😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,280 in Lisbon versus $1,262 in Swidnica.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,294 in Lisbon versus $1,905 in Swidnica.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,307 in Lisbon versus $2,547 in Swidnica.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 81% more expensive than in Swidnica, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Swidnica is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Swidnica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75€13.74
$8.08zł 30.48
94.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5€55.3
$27.10zł 102
134.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.45€9.11
$7.43zł 28.02
40.65%
Cappuccino
$2.91€2.54
$3.30zł 12.44
-11.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.00
$1.85zł 6.98
23.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.31
$1.47zł 5.55
2.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.56€3.11
$2.76zł 10.39
28.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96€3.46
$4.13zł 15.58
-4.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Swidnica
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.94
$1.00zł 3.75
8.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.76€1.54
$1.34zł 5.06
31.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70€1.48
$1.38zł 5.21
23.19%
Eggs
$3.25€2.83
$3.32zł 12.52
-2.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.25€11.55
$9.38zł 35.37
41.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.70€6.72
$6.40zł 24.12
20.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.77€13.75
$12.51zł 47.16
26.06%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.99
$1.15zł 4.32
98.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66€1.44
$1.85zł 6.99
-10.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.02€1.76
$1.98zł 7.47
2.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47€2.16
$3.26zł 12.29
-24.23%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.56
$1.06zł 4.00
68.87%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07€1.80
$1.27zł 4.80
62.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.72
$1.29zł 4.88
52.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.73
$0.70zł 2.62
18.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55€5.71
$5.03zł 18.95
30.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.57€4.85
$8.09zł 30.49
-31.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.16
$1.25zł 4.71
6.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01€2.62
$2.00zł 7.55
50.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Swidnica
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.98
$1.06zł 4.00
114.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.35€40.41
$32.00zł 121
44.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.69
$2.66zł 10.02
59.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.74
$0.91zł 3.43
-6.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.83€16.41
$10.75zł 40.54
75.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02€1.76
$1.73zł 6.54
16.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.5K
$34.1Kzł 128.5K
2.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K€34.6K
$30.9Kzł 116.6K
28.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Swidnica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€129
$216zł 816
-31.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.89
$10.02zł 37.77
104.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52€34.46
$13.84zł 52.2
185.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Swidnica
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.17€42.00
$36.92zł 139
30.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39€16.03
$19.52zł 73.6
-5.79%
Cinema Ticket
$9.10€7.93
$7.53zł 28.41
20.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Swidnica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$615€536
$457zł 1,724
34.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.2K
$9,492zł 35.8K
71.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Swidnica
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€88.6
$78.6zł 296
29.27%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09€36.69
$38.69zł 146
8.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.3€80.5
$88.8zł 335
3.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€106
$97.8zł 369
24.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Swidnica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,612€1,405
$649zł 2,448
148.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254€1,093
$392zł 1,478
219.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,069€2,676
$985zł 3,715
211.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,037€1,776
$806zł 3,038
152.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,751€6,757
$2,985zł 11.3K
159.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,286€3,737
$2,281zł 8,601
87.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Swidnica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,602€1,396
$1,040zł 3,921
54.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
7
-45.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026
Last update for Swidnica: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Lisbon and $649 in Swidnica. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 54% 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: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $27.00 in Swidnica for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $227 per month, with Swidnica 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 Swidnica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Swidnica?
Lisbon and Swidnica differ by about 81% in total monthly costs ($2,280 vs $1,262 including rent). Swidnica is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Swidnica?
Average pay runs 54% higher in Lisbon, 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 in Swidnica?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,612 in Lisbon versus $649 in Swidnica. 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 Swidnica?
Childcare runs $615 in Lisbon versus $457 in Swidnica. 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 18% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,262 in Swidnica versus $2,280 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Swidnica but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Swidnica the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Swidnica?
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 Swidnica safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Swidnica 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 Swidnica?
Expats usually find Swidnica gentler on the wallet – expenses run 81% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.