😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,012 in Szekesfehervar.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,633 in Szekesfehervar.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $2,253 in Szekesfehervar.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 118% more expensive than Szekesfehervar, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Szekesfehervar is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Szekesfehervar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.69
$11.09Ft 3,382
43.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.7
$58.3Ft 17.8K
11.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.04
$9.02Ft 2,750
16.52%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$1.91Ft 581
50.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$1.28Ft 390
75.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$0.88Ft 268
70.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.00
$1.90Ft 578
83.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$2.52Ft 767
53.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Szekesfehervar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.12Ft 342
1.79%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$1.71Ft 523
2.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$2.10Ft 640
-16.19%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$2.68Ft 816
20.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$7.76Ft 2,367
73.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$6.08Ft 1,853
30.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.65
$14.87Ft 4,535
6.72%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$1.83Ft 557
26.23%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$1.77Ft 539
-3.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.87Ft 571
7.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$2.83Ft 863
-13.07%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$1.06Ft 323
73.58%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$1.19Ft 362
68.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$1.39Ft 423
38.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.44Ft 135
79.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.68
$6.32Ft 1,928
4.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.92
$3.25Ft 991
76.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.17
$0.99Ft 303
38.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$1.42Ft 433
109.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Szekesfehervar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$1.18Ft 360
100.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.19
$24.71Ft 7,537
84.38%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$2.80Ft 853
53.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$1.14Ft 348
-28.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.74
$17.44Ft 5,318
4.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$1.72Ft 525
19.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$25.4KFt 7.7M
35.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$25.2KFt 7.7M
56.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Szekesfehervar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$106Ft 32.2K
39.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.65
$25.07Ft 7,644
-18.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.08
$18.57Ft 5,663
113.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Szekesfehervar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.16
$45.98Ft 14.0K
4.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.28
$16.66Ft 5,081
13.57%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.90
$6.46Ft 1,970
42.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Szekesfehervar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€528
$220Ft 67.1K
178.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$6,228Ft 1.9M
157.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Szekesfehervar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.0
$64.3Ft 19.6K
62.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.18
$22.72Ft 6,930
85.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.8
$72.5Ft 22.1K
29.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$79.9Ft 24.4K
49.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Szekesfehervar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,400
$367Ft 112.0K
343.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,080
$285Ft 86.9K
340.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,607
$589Ft 179.5K
414.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,738
$517Ft 157.5K
291.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,709
$3,639Ft 1.1M
114.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,675
$3,257Ft 993.4K
31.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Szekesfehervar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,379
$1,609Ft 490.8K
-0.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
5.85
-34.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Szekesfehervar: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $367 in Szekesfehervar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Szekesfehervar pays 0% 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 $58.0 in Szekesfehervar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $218 per month, with Szekesfehervar 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 Szekesfehervar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Szekesfehervar?
Lisbon and Szekesfehervar differ by about 118% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $1,012 including rent). Szekesfehervar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Szekesfehervar earns 0% 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 Szekesfehervar?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $367 in Szekesfehervar. 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 Szekesfehervar?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $220 in Szekesfehervar. 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 24% 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 $1,012 in Szekesfehervar versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Szekesfehervar but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Szekesfehervar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Szekesfehervar?
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 Szekesfehervar safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Szekesfehervar 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 Szekesfehervar?
Expats usually find Szekesfehervar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 118% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.