😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,119 in Szombathely.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,614 in Szombathely.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $2,110 in Szombathely.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 98% more expensive than Szombathely, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Szombathely is 17% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Szombathely
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.69
$8.74Ft 2,667
82.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.7
$43.50Ft 13.3K
48.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.04
$8.59Ft 2,620
22.35%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$2.17Ft 663
32.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$1.10Ft 336
103.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$0.98Ft 299
53.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.00
$1.57Ft 478
122.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$2.19Ft 668
77.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Szombathely
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.05Ft 321
8.57%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$1.50Ft 457
16.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$1.81Ft 553
-2.76%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$2.42Ft 739
33.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$9.05Ft 2,759
49.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$6.14Ft 1,872
28.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.65
$14.30Ft 4,361
10.98%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$1.96Ft 599
17.86%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$1.83Ft 558
-7.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$2.20Ft 670
-8.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$2.91Ft 888
-15.46%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$1.13Ft 345
62.83%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$1.22Ft 373
63.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$1.80Ft 549
7.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.54Ft 163
46.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.68
$7.16Ft 2,183
-7.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.92
$5.02Ft 1,531
13.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.17
$1.17Ft 357
17.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$1.57Ft 478
89.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Szombathely
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$0.81Ft 247
192.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.19
$18.44Ft 5,625
147.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$2.66Ft 811
61.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$1.16Ft 354
-29.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.74
$22.24Ft 6,782
-17.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$1.68Ft 512
22.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$27.5KFt 8.4M
24.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$25.4KFt 7.7M
54.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Szombathely
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$166Ft 50.5K
-10.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.65
$27.27Ft 8,315
-24.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.08
$19.55Ft 5,961
102.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Szombathely
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.16
$46.17Ft 14.1K
3.64%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.28
$16.75Ft 5,108
12.96%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.90
$4.34Ft 1,322
111.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Szombathely
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€528
$402Ft 122.6K
52.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$7,204Ft 2.2M
122.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Szombathely
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.0
$91.8Ft 28.0K
14.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.18
$45.08Ft 13.7K
-6.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.8
$93.0Ft 28.4K
0.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$101Ft 30.8K
18.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Szombathely
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,400
$429Ft 131.0K
279.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,080
$313Ft 95.4K
301.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,607
$440Ft 134.1K
589.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,738
$341Ft 103.9K
492.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,709
$2,656Ft 810.0K
193.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,675
$2,156Ft 657.6K
98.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Szombathely
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,379
$1,262Ft 384.9K
27.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
7.5
-49.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Szombathely: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $429 in Szombathely. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 27% 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 $43.00 in Szombathely for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $226 per month, with Szombathely 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 Szombathely: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Szombathely?
Lisbon and Szombathely differ by about 98% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $1,119 including rent). Szombathely is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Szombathely?
Lisbon pays 27% 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 Szombathely?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $429 in Szombathely. 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 Szombathely?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $402 in Szombathely. 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 $1,500 per month?
At $1,119 in Szombathely versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Szombathely but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Szombathely the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Szombathely?
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 Szombathely safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Szombathely 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 Szombathely?
Expats usually find Szombathely gentler on the wallet – expenses run 98% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.