😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $1,560 in Szczecinek.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $2,253 in Szczecinek.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $2,945 in Szczecinek.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 47% more expensive than in Szczecinek, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon68% above, Szczecinek14% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Szczecinek
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59€15.33
$11.89zł 45.23
47.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€54.8
$45.68zł 174
37.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.58€10.10
$9.30zł 35.35
24.52%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$3.63zł 13.80
-14.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.17
$1.19zł 4.53
109.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74€1.52
$0.93zł 3.53
87.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.48€3.03
$3.21zł 12.20
8.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€3.00
$1.48zł 5.62
132.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Szczecinek
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15€1.00
$0.93zł 3.53
23.66%
White Bread(500g)
$1.91€1.66
$1.25zł 4.77
52.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50€1.31
$1.42zł 5.39
5.63%
Eggs
$3.98€3.47
$3.77zł 14.35
5.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.59
$7.78zł 29.60
70.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.98
$6.18zł 23.52
29.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.04€15.73
$13.64zł 51.9
32.26%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35€2.05
$1.23zł 4.66
91.06%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75€1.53
$1.18zł 4.49
48.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85€1.62
$1.74zł 6.61
6.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.22
$2.58zł 9.80
-1.16%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.61
$0.75zł 2.87
145.33%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10€1.83
$0.84zł 3.20
150.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.30
$1.34zł 5.10
11.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.71
$0.73zł 2.78
12.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10€6.19
$6.00zł 22.82
18.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.91€5.15
$7.94zł 30.20
-25.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.15
$1.22zł 4.65
7.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.86
$1.48zł 5.63
43.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Szczecinek
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.36€2.05
$1.27zł 4.84
85.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.62€40.63
$33.80zł 129
37.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.55
$2.44zł 9.26
67.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.99
$1.05zł 3.97
8.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.09€14.90
$12.06zł 45.87
41.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.31€2.01
$1.51zł 5.75
52.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.7K
$31.6Kzł 120.2K
7.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€36.1K
$28.1Kzł 107.0K
47.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Szczecinek
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169€147
$300zł 1,142
-43.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33€16.85
$8.30zł 31.58
132.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51€29.21
$19.19zł 73.0
74.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Szczecinek
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.84€42.57
$38.95zł 148
25.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43€16.94
$24.34zł 92.6
-20.17%
Cinema Ticket
$9.57€8.34
$7.89zł 29.99
21.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Szczecinek
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696€607
$213zł 810
226.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.4K€15.1K
$7,927zł 30.1K
118.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Szczecinek
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€91.8
$85.1zł 323
23.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75€41.62
$38.58zł 147
23.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.6
$88.8zł 338
13.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€108
$115zł 435
8.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Szczecinek
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,662€1,449
$587zł 2,231
183.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,246€1,086
$549zł 2,089
126.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,965€2,584
$1,058zł 4,022
180.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,049€1,786
$911zł 3,464
124.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,834€6,829
$2,648zł 10.1K
195.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,464€3,892
$2,352zł 8,945
89.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Szczecinek
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,632€1,422
$1,331zł 5,063
22.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
4.2
-10.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Last update for Szczecinek: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $587 in Szczecinek. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 23% 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 $46.00 in Szczecinek for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $214 per month, with Szczecinek 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 Szczecinek: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Szczecinek?
Lisbon and Szczecinek differ by about 47% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $1,560 including rent). Szczecinek is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Szczecinek?
Average pay runs 23% 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 Szczecinek?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $587 in Szczecinek. 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 Szczecinek?
Childcare runs $696 in Lisbon versus $213 in Szczecinek. 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 30% 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 $1,560 in Szczecinek versus $2,296 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Szczecinek but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Szczecinek the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Szczecinek?
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 Szczecinek safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Szczecinek 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 Szczecinek?
Expats usually find Szczecinek gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.