Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and SamsunCost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Samsun
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $902 in Samsun.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $1,603 in Samsun.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $2,304 in Samsun.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 155% more expensive than in Samsun, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Samsun is 34% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Samsun
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59€15.33
$8.10₺394
117.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€54.8
$62.4₺3,037
0.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.58€10.10
$7.74₺377
49.61%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$3.21₺156
-3.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.17
$0.95₺46.15
162.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74€1.52
$0.27₺13.16
544.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.48€3.03
$1.93₺93.8
80.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€3.00
$2.70₺132
27.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Samsun
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15€1.00
$1.17₺56.9
-1.71%
White Bread(500g)
$1.91€1.66
$1.67₺81.5
14.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50€1.31
$2.73₺133
-45.05%
Eggs
$3.98€3.47
$2.58₺126
54.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.59
$8.59₺418
54.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.98
$5.69₺277
40.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.04€15.73
$24.40₺1,187
-26.07%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35€2.05
$2.44₺119
-3.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75€1.53
$2.37₺115
-26.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85€1.62
$1.54₺74.9
20.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.22
$1.06₺51.5
140.57%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.61
$0.48₺23.16
283.33%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10€1.83
$0.37₺18.04
467.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.30
$0.84₺41.11
77.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.71
$0.58₺28.04
41.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10€6.19
$2.09₺101
239.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.91€5.15
$9.45₺460
-37.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.15
$1.70₺82.7
-22.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.86
$2.28₺111
-6.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Samsun
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.36€2.05
$0.56₺27.35
321.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.62€40.63
$10.78₺525
332.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.55
$1.90₺92.5
114.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.99
$0.58₺28.00
96.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.09€14.90
$5.12₺249
233.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.31€2.01
$1.26₺61.1
83.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.7K
$41.9K₺2.0M
-18.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€36.1K
$39.7K₺1.9M
4.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Samsun
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169€147
$89.1₺4,335
89.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33€16.85
$11.67₺568
65.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51€29.21
$12.58₺612
166.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Samsun
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.84€42.57
$30.64₺1,491
59.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43€16.94
$6.10₺297
218.52%
Cinema Ticket
$9.57€8.34
$4.18₺203
128.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Samsun
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696€607
$261₺12.7K
166.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.4K€15.1K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Samsun
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€91.8
$27.96₺1,361
276.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75€41.62
$30.69₺1,493
55.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.6
$71.5₺3,477
40.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€108
$48.71₺2,370
155.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Samsun
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,662€1,449
$357₺17.4K
365.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,246€1,086
$255₺12.4K
389.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,965€2,584
$759₺36.9K
290.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,049€1,786
$615₺29.9K
233.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,834€6,829
$986₺48.0K
694.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,464€3,892
$663₺32.2K
573.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Samsun
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,632€1,422
$927₺45.1K
75.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
49
-92.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Last update for Samsun: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $357 in Samsun. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 76% 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 $62.0 in Samsun for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $259 per month, with Samsun 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 Samsun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Samsun?
Lisbon and Samsun differ by about 155% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $902 including rent). Samsun is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Samsun?
Average pay runs 76% 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 Samsun?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $357 in Samsun. 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 Samsun?
Childcare runs $696 in Lisbon versus $261 in Samsun. 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 7% 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 $902 in Samsun versus $2,296 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Samsun but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Samsun the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Samsun?
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 Samsun safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Samsun 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 Samsun?
Expats usually find Samsun gentler on the wallet – expenses run 155% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.