😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,316 in Lisbon versus $1,012 in Rostov-on-Don.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,361 in Lisbon versus $1,524 in Rostov-on-Don.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,405 in Lisbon versus $2,036 in Rostov-on-Don.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 129% more expensive than in Rostov-on-Don, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 69% above, Rostov-on-Don is 26% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.30€14.89
$10.24₽879
68.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€54.4
$34.33₽2,947
84.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.39€9.80
$5.86₽503
94.37%
Cappuccino
$3.19€2.75
$2.63₽226
21.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45€2.10
$1.12₽96.2
118.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.52
$0.54₽46.49
225.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.59€3.09
$2.02₽173
77.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39€2.92
$3.08₽264
10.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.06
$1.14₽98.1
8.77%
White Bread(500g)
$1.98€1.71
$0.67₽57.1
195.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.52€1.31
$1.36₽117
11.76%
Eggs
$4.04€3.48
$1.28₽110
215.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.54€11.65
$11.78₽1,011
14.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.39€7.22
$4.93₽423
70.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.25€15.70
$8.98₽771
103.23%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.97
$1.34₽115
70.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74€1.50
$1.75₽150
-0.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86€1.60
$1.46₽126
27.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.63€2.26
$2.61₽224
0.77%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$0.81₽69.8
137.04%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09€1.80
$0.55₽47.44
280.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.24
$1.22₽104
18.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.72
$0.61₽52.1
37.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.83
$2.85₽245
137.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.71€4.91
$6.63₽569
-13.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.18
$0.87₽74.8
58.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22€1.91
$1.98₽170
12.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.40€2.06
$0.52₽44.84
361.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.78€40.25
$13.81₽1,185
238.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.17€3.59
$3.17₽272
31.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.98
$0.16₽13.48
612.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.68€15.21
$3.93₽337
349.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.32€2.00
$0.81₽69.5
186.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.4K
$28.9K₽2.5M
22.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€35.7K
$30.7K₽2.6M
35.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170€147
$127₽10.9K
33.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.34€16.64
$8.89₽763
117.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.64€28.95
$7.72₽662
335.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.10€41.39
$29.45₽2,528
63.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.90€17.12
$20.11₽1,726
-1.04%
Cinema Ticket
$9.92€8.54
$5.05₽434
96.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$717€617
$323₽27.7K
122.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.5K€15.0K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.2
$51.5₽4,421
103.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.95€40.40
$43.02₽3,692
9.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.0
$87.5₽7,510
18.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€107
$108₽9,288
14.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,677€1,443
$482₽41.3K
247.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,271€1,094
$326₽27.9K
290.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,985€2,568
$973₽83.5K
206.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,992€1,715
$509₽43.7K
291.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,826€6,734
$2,397₽205.7K
226.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,658€4,008
$1,438₽123.4K
223.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,583€1,362
$790₽67.8K
100.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.79
20.14
-81.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Last update for Rostov-on-Don: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,677 in Lisbon and $482 in Rostov-on-Don. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 100% 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 $34.00 in Rostov-on-Don for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $283 vs $189 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 in Rostov-on-Don?
Lisbon and Rostov-on-Don differ by about 129% in total monthly costs ($2,316 vs $1,012 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?
Average pay runs 100% 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 Rostov-on-Don?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,677 in Lisbon versus $482 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 $717 in Lisbon versus $323 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 50% 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 $1,012 in Rostov-on-Don versus $2,316 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 129% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.