😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,155 in Szentendre.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,758 in Szentendre.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $2,361 in Szentendre.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 91% more expensive than Szentendre, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Szentendre is 14% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Szentendre
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.69
$11.73Ft 3,576
35.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.7
$55.5Ft 16.9K
16.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.04
$8.85Ft 2,700
18.76%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$2.08Ft 634
37.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$1.42Ft 433
57.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$1.24Ft 379
20.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.00
$2.90Ft 885
20.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$2.36Ft 719
64.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Szentendre
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.00Ft 305
14.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$1.57Ft 479
11.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$1.89Ft 577
-6.88%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$2.71Ft 826
18.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$9.86Ft 3,007
36.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$6.09Ft 1,856
29.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.65
$12.32Ft 3,756
28.81%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$1.72Ft 523
34.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$1.98Ft 603
-14.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.80Ft 548
11.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$3.31Ft 1,008
-25.68%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$1.08Ft 330
70.37%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$1.22Ft 371
63.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$1.48Ft 450
30.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.57Ft 174
38.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.68
$6.68Ft 2,038
-1.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.92
$6.00Ft 1,830
-4.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.17
$1.11Ft 338
23.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$1.73Ft 526
71.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Szentendre
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$1.17Ft 358
102.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.19
$27.16Ft 8,283
67.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$2.55Ft 777
68.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$1.11Ft 338
-26.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.74
$13.64Ft 4,161
34.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$1.81Ft 553
13.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$24.5KFt 7.5M
39.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$31.1KFt 9.5M
26.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Szentendre
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$145Ft 44.1K
2.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.65
$26.47Ft 8,072
-22.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.08
$20.05Ft 6,114
97.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Szentendre
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.16
$47.27Ft 14.4K
1.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.28
$23.40Ft 7,137
-19.15%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.90
$7.37Ft 2,249
24.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Szentendre
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€528
$333Ft 101.4K
84.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$3,399Ft 1.0M
372.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Szentendre
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.0
$55.8Ft 17.0K
87.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.18
$27.08Ft 8,258
55.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.8
$63.0Ft 19.2K
49.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$68.3Ft 20.8K
75.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Szentendre
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,400
$442Ft 134.9K
267.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,080
$340Ft 103.8K
268.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,607
$631Ft 192.5K
380.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,738
$543Ft 165.5K
272.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,709
$3,217Ft 981.0K
142.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,675
$4,023Ft 1.2M
6.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Szentendre
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,379
$1,647Ft 502.4K
-2.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
7.03
-45.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Szentendre: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $442 in Szentendre. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Szentendre pays 3% 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 $56.0 in Szentendre for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $225 per month, with Szentendre 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 Szentendre: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Szentendre?
Lisbon and Szentendre differ by about 91% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $1,155 including rent). Szentendre is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Szentendre earns 3% 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 Szentendre?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $442 in Szentendre. 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 Szentendre?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $333 in Szentendre. 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 20% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,155 in Szentendre versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Szentendre but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Szentendre the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Szentendre?
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 Szentendre safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Szentendre 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 Szentendre?
Expats usually find Szentendre gentler on the wallet – expenses run 91% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.