😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $1,779 in Rostrenen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $2,766 in Rostrenen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $3,754 in Rostrenen.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 27% more expensive than Rostrenen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon68% above, Rostrenen32% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Rostrenen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94€13.82
$17.53€15.19
-9.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4€54.9
$58.0€50.2
9.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€9.00
$11.51€9.98
-9.82%
Cappuccino
$2.79€2.42
$3.31€2.87
-15.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34€2.03
$2.72€2.35
-13.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.36
$1.84€1.59
-14.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43€2.97
$7.05€6.11
-51.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.39
$5.83€5.05
-32.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Rostrenen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.30€1.13
-16.92%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.53
$1.78€1.55
-0.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71€1.48
$2.65€2.30
-35.47%
Eggs
$3.15€2.73
$4.12€3.57
-23.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.68€11.86
$18.63€16.15
-26.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.94
$13.68€11.85
-41.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.52€13.45
$20.66€17.91
-24.88%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.99
$2.98€2.59
-23.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.42
$2.24€1.94
-26.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.68
$2.65€2.30
-26.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.51€2.18
$3.57€3.09
-29.69%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.55
$2.26€1.96
-20.80%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01€1.74
$2.59€2.25
-22.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.70
$1.49€1.29
32.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.70€0.61
20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79€5.88
$13.90€12.05
-51.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.67€4.92
$8.48€7.35
-33.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$2.60€2.25
-46.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.61
$3.48€3.02
-13.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Rostrenen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.97
$1.93€1.67
17.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.44€39.38
$48.86€42.35
-7.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.72
$4.67€4.05
-8.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.74
$1.82€1.58
-53.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.28€15.84
$35.53€30.79
-48.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99€1.72
$2.07€1.80
-3.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.4K
$37.6K€32.5K
-6.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K€34.3K
$36.9K€32.0K
7.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Rostrenen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146€127
$196€170
-25.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45€17.72
$23.69€20.53
-13.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98€33.78
$33.14€28.72
17.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Rostrenen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.98€42.46
$37.50€32.50
30.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83€16.32
$18.49€16.02
1.84%
Cinema Ticket
$9.52€8.25
$13.81€11.97
-31.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Rostrenen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$608€527
$790€685
-23.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.3K
$8,647€7,495
90.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Rostrenen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€90.0
$104€90.6
-0.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12€36.50
$39.50€34.24
6.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.2€79.9
$89.5€77.6
3.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€104
$140€121
-14.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Rostrenen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621€1,405
$780€676
107.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,268€1,099
$616€534
105.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,048€2,642
$1,384€1,199
120.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,009€1,741
$1,090€944
84.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,663€6,641
$4,398€3,812
74.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,329€3,752
$3,516€3,047
23.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Rostrenen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,585€1,374
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
3.63
4.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026
Last update for Rostrenen: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $780 in Rostrenen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $58.0 in Rostrenen. Groceries flip the comparison at $269 vs $364, 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 27% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $1,779 including rent). Rostrenen 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 Rostrenen?
You'd need roughly $3,394 in Lisbon and $2,668 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: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $780 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 $608 in Lisbon versus $790 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 36% 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 $1,779 in Rostrenen versus $2,263 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 – 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 – expenses run 27% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.