😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,408 in Szczecin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $2,007 in Szczecin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $2,606 in Szczecin.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 57% more expensive than Szczecin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon65% above, Szczecin5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Szczecin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.70
$9.33zł 34.08
70.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.8
$49.78zł 182
30.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.05
$8.76zł 31.98
19.98%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$3.33zł 12.15
-13.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$1.86zł 6.81
20.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$1.41zł 5.16
6.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.01
$3.32zł 12.13
5.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$3.18zł 11.62
22.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Szczecin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$0.96zł 3.51
18.75%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$1.28zł 4.68
36.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$0.99zł 3.60
77.78%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$3.34zł 12.18
-3.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.62
$9.64zł 35.22
39.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$6.39zł 23.33
23.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.67
$13.30zł 48.58
19.32%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$0.89zł 3.26
159.55%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$1.78zł 6.50
-4.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.39zł 5.09
44.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$2.18zł 7.97
12.84%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$0.89zł 3.24
106.74%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$1.07zł 3.90
86.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$1.03zł 3.77
87.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.60zł 2.20
31.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.69
$5.32zł 19.44
24.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.93
$7.03zł 25.67
-18.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$1.14zł 4.15
20.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$1.47zł 5.38
102.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Szczecin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$0.82zł 3.01
189.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.23
$27.10zł 99.0
68.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$2.20zł 8.04
95.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.97zł 3.55
-15.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.76
$13.44zł 49.09
36.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$1.67zł 6.10
23.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$32.7Kzł 119.6K
4.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$30.7Kzł 112.2K
27.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Szczecin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$253zł 924
-41.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.67
$10.70zł 39.07
91.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.11
$17.06zł 62.3
132.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Szczecin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.20
$29.59zł 108
61.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.29
$15.99zł 58.4
18.32%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.91
$6.91zł 25.23
32.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Szczecin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€529
$379zł 1,386
61.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$8,219zł 30.0K
95.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Szczecin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.1
$56.4zł 206
85.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.22
$30.67zł 112
37.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.9
$72.4zł 265
29.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$85.1zł 311
40.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Szczecin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,402
$657zł 2,399
147.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,081
$534zł 1,950
135.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,609
$963zł 3,519
214.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,740
$811zł 2,962
149.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,716
$3,413zł 12.5K
128.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,679
$2,566zł 9,374
66.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Szczecin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,381
$1,660zł 6,064
-3.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
6.36
-40.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Szczecin: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $657 in Szczecin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Szczecin pays 4% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $50.0 in Szczecin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $211 per month, with Szczecin 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 Szczecin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Szczecin?
Lisbon and Szczecin differ by about 57% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $1,408 including rent). Szczecin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Szczecin earns 4% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Szczecin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $657 in Szczecin. 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 Szczecin?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $379 in Szczecin. 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 28% 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 $1,408 in Szczecin versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Szczecin but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Szczecin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Szczecin?
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 Szczecin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Szczecin 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 Szczecin?
Expats usually find Szczecin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 57% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.