62.3₽4,599
-32.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.9
$113₽8,322
-16.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$102₽7,504
17.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,402
$490₽36.1K
232.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,081
$351₽25.9K
258.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,609
$937₽69.1K
223.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,740
$576₽42.5K
250.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,716
$2,807₽207.1K
177.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,679
$1,738₽128.3K
145.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,381
$966₽71.3K
65.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
16.33
-76.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Rostov-on-Don: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $490 in Rostov-on-Don. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 66% 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 $38.00 in Rostov-on-Don for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $172 per month, with Rostov-on-Don 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 Rostov-on-Don: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Rostov-on-Don?
Lisbon and Rostov-on-Don differ by about 122% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $996 including rent). Rostov-on-Don is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Rostov-on-Don?
Lisbon pays 66% 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 Rostov-on-Don?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $490 in Rostov-on-Don. 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 Rostov-on-Don?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $288 in Rostov-on-Don. 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 57% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $996 in Rostov-on-Don versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Rostov-on-Don but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Rostov-on-Don the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Rostov-on-Don?
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 Rostov-on-Don safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Rostov-on-Don 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 Rostov-on-Don?
Expats usually find Rostov-on-Don gentler on the wallet – expenses run 122% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.