๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,243 in Lisbon versus $1,807 in Rostrenen.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $2,805 in Rostrenen.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,387 in Lisbon versus $3,802 in Rostrenen.
๐Living in Lisbon is roughly 24% more expensive than Rostrenen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon67% above, Rostrenen35% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Lisbon
Rostrenen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.73โฌ13.42
$17.63โฌ15.04
-10.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.2โฌ53.9
$58.9โฌ50.3
7.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32โฌ8.80
$11.34โฌ9.68
-8.99%
Cappuccino
$2.81โฌ2.40
$3.42โฌ2.91
-17.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33โฌ1.99
$2.71โฌ2.31
-14.02%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51โฌ1.29
$1.85โฌ1.58
-18.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.37โฌ2.87
$7.06โฌ6.02
-52.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91โฌ3.34
$5.69โฌ4.85
-31.28%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Rostrenen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08โฌ0.92
$1.24โฌ1.05
-12.90%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75โฌ1.49
$1.73โฌ1.47
1.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75โฌ1.50
$2.55โฌ2.18
-31.37%
Eggs
$3.10โฌ2.64
$3.92โฌ3.35
-20.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.28โฌ11.33
$19.05โฌ16.25
-30.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.85โฌ6.70
$13.42โฌ11.45
-41.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.05โฌ13.69
$21.26โฌ18.13
-24.51%
Apples(1kg)
$2.39โฌ2.04
$3.00โฌ2.56
-20.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72โฌ1.47
$2.16โฌ1.84
-20.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97โฌ1.68
$2.75โฌ2.35
-28.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55โฌ2.17
$3.67โฌ3.13
-30.52%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79โฌ1.53
$2.19โฌ1.87
-18.26%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97โฌ1.68
$2.51โฌ2.14
-21.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.96โฌ1.67
$1.53โฌ1.30
28.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84โฌ0.71
$0.67โฌ0.57
25.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.82โฌ5.82
$13.68โฌ11.67
-50.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.85โฌ4.99
$8.53โฌ7.27
-31.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38โฌ1.18
$2.58โฌ2.20
-46.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92โฌ2.49
$3.42โฌ2.91
-14.62%
๐ Getting Around
Lisbon
Rostrenen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.29โฌ1.95
$2.02โฌ1.72
13.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.88โฌ39.99
$49.27โฌ42.03
-4.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.12โฌ3.51
$4.56โฌ3.89
-9.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81โฌ0.69
$1.86โฌ1.59
-56.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.94โฌ16.16
$35.85โฌ30.58
-47.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09โฌ1.78
$2.06โฌ1.76
1.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1Kโฌ30.0K
$36.9Kโฌ31.5K
-4.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7Kโฌ33.9K
$37.4Kโฌ31.9K
6.09%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Rostrenen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150โฌ128
$197โฌ168
-24.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.49โฌ17.48
$23.24โฌ19.82
-11.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.15โฌ33.40
$32.45โฌ27.68
20.65%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Rostrenen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.65โฌ42.35
$37.18โฌ31.72
33.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.47โฌ15.76
$18.62โฌ15.88
-0.81%
Cinema Ticket
$9.20โฌ7.84
$13.96โฌ11.91
-34.10%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Rostrenen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$624โฌ533
$777โฌ663
-19.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9Kโฌ13.6K
$8,584โฌ7,322
85.31%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Rostrenen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102โฌ87.2
$104โฌ88.6
-1.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.88โฌ34.87
$39.36โฌ33.58
3.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.7โฌ81.6
$89.1โฌ76.0
7.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121โฌ103
$138โฌ118
-12.11%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Rostrenen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,653โฌ1,410
$773โฌ659
113.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,233โฌ1,051
$612โฌ522
101.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,043โฌ2,596
$1,396โฌ1,191
118.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,059โฌ1,756
$1,080โฌ922
90.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,879โฌ6,720
$4,085โฌ3,484
92.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,303โฌ3,671
$2,626โฌ2,240
63.87%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Rostrenen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,566โฌ1,336
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
3.63
4.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 21, 2026
Last update for Rostrenen: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,653 in Lisbon and $773 in Rostrenen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $63 in Lisbon vs $59 in Rostrenen. Groceries flip the comparison at $270 vs $363, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.
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 Rostrenen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Rostrenen?
Lisbon and Rostrenen differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($2,243 vs $1,807 including rent). Rostrenen is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Rostrenen?
You'd need roughly $3,365 in Lisbon and $2,710 in Rostrenen 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 Rostrenen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,653 in Lisbon versus $773 in Rostrenen. 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 Rostrenen?
Childcare runs $624 in Lisbon versus $777 in Rostrenen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 35% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,807 in Rostrenen versus $2,243 in Lisbon, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Rostrenen but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Rostrenen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Rostrenen?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Lisbon or Rostrenen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Rostrenen 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 Rostrenen?
Expats usually find Rostrenen gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 24% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.