😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $896 in Shchelkovo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $1,407 in Shchelkovo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $1,918 in Shchelkovo.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 156% more expensive than in Shchelkovo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Shchelkovo is 35% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Shchelkovo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59€15.31
$5.79₽487
203.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€54.7
$29.30₽2,465
114.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.58€10.08
$7.77₽653
49.03%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$2.77₽233
11.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.17
$0.89₽74.9
179.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74€1.52
$0.57₽48.24
205.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.48€3.03
$0.90₽75.5
286.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€3.00
$1.43₽121
140.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Shchelkovo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15€1.00
$0.95₽79.6
21.05%
White Bread(500g)
$1.91€1.66
$0.79₽66.1
141.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50€1.31
$1.15₽96.4
30.43%
Eggs
$3.98€3.47
$1.53₽129
160.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.57
$8.88₽747
49.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.97
$4.83₽406
65.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.04€15.70
$11.57₽974
55.92%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35€2.05
$1.55₽130
51.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75€1.52
$1.43₽121
22.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85€1.61
$1.50₽126
23.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.22
$2.52₽212
1.19%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.60
$0.69₽58.3
166.67%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10€1.83
$0.39₽33.13
438.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.29
$1.37₽115
8.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.71
$0.43₽35.80
90.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10€6.18
$2.10₽177
238.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.91€5.14
$6.89₽580
-14.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.14
$0.71₽59.5
84.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.86
$1.48₽125
43.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Shchelkovo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.36€2.05
$0.49₽41.04
381.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.62€40.57
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.55
$3.40₽286
20.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.99
$0.16₽13.61
612.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.09€14.88
$3.42₽288
399.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.31€2.01
$0.76₽63.7
203.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.7K
$34.4K₽2.9M
-0.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€36.0K
$46.6K₽3.9M
-11.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Shchelkovo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169€147
$101₽8,527
66.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33€16.83
$3.42₽288
465.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51€29.17
$4.62₽389
625.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Shchelkovo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.84€42.51
$34.45₽2,899
41.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43€16.92
$22.93₽1,929
-15.26%
Cinema Ticket
$9.57€8.33
$5.94₽500
61.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Shchelkovo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696€606
$176₽14.8K
295.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.4K€15.1K
$3,491₽293.7K
397.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Shchelkovo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€91.7
$41.33₽3,478
154.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75€41.56
$23.17₽1,949
106.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.5
$138₽11.6K
-27.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€108
$118₽9,934
5.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Shchelkovo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,662€1,446
$446₽37.5K
272.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,246€1,085
$304₽25.6K
309.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,965€2,580
$786₽66.1K
277.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,049€1,783
$529₽44.5K
287.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,834€6,819
$2,232₽187.8K
250.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,464€3,886
$1,434₽120.6K
211.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Shchelkovo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,632€1,420
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
20.75
-81.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Last update for Shchelkovo: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $446 in Shchelkovo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $29.00 in Shchelkovo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $182 per month, with Shchelkovo 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 Shchelkovo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Shchelkovo?
Lisbon and Shchelkovo differ by about 156% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $896 including rent). Shchelkovo 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 Shchelkovo?
You'd need roughly $3,444 in Lisbon and $1,344 in Shchelkovo 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 in Shchelkovo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $446 in Shchelkovo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 52% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Shchelkovo?
All in, you'll spend $2,296 per month in Lisbon versus $896 in Shchelkovo – a 156% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $896 in Shchelkovo versus $2,296 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Shchelkovo but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Shchelkovo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Shchelkovo?
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 Shchelkovo safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Shchelkovo 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 Shchelkovo?
Expats usually find Shchelkovo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 156% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.