😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,539 in Szczecinek.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $2,179 in Szczecinek.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $2,820 in Szczecinek.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 44% more expensive than Szczecinek, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon65% above, Szczecinek15% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Szczecinek
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.70
$10.66zł 38.85
49.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.8
$24.71zł 90.1
162.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.05
$9.21zł 33.58
14.12%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$3.69zł 13.44
-22.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$1.04zł 3.80
115.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$0.70zł 2.54
114.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.01
$4.19zł 15.28
-16.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$1.53zł 5.60
153.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Szczecinek
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.11zł 4.04
2.70%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$1.06zł 3.86
65.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$1.55zł 5.63
13.55%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$3.40zł 12.41
-5.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$8.33zł 30.39
61.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$7.51zł 27.38
5.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.67
$12.79zł 46.63
24.08%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$1.02zł 3.72
126.47%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$1.98zł 7.21
-14.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.94zł 7.09
3.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$3.07zł 11.18
-19.87%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$0.93zł 3.38
97.85%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$0.70zł 2.55
185.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$1.55zł 5.66
24.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.69zł 2.53
14.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.69
$5.43zł 19.80
21.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.93
$8.48zł 30.93
-32.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$1.11zł 4.07
23.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$1.60zł 5.82
85.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Szczecinek
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$1.11zł 4.05
113.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.22
$32.71zł 119
39.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$2.37zł 8.63
81.01%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.77zł 2.82
6.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.76
$13.61zł 49.62
34.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$1.76zł 6.42
17.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$34.3Kzł 124.9K
0.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$30.2Kzł 109.9K
30.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Szczecinek
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$361zł 1,318
-59.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.67
$11.75zł 42.83
74.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.10
$15.59zł 56.8
154.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Szczecinek
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.19
$37.01zł 135
29.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.29
$19.41zł 70.8
-2.52%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.91
$7.54zł 27.51
21.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Szczecinek
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€529
$377zł 1,373
63.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$6,552zł 23.9K
144.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Szczecinek
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.1
$122zł 445
-14.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.21
$46.47zł 169
-9.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.9
$110zł 400
-14.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$90.2zł 329
32.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Szczecinek
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,401
$505zł 1,843
222.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,081
$494zł 1,803
153.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,609
$962zł 3,506
215.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,739
$807zł 2,944
150.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,715
$2,673zł 9,747
191.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,678
$2,552zł 9,307
67.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Szczecinek
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,380
$1,354zł 4,938
18.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
4.2
-9.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Szczecinek: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $505 in Szczecinek. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 18% 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 $25.00 in Szczecinek for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $227 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 Szczecinek?
Lisbon and Szczecinek differ by about 44% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $1,539 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?
Lisbon pays 18% 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 Szczecinek?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $505 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 $614 in Lisbon versus $377 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 19% 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 $1,539 in Szczecinek versus $2,210 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 44% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.