😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $1,003 in Szekesfehervar.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $1,641 in Szekesfehervar.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $2,278 in Szekesfehervar.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 128% more expensive than in Szekesfehervar, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Szekesfehervar is 25% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Szekesfehervar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.18
$11.36Ft 3,600
42.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.5
$56.7Ft 18.0K
11.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.04
$8.92Ft 2,825
15.70%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$1.92Ft 607
47.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.01
$1.28Ft 407
78.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$0.96Ft 303
64.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$1.89Ft 599
79.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.53
$2.49Ft 788
61.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Szekesfehervar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.96
$1.06Ft 337
2.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$1.69Ft 537
3.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$2.14Ft 678
-17.76%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$2.78Ft 880
14.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.56
$7.63Ft 2,416
72.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.98
$5.90Ft 1,869
35.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.60
$14.75Ft 4,674
5.29%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$1.91Ft 606
24.08%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$1.85Ft 586
-7.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$1.97Ft 623
2.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$2.81Ft 891
-13.52%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.02Ft 324
72.55%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$1.19Ft 376
70.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$1.43Ft 452
34.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$0.44Ft 140
93.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$6.03Ft 1,910
9.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.89
$3.16Ft 1,000
76.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$0.94Ft 299
41.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$1.46Ft 461
103.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Szekesfehervar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$1.14Ft 360
100.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.10
$24.90Ft 7,889
83.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$2.75Ft 872
53.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$1.20Ft 379
-32.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.15
$17.06Ft 5,404
8.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$1.73Ft 550
20.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.4K
$25.9KFt 8.2M
33.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$25.6KFt 8.1M
52.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Szekesfehervar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$104Ft 32.9K
42.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.92
$24.65Ft 7,809
-17.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.64
$18.37Ft 5,820
115.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Szekesfehervar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€42.03
$46.37Ft 14.7K
3.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.29
$17.02Ft 5,394
9.28%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.08
$6.76Ft 2,142
36.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Szekesfehervar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€540
$222Ft 70.4K
177.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$6,408Ft 2.0M
156.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Szekesfehervar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€90.0
$64.0Ft 20.3K
60.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.55
$22.77Ft 7,214
83.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€83.0
$71.2Ft 22.6K
33.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$78.3Ft 24.8K
55.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Szekesfehervar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,430
$378Ft 119.7K
332.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,079
$292Ft 92.5K
322.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,713
$595Ft 188.5K
420.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,779
$523Ft 165.8K
288.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,858
$3,517Ft 1.1M
122.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,844
$3,161Ft 1.0M
38.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Szekesfehervar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,408
$1,517Ft 480.7K
5.94%
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: July 14, 2026
Last update for Szekesfehervar: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $378 in Szekesfehervar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 6% 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 $57.0 in Szekesfehervar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $217 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 in Szekesfehervar?
Lisbon and Szekesfehervar differ by about 128% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $1,003 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 6% 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: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $378 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 $616 in Lisbon versus $222 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 23% 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 $1,003 in Szekesfehervar versus $2,291 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 128% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.