Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Turda Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Turda

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,217 in Lisbon versus $1,064 in Turda.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,245 in Lisbon versus $1,626 in Turda.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,272 in Lisbon versus $2,189 in Turda.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 108% more expensive than Turda, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Turda is 20% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Turda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.78 €13.59
$9.33 RON 42.03
69.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.5 €53.8
$52.6 RON 237
18.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.54 €9.07
$7.99 RON 36.01
31.91%
Cappuccino
$2.77 €2.38
$2.97 RON 13.39
-6.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 €1.97
$1.93 RON 8.69
18.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 €1.33
$1.74 RON 7.86
-10.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.55 €3.05
$2.35 RON 10.60
51.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98 €3.43
$2.74 RON 12.36
45.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Turda
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.93
$1.55 RON 6.96
-30.32%
White Bread (500g)
$1.77 €1.52
$1.24 RON 5.59
42.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 €1.52
$1.63 RON 7.33
8.59%
Eggs
$3.12 €2.69
$3.11 RON 14.02
0.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.34 €11.49
$9.53 RON 42.92
39.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.99 €6.88
$6.95 RON 31.29
14.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.92 €13.70
$11.71 RON 52.7
35.95%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 €1.97
$1.12 RON 5.04
103.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 €1.42
$1.60 RON 7.20
2.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.98 €1.70
$1.57 RON 7.05
26.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.45 €2.11
$1.61 RON 7.27
52.17%
Potato (1kg)
$1.77 €1.52
$0.96 RON 4.35
84.38%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 €1.69
$0.91 RON 4.10
116.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 €1.70
$1.04 RON 4.69
89.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 €0.69
$0.95 RON 4.28
-15.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.54 €5.63
$6.27 RON 28.25
4.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.75 €4.95
$7.73 RON 34.82
-25.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32 €1.13
$1.12 RON 5.05
17.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 €2.57
$1.82 RON 8.19
64.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Turda
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.34 €2.01
$1.35 RON 6.09
73.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.85 €39.48
$20.19 RON 90.9
127.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.26 €3.66
$0.82 RON 3.71
419.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.84 €0.73
$0.71 RON 3.20
18.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.86 €16.24
$8.30 RON 37.39
127.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.07 €1.78
$1.66 RON 7.45
24.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.2K €30.3K
$28.3K RON 127.3K
24.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.6K €33.2K
$27.0K RON 121.7K
42.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Turda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$151 €130
$157 RON 705
-3.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.91 €18.00
$8.88 RON 40.01
135.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.54 €34.05
$8.55 RON 38.51
362.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Turda
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.39 €41.67
$40.88 RON 184
18.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.61 €16.02
$21.12 RON 95.1
-11.88%
Cinema Ticket
$9.04 €7.79
$6.81 RON 30.69
32.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Turda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$610 €525
$482 RON 2,169
26.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K €14.0K
$7,760 RON 34.9K
109.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Turda
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 €87.2
$68.0 RON 306
48.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.58 €34.94
$40.95 RON 184
-0.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.0 €80.1
$85.7 RON 386
8.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €102
$99.9 RON 450
18.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Turda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,603 €1,380
$382 RON 1,719
319.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,239 €1,067
$289 RON 1,304
327.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,019 €2,599
$581 RON 2,617
419.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,061 €1,775
$444 RON 1,998
364.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,981 €6,872
$1,905 RON 8,582
318.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,533 €3,903
$1,349 RON 6,076
235.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Turda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,628 €1,402
$787 RON 3,545
106.86%
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 15, 2026

Last update for Turda: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,603 in Lisbon and $382 in Turda. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 107% 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: $62.0 in Lisbon vs $53.0 in Turda for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $220 per month, with Turda 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 Turda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Turda?
Lisbon and Turda differ by about 108% in total monthly costs ($2,217 vs $1,064 including rent). Turda is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Turda?
Lisbon pays 107% 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 Turda?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,603 in Lisbon versus $382 in Turda. 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 Turda?
Childcare runs $610 in Lisbon versus $482 in Turda. 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 22% 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 $1,064 in Turda versus $2,217 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Turda but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Turda the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Turda?
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 Turda safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Turda 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 Turda?
Expats usually find Turda gentler on the wallet – expenses run 108% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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