😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,217 in Lisbon versus $902 in Sfantu Gheorghe.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,245 in Lisbon versus $1,414 in Sfantu Gheorghe.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,272 in Lisbon versus $1,926 in Sfantu Gheorghe.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 146% more expensive than Sfantu Gheorghe, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Sfantu Gheorghe is 32% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.78€13.59
$8.89RON 40.03
77.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.5€53.8
$40.00RON 180
56.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.54€9.07
$8.91RON 40.13
18.29%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.38
$2.10RON 9.46
31.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28€1.97
$1.26RON 5.69
80.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55€1.33
$1.16RON 5.22
33.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.55€3.05
$2.22RON 10.01
59.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98€3.43
$2.71RON 12.23
46.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.54RON 6.95
-29.87%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.52
$1.18RON 5.30
50.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77€1.52
$1.41RON 6.33
25.53%
Eggs
$3.12€2.69
$3.06RON 13.78
1.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.34€11.49
$8.58RON 38.65
55.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.88
$4.21RON 18.97
89.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.92€13.70
$12.71RON 57.2
25.26%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.97
$0.98RON 4.41
132.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.42
$1.30RON 5.88
26.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.98€1.70
$1.25RON 5.63
58.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$1.91RON 8.60
28.27%
Potato(1kg)
$1.77€1.52
$0.72RON 3.23
145.83%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$0.92RON 4.13
114.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.70
$0.79RON 3.55
149.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80€0.69
$0.72RON 3.24
11.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.54€5.63
$5.68RON 25.57
15.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.75€4.95
$8.17RON 36.81
-29.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32€1.13
$1.04RON 4.70
26.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99€2.57
$1.16RON 5.25
157.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.34€2.01
$0.68RON 3.06
244.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.85€39.48
$20.11RON 90.6
128.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.26€3.66
$0.90RON 4.05
373.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.84€0.73
$0.74RON 3.33
13.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.86€16.24
$7.35RON 33.11
156.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.07€1.78
$1.61RON 7.24
28.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.2K€30.3K
$27.6KRON 124.3K
27.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.6K€33.2K
$28.5KRON 128.3K
35.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151€130
$167RON 750
-9.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.91€18.00
$8.68RON 39.11
140.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.54€34.05
$9.97RON 44.89
296.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.39€41.67
$40.80RON 184
18.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.61€16.02
$19.03RON 85.7
-2.21%
Cinema Ticket
$9.04€7.79
$3.46RON 15.58
161.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$610€525
$435RON 1,960
40.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$6,912RON 31.1K
135.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101€87.2
$34.74RON 156
191.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.58€34.94
$18.77RON 84.5
116.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.0€80.1
$27.92RON 126
233.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
$70.0RON 315
69.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,603€1,380
$312RON 1,403
414.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,239€1,067
$234RON 1,054
429.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,019€2,599
$566RON 2,550
433.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,061€1,775
$425RON 1,916
384.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,981€6,872
$1,943RON 8,753
310.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,533€3,903
$1,362RON 6,136
232.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,628€1,402
$721RON 3,247
125.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
6.75
-43.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 15, 2026
Last update for Sfantu Gheorghe: June 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,603 in Lisbon and $312 in Sfantu Gheorghe. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 126% 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: $62.0 in Lisbon vs $40.00 in Sfantu Gheorghe for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $197 per month, with Sfantu Gheorghe 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 Sfantu Gheorghe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Sfantu Gheorghe?
Lisbon and Sfantu Gheorghe differ by about 146% in total monthly costs ($2,217 vs $902 including rent). Sfantu Gheorghe is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Sfantu Gheorghe?
Lisbon pays 126% 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 Sfantu Gheorghe?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,603 in Lisbon versus $312 in Sfantu Gheorghe. 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 Sfantu Gheorghe?
Childcare runs $610 in Lisbon versus $435 in Sfantu Gheorghe. 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 36% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $902 in Sfantu Gheorghe versus $2,217 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sfantu Gheorghe but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Sfantu Gheorghe the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Sfantu Gheorghe?
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 Sfantu Gheorghe safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Sfantu Gheorghe 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 Sfantu Gheorghe?
Expats usually find Sfantu Gheorghe gentler on the wallet – expenses run 146% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.