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: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $1,054 in Turda.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $1,632 in Turda.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $2,209 in Turda.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 111% more expensive than Turda, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Turda is 21% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Turda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17 €13.84
$9.06 RON 39.52
78.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6 €55.3
$51.6 RON 225
25.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 €8.88
$8.18 RON 35.68
26.89%
Cappuccino
$2.77 €2.37
$2.97 RON 12.93
-6.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 €1.92
$1.92 RON 8.38
17.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 €1.35
$1.77 RON 7.72
-11.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €2.99
$2.32 RON 10.13
50.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00 €3.43
$2.79 RON 12.14
43.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Turda
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.93
$1.55 RON 6.76
-30.32%
White Bread (500g)
$1.74 €1.49
$1.26 RON 5.52
38.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 €1.49
$1.59 RON 6.93
9.43%
Eggs
$3.18 €2.72
$3.20 RON 13.96
-0.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.43 €11.50
$9.36 RON 40.82
43.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.99 €6.84
$6.93 RON 30.20
15.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.09 €13.77
$11.81 RON 51.5
36.24%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 €1.95
$1.16 RON 5.07
96.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 €1.48
$1.57 RON 6.87
9.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 €1.66
$1.64 RON 7.16
18.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.54 €2.18
$1.67 RON 7.29
52.10%
Potato (1kg)
$1.83 €1.57
$1.02 RON 4.44
79.41%
Onion (1kg)
$2.04 €1.75
$0.98 RON 4.26
108.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.98 €1.69
$1.00 RON 4.37
98.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.73
$0.94 RON 4.12
-9.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85 €5.87
$6.01 RON 26.20
13.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.78 €4.94
$7.78 RON 33.92
-25.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.18
$1.12 RON 4.87
22.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 €2.48
$1.82 RON 7.94
59.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Turda
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €1.95
$1.36 RON 5.94
67.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.84 €40.10
$19.45 RON 84.8
140.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.08 €3.49
$0.77 RON 3.36
429.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$0.75 RON 3.27
9.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.27 €15.64
$7.89 RON 34.38
131.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.01 €1.72
$1.66 RON 7.23
21.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K €30.2K
$27.6K RON 120.3K
27.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K €32.9K
$27.0K RON 117.9K
42.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Turda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$145 €124
$161 RON 704
-9.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96 €17.94
$8.84 RON 38.54
137.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05 €34.29
$8.33 RON 36.30
380.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Turda
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.79 €41.76
$40.81 RON 178
19.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69 €16.00
$20.60 RON 89.8
-9.27%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06 €7.76
$6.72 RON 29.32
34.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Turda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$607 €519
$481 RON 2,097
26.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K €14.0K
$7,726 RON 33.7K
111.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Turda
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €89.6
$68.2 RON 298
53.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95 €35.06
$40.05 RON 175
2.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.6 €80.1
$86.0 RON 375
8.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €101
$99.0 RON 432
19.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Turda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,604 €1,373
$392 RON 1,708
309.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,236 €1,058
$294 RON 1,281
320.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,046 €2,607
$582 RON 2,538
423.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,057 €1,761
$440 RON 1,919
367.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,709 €6,599
$1,945 RON 8,478
296.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,266 €3,652
$1,323 RON 5,767
222.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Turda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,584 €1,356
$805 RON 3,508
96.88%
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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Turda: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $392 in Turda. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 97% 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 $52.0 in Turda for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $221 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 111% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $1,054 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 97% 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: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $392 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 $607 in Lisbon versus $481 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 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 $1,054 in Turda versus $2,227 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 111% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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