Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Samsun Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Samsun

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $1,016 in Samsun.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $1,502 in Samsun.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $1,987 in Samsun.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 123% more expensive than Samsun, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Samsun is 24% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Samsun
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94 €13.73
$7.73 ₺357
106.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4 €54.6
$25.36 ₺1,173
149.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 €8.95
$8.67 ₺401
19.72%
Cappuccino
$2.79 €2.40
$2.84 ₺131
-1.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 €2.01
$1.31 ₺60.5
78.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 €1.35
$0.26 ₺12.06
503.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.43 €2.95
$2.78 ₺129
23.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 €3.37
$2.89 ₺134
35.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Samsun
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.93
$1.09 ₺50.6
-0.92%
White Bread (500g)
$1.77 €1.52
$0.39 ₺18.13
353.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 €1.47
$3.85 ₺178
-55.58%
Eggs
$3.15 €2.71
$1.65 ₺76.4
90.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.68 €11.79
$8.73 ₺404
56.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.01 €6.90
$10.30 ₺476
-22.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.52 €13.37
$19.12 ₺884
-18.83%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 €1.98
$1.29 ₺59.9
77.52%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 €1.41
$1.17 ₺54.3
40.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 €1.67
$0.91 ₺42.05
113.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.51 €2.17
$1.24 ₺57.5
102.42%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 €1.54
$0.65 ₺29.91
175.38%
Onion (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$0.60 ₺27.75
235.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 €1.69
$0.80 ₺36.79
146.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 €0.73
$0.73 ₺33.63
15.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79 €5.85
$2.05 ₺94.9
231.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.67 €4.89
$9.90 ₺458
-42.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 €1.20
$1.98 ₺91.6
-29.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 €2.60
$2.60 ₺120
16.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Samsun
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.27 €1.95
$0.58 ₺26.88
291.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.44 €39.15
$9.73 ₺450
367.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.70
$2.33 ₺108
84.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 €0.73
$0.66 ₺30.46
28.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.28 €15.75
$4.66 ₺216
292.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.99 €1.71
$1.16 ₺53.9
71.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K €30.2K
$43.1K ₺2.0M
-18.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K €34.1K
$50.1K ₺2.3M
-21.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Samsun
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$146 €126
$50.1 ₺2,316
191.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45 €17.62
$10.94 ₺506
86.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98 €33.58
$11.28 ₺522
245.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Samsun
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.98 €42.21
$83.9 ₺3,879
-41.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83 €16.22
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.52 €8.21
$5.67 ₺262
67.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Samsun
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$608 €524
$516 ₺23.9K
17.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K €14.2K
$3,849 ₺178.0K
329.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Samsun
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 €89.5
$37.40 ₺1,730
177.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12 €36.29
$44.22 ₺2,046
-4.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.2 €79.5
$89.3 ₺4,133
3.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$44.71 ₺2,068
168.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Samsun
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,621 €1,397
$491 ₺22.7K
230.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,268 €1,092
$335 ₺15.5K
278.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,048 €2,626
$715 ₺33.1K
326.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,009 €1,731
$514 ₺23.8K
290.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,663 €6,602
$771 ₺35.7K
893.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,329 €3,730
$428 ₺19.8K
910.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Samsun
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,585 €1,366
$984 ₺45.5K
60.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
43.33
-91.21%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026

Last update for Samsun: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $491 in Samsun. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 61% 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 $25.00 in Samsun for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $245 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 Samsun?
Lisbon and Samsun differ by about 123% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $1,016 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?
Lisbon pays 61% 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 Samsun?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $491 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 $608 in Lisbon versus $516 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 10% 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 $1,016 in Samsun versus $2,263 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 123% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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