😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $960 in Svishtov.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $1,500 in Svishtov.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $2,041 in Svishtov.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 132% more expensive than Svishtov, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Svishtov is 28% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Svishtov
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.84
$12.03BGN 20.09
34.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.3
$49.86BGN 83.3
29.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.88
$8.73BGN 14.58
18.90%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.37
$2.42BGN 4.04
14.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$1.80BGN 3.00
25.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$0.61BGN 1.03
157.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€2.99
$1.74BGN 2.91
100.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.43
$3.00BGN 5.01
33.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Svishtov
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.44BGN 2.40
-25.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.49
$0.92BGN 1.53
89.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.49
$1.72BGN 2.88
1.16%
Eggs
$3.18€2.72
$2.77BGN 4.63
14.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43€11.50
$10.10BGN 16.86
32.97%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.84
$5.22BGN 8.71
53.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€13.77
$9.05BGN 15.11
77.79%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
$1.44BGN 2.41
58.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$1.15BGN 1.91
49.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$1.13BGN 1.89
71.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
$2.40BGN 4.00
5.83%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$0.73BGN 1.22
150.68%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$0.48BGN 0.81
325.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98€1.69
$0.61BGN 1.01
224.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$0.57BGN 0.95
49.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.87
$3.72BGN 6.22
84.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€4.94
$5.90BGN 9.85
-2.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$1.04BGN 1.74
31.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
$1.21BGN 2.02
139.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Svishtov
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.95
$0.86BGN 1.44
165.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€40.10
$26.95BGN 45.00
73.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.49
$1.44BGN 2.41
183.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.67BGN 1.12
22.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27€15.64
$14.36BGN 23.98
27.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.72
$1.53BGN 2.56
31.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.2K
$31.8KBGN 53.1K
10.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
$29.3KBGN 48.9K
31.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Svishtov
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145€124
$146BGN 244
-0.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96€17.94
$17.85BGN 29.81
17.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05€34.29
$8.60BGN 14.36
365.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Svishtov
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79€41.76
$29.05BGN 48.51
67.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€16.00
$15.02BGN 25.09
24.43%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06€7.76
$8.79BGN 14.69
3.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Svishtov
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607€519
$637BGN 1,063
-4.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$5,468BGN 9,132
198.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Svishtov
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.6
$52.5BGN 87.7
99.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€35.06
$26.66BGN 44.51
53.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€80.1
$84.6BGN 141
10.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€101
$71.3BGN 119
66.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Svishtov
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,373
$292BGN 488
448.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,058
$229BGN 383
439.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046€2,607
$466BGN 779
553.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057€1,761
$352BGN 587
484.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709€6,599
$1,362BGN 2,275
465.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,652
$1,087BGN 1,816
292.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Svishtov
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584€1,356
$1,314BGN 2,194
20.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
3.09
23.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Last update for Svishtov: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $292 in Svishtov. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 21% 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: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $50.0 in Svishtov for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $188 per month, with Svishtov 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 Svishtov: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Svishtov?
Lisbon and Svishtov differ by about 132% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $960 including rent). Svishtov is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Svishtov?
Lisbon pays 21% 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 Svishtov?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $292 in Svishtov. 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 Svishtov?
Childcare runs $607 in Lisbon versus $637 in Svishtov. 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 44% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $960 in Svishtov versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Svishtov but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Svishtov the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Svishtov?
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 Svishtov safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Svishtov 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 Svishtov?
Expats usually find Svishtov gentler on the wallet – expenses run 132% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.