😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,268 in Lisbon versus $1,930 in Stralsund.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,348 in Lisbon versus $2,935 in Stralsund.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,429 in Lisbon versus $3,940 in Stralsund.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 17% more expensive than in Stralsund, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon64% above, Stralsund40% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Stralsund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.55€15.12
$17.72€15.27
-0.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.5€55.6
$86.5€74.6
-25.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.65€10.04
$12.55€10.82
-7.17%
Cappuccino
$3.26€2.81
$4.06€3.50
-19.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.15
$3.79€3.27
-34.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67€1.44
$3.59€3.09
-53.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47€2.99
$5.88€5.07
-40.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58€3.08
$4.73€4.07
-24.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Stralsund
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18€1.02
$1.33€1.15
-11.28%
White Bread(500g)
$1.95€1.68
$2.27€1.95
-14.10%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56€1.35
$3.19€2.75
-51.10%
Eggs
$4.01€3.46
$4.13€3.56
-2.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.27€11.44
$8.98€7.74
47.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.42€7.26
$11.48€9.90
-26.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.23€15.72
$13.26€11.43
37.48%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32€2.00
$1.72€1.48
34.88%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73€1.49
$1.51€1.31
14.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93€1.67
$1.95€1.68
-1.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$3.58€3.09
-26.26%
Potato(1kg)
$1.90€1.64
$1.43€1.24
32.87%
Onion(1kg)
$2.11€1.82
$1.30€1.12
62.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.24
$0.51€0.44
182.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80€0.69
$0.89€0.77
-10.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.01€6.04
$9.37€8.07
-25.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.92€5.11
$6.23€5.37
-4.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36€1.18
$1.13€0.98
20.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15€1.85
$1.51€1.30
42.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Stralsund
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.38€2.05
$3.39€2.92
-29.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.22€39.85
$69.3€59.7
-33.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.19€3.61
$3.97€3.42
5.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.10€0.95
$2.33€2.01
-52.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.26€14.88
$38.99€33.61
-55.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.25€1.94
$1.87€1.61
20.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K€29.7K
$33.7K€29.0K
2.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.6K€35.9K
$39.8K€34.4K
4.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Stralsund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$171€147
$306€264
-44.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.01€16.38
$23.71€20.43
-19.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.28€29.55
$50.8€43.76
-32.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Stralsund
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.65€42.80
$39.90€34.40
24.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.51€16.81
$25.68€22.14
-24.03%
Cinema Ticket
$10.10€8.71
$14.04€12.11
-28.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Stralsund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$699€603
$315€271
122.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.8K€15.3K
$16.3K€14.0K
9.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Stralsund
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.2
$79.8€68.8
31.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.97€41.35
$73.0€62.9
-34.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.8
$103€88.7
-0.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128€111
$115€99.5
11.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Stralsund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,661€1,432
$837€721
98.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,228€1,059
$681€587
80.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,915€2,513
$1,562€1,347
86.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,023€1,744
$1,194€1,029
69.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,129€7,007
$5,283€4,554
53.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,635€3,996
$3,484€3,003
33.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Stralsund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,619€1,396
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
3.95
-4.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026
Last update for Stralsund: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,661 in Lisbon and $837 in Stralsund. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $64.0 in Lisbon vs $87.0 in Stralsund. Groceries flip the comparison at $281 vs $274, with Stralsund cheaper for home cooking.
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 Stralsund: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Stralsund?
Lisbon and Stralsund differ by about 17% in total monthly costs ($2,268 vs $1,930 including rent). Stralsund 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 Stralsund?
You'd need roughly $3,402 in Lisbon and $2,896 in Stralsund 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 Stralsund?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,661 in Lisbon versus $837 in Stralsund. 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 Stralsund?
Childcare runs $699 in Lisbon versus $315 in Stralsund. 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 3% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $1,930 in Stralsund versus $2,268 in Lisbon, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Stralsund but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Stralsund the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Stralsund?
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 Stralsund safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Stralsund 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 Stralsund?
Expats usually find Stralsund gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.