😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $1,276 in Swidnica.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $1,910 in Swidnica.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $2,543 in Swidnica.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 77% more expensive than Swidnica, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Swidnica is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Swidnica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94€13.73
$8.10zł 29.60
96.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4€54.6
$26.74zł 97.7
136.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.95
$7.75zł 28.33
33.94%
Cappuccino
$2.79€2.40
$3.24zł 11.84
-13.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34€2.01
$1.75zł 6.39
33.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$1.41zł 5.14
11.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43€2.95
$2.79zł 10.20
22.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.37
$4.01zł 14.65
-2.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Swidnica
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.04zł 3.79
3.85%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.52
$1.34zł 4.90
32.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71€1.47
$1.43zł 5.23
19.58%
Eggs
$3.15€2.71
$3.34zł 12.19
-5.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.68€11.79
$9.30zł 33.99
47.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.90
$6.54zł 23.90
22.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.52€13.37
$12.54zł 45.82
23.76%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.98
$1.16zł 4.23
97.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.41
$1.76zł 6.41
-6.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.67
$2.07zł 7.57
-6.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.51€2.17
$3.23zł 11.81
-22.29%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.54
$1.12zł 4.10
59.82%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.32zł 4.81
52.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.69
$1.29zł 4.70
52.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.74zł 2.71
13.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79€5.85
$5.27zł 19.25
28.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.67€4.89
$8.23zł 30.07
-31.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$1.32zł 4.81
5.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.60
$2.02zł 7.38
49.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Swidnica
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.95
$1.07zł 3.92
112.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.44€39.15
$32.82zł 120
38.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.70
$2.75zł 10.05
56.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$0.85zł 3.10
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.28€15.75
$10.93zł 39.94
67.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99€1.71
$1.68zł 6.13
18.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.2K
$33.3Kzł 121.6K
5.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K€34.1K
$30.3Kzł 110.8K
30.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Swidnica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146€126
$213zł 779
-31.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45€17.62
$9.85zł 36.02
107.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98€33.58
$13.54zł 49.51
187.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Swidnica
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.98€42.21
$35.98zł 132
36.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83€16.22
$19.84zł 72.5
-5.09%
Cinema Ticket
$9.52€8.21
$7.54zł 27.55
26.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Swidnica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$608€524
$467zł 1,707
30.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.2K
$9,245zł 33.8K
78.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Swidnica
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€89.5
$78.9zł 288
31.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12€36.29
$39.05zł 143
7.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.2€79.5
$90.9zł 332
1.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$97.1zł 355
23.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Swidnica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621€1,397
$655zł 2,395
147.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,268€1,092
$391zł 1,427
224.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,048€2,626
$970zł 3,546
214.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,009€1,731
$824zł 3,011
143.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,663€6,602
$3,076zł 11.2K
149.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,329€3,730
$2,338zł 8,546
85.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Swidnica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,585€1,366
$1,101zł 4,023
44.00%
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Swidnica: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $655 in Swidnica. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 44% 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 $269 vs $229 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 Swidnica?
Lisbon and Swidnica differ by about 77% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $1,276 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?
Lisbon pays 44% 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 Swidnica?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $655 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 $608 in Lisbon versus $467 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 17% 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 $1,276 in Swidnica versus $2,263 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 77% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.