😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $1,160 in Shchelkovo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $1,785 in Shchelkovo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $2,411 in Shchelkovo.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 92% more expensive than Shchelkovo, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Shchelkovo is 13% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Shchelkovo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.79
$12.49₽936
29.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.1
$58.6₽4,393
10.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.85
$6.18₽463
67.96%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.37
$3.15₽236
-12.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$1.44₽108
56.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.34
$0.62₽46.35
153.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€2.98
$1.41₽106
147.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.42
$4.47₽335
-10.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Shchelkovo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.92
$1.33₽99.3
-18.80%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.48
$0.85₽63.5
104.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.48
$1.74₽130
-
Eggs
$3.18€2.71
$1.91₽143
66.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43€11.46
$12.97₽972
3.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.82
$6.07₽455
31.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€13.73
$12.25₽918
31.35%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
$1.97₽147
15.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.47
$2.03₽152
-15.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$2.36₽177
-17.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.17
$4.04₽303
-37.13%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.56
$1.03₽77.1
77.67%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.74
$0.81₽60.3
151.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98€1.69
$1.63₽122
21.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$0.74₽55.8
14.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.85
$3.25₽243
110.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€4.93
$8.10₽607
-28.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.17
$1.07₽80.3
28.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.47
$2.32₽174
25.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Shchelkovo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.95
$0.50₽37.21
356.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€39.96
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.48
$2.48₽186
64.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.45₽33.59
82.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27€15.58
$8.26₽619
121.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.71
$0.81₽61.0
148.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.1K
$38.7K₽2.9M
-8.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€32.8K
$36.6K₽2.7M
5.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Shchelkovo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145€124
$150₽11.2K
-3.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96€17.88
$7.83₽587
167.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05€34.17
$8.10₽607
394.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Shchelkovo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79€41.61
$34.86₽2,612
39.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€15.95
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.06€7.73
$6.41₽480
41.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Shchelkovo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607€517
$323₽24.2K
87.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€13.9K
$6,919₽518.5K
136.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Shchelkovo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.3
$87.0₽6,518
20.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€34.93
$53.7₽4,020
-23.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€79.8
$131₽9,805
-28.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€101
$163₽12.2K
-27.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Shchelkovo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,368
$443₽33.2K
262.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,054
$303₽22.7K
307.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046€2,598
$772₽57.8K
294.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057€1,754
$511₽38.3K
302.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709€6,576
$1,944₽145.7K
296.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,639
$1,603₽120.1K
166.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Shchelkovo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584€1,351
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
24.39
-84.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Last update for Shchelkovo: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $443 in Shchelkovo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $65 in Lisbon vs $59 in Shchelkovo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $240 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 Shchelkovo?
Lisbon and Shchelkovo differ by about 92% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $1,160 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 $3,341 in Lisbon and $1,740 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 Shchelkovo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $443 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 13% 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 $2,227 per month in Lisbon versus $1,160 in Shchelkovo – a 92% 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 $1,160 in Shchelkovo versus $2,227 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 92% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.