😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $1,141 in Szekesfehervar.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $1,854 in Szekesfehervar.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $2,567 in Szekesfehervar.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 101% more expensive than in Szekesfehervar, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Szekesfehervar is 17% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Szekesfehervar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59€15.33
$10.05Ft 3,197
75.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€54.8
$62.7Ft 20.0K
0.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.58€10.10
$8.75Ft 2,783
32.34%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$2.28Ft 726
35.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.17
$1.44Ft 458
72.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74€1.52
$1.09Ft 348
59.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.48€3.03
$2.09Ft 665
66.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€3.00
$2.42Ft 770
42.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Szekesfehervar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15€1.00
$1.18Ft 374
-2.54%
White Bread(500g)
$1.91€1.66
$1.48Ft 471
29.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50€1.31
$2.69Ft 854
-44.24%
Eggs
$3.98€3.47
$3.61Ft 1,147
10.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.59
$10.05Ft 3,197
32.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.98
$6.51Ft 2,070
23.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.04€15.73
$16.27Ft 5,174
10.88%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35€2.05
$2.11Ft 672
11.37%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75€1.53
$2.24Ft 714
-21.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85€1.62
$2.03Ft 647
-8.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.22
$3.15Ft 1,001
-19.05%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.61
$1.08Ft 343
70.37%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10€1.83
$1.18Ft 375
77.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.30
$1.55Ft 494
-3.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.71
$0.49Ft 156
67.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10€6.19
$6.70Ft 2,132
5.97%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.91€5.15
$3.13Ft 994
88.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.15
$1.30Ft 413
0.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.86
$2.11Ft 672
0.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Szekesfehervar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.36€2.05
$1.28Ft 406
84.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.62€40.63
$27.52Ft 8,753
69.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.55
$3.16Ft 1,005
29.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.99
$1.70Ft 540
-32.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.09€14.90
$18.98Ft 6,039
-9.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.31€2.01
$1.89Ft 602
22.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.7K
$28.0KFt 8.9M
22.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€36.1K
$31.1KFt 9.9M
33.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Szekesfehervar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169€147
$131Ft 41.5K
29.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33€16.85
$28.57Ft 9,088
-32.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51€29.21
$19.92Ft 6,337
68.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Szekesfehervar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.84€42.57
$47.27Ft 15.0K
3.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43€16.94
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.57€8.34
$8.72Ft 2,773
9.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Szekesfehervar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696€607
$257Ft 81.9K
170.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.4K€15.1K
$6,989Ft 2.2M
148.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Szekesfehervar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€91.8
$70.1Ft 22.3K
50.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75€41.62
$25.20Ft 8,017
89.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.6
$78.2Ft 24.9K
28.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€108
$86.3Ft 27.5K
44.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Szekesfehervar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,662€1,449
$403Ft 128.2K
312.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,246€1,086
$314Ft 100.0K
296.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,965€2,584
$640Ft 203.5K
363.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,049€1,786
$674Ft 214.5K
203.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,834€6,829
$3,505Ft 1.1M
123.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,464€3,892
$3,191Ft 1.0M
39.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Szekesfehervar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,632€1,422
$1,519Ft 483.2K
7.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
6.67
-43.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Last update for Szekesfehervar: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $403 in Szekesfehervar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 7% 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 $63.0 in Szekesfehervar. Groceries flip the comparison at $277 vs $246, with Szekesfehervar cheaper for home cooking.
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 in Szekesfehervar?
Lisbon and Szekesfehervar differ by about 101% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $1,141 including rent). Szekesfehervar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Szekesfehervar?
Average pay runs 7% 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 Szekesfehervar?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $403 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 $696 in Lisbon versus $257 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 13% 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 $1,141 in Szekesfehervar versus $2,296 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 101% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.