๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,243 in Lisbon versus $1,983 in Stralsund.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $2,991 in Stralsund.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,387 in Lisbon versus $3,999 in Stralsund.
๐Living in Lisbon is roughly 13% more expensive than Stralsund, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon67% above, Stralsund48% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Lisbon
Stralsund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.73โฌ13.42
$17.30โฌ14.75
-9.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.2โฌ53.9
$78.7โฌ67.2
-19.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32โฌ8.80
$11.46โฌ9.78
-9.95%
Cappuccino
$2.81โฌ2.40
$3.99โฌ3.41
-29.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33โฌ1.99
$3.23โฌ2.75
-27.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51โฌ1.29
$2.30โฌ1.96
-34.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.37โฌ2.87
$5.62โฌ4.80
-40.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91โฌ3.34
$4.71โฌ4.01
-16.99%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Stralsund
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08โฌ0.92
$1.26โฌ1.07
-14.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75โฌ1.49
$2.21โฌ1.88
-20.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75โฌ1.50
$3.18โฌ2.71
-44.97%
Eggs
$3.10โฌ2.64
$3.94โฌ3.36
-21.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.28โฌ11.33
$8.69โฌ7.42
52.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.85โฌ6.70
$11.52โฌ9.83
-31.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.05โฌ13.69
$13.33โฌ11.37
20.41%
Apples(1kg)
$2.39โฌ2.04
$1.70โฌ1.45
40.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72โฌ1.47
$1.46โฌ1.25
17.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97โฌ1.68
$1.95โฌ1.67
1.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55โฌ2.17
$3.64โฌ3.11
-29.95%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79โฌ1.53
$1.41โฌ1.21
26.95%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97โฌ1.68
$1.37โฌ1.17
43.80%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.96โฌ1.67
$0.52โฌ0.44
276.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84โฌ0.71
$0.81โฌ0.69
3.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.82โฌ5.82
$9.37โฌ8.00
-27.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.85โฌ4.99
$6.43โฌ5.49
-9.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38โฌ1.18
$1.09โฌ0.93
26.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92โฌ2.49
$1.60โฌ1.36
82.50%
๐ Getting Around
Lisbon
Stralsund
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.29โฌ1.95
$3.39โฌ2.90
-32.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.88โฌ39.99
$62.3โฌ53.2
-24.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.12โฌ3.51
$4.77โฌ4.07
-13.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81โฌ0.69
$2.84โฌ2.43
-71.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.94โฌ16.16
$25.01โฌ21.33
-24.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09โฌ1.78
$1.92โฌ1.64
8.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1Kโฌ30.0K
$31.5Kโฌ26.9K
11.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7Kโฌ33.9K
$37.4Kโฌ31.9K
6.07%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Stralsund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150โฌ128
$330โฌ281
-54.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.49โฌ17.48
$24.67โฌ21.04
-16.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.15โฌ33.40
$54.2โฌ46.23
-27.77%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Stralsund
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.65โฌ42.35
$39.54โฌ33.73
25.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.47โฌ15.76
$23.12โฌ19.72
-20.11%
Cinema Ticket
$9.20โฌ7.84
$17.21โฌ14.68
-46.54%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Stralsund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$624โฌ533
$312โฌ266
100.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9Kโฌ13.6K
$9,321โฌ7,950
70.65%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Stralsund
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102โฌ87.2
$75.3โฌ64.3
35.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.88โฌ34.87
$45.97โฌ39.21
-11.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.7โฌ81.6
$101โฌ86.4
-5.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121โฌ103
$132โฌ112
-8.09%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Stralsund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,653โฌ1,410
$837โฌ714
97.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,233โฌ1,051
$672โฌ573
83.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,043โฌ2,596
$1,532โฌ1,307
98.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,059โฌ1,756
$1,245โฌ1,062
65.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,879โฌ6,720
$5,777โฌ4,928
36.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,303โฌ3,671
$3,190โฌ2,721
34.90%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Stralsund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,566โฌ1,336
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
3.96
-3.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 21, 2026
Last update for Stralsund: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,653 in Lisbon and $837 in Stralsund. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $63 in Lisbon vs $79 in Stralsund for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $270 vs $270 per month, with Lisbon 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 Stralsund: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Stralsund?
Lisbon and Stralsund differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($2,243 vs $1,983 including rent). Stralsund is meaningfully more affordable โ 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 $3,365 in Lisbon and $2,975 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 Stralsund?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,653 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 $624 in Lisbon versus $312 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?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $1,983 in Stralsund versus $2,243 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 โ 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 โ expenses run 13% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.