Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Ungheni Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Ungheni

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $923 in Ungheni.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,666 in Ungheni.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $2,409 in Ungheni.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 139% more expensive than Ungheni, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Ungheni is 31% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Ungheni
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.70
$7.16 MDL 123
122.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.8
$30.56 MDL 525
111.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.05
$5.76 MDL 98.9
82.47%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$1.47 MDL 25.29
95.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$0.71 MDL 12.19
215.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.30
$0.39 MDL 6.77
284.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.01
$1.44 MDL 24.66
142.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$1.43 MDL 24.54
171.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Ungheni
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$1.29 MDL 22.13
-11.63%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$0.45 MDL 7.68
288.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$1.00 MDL 17.18
76.00%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$2.16 MDL 37.16
49.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.62
$7.55 MDL 130
78.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$3.98 MDL 68.3
98.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.67
$6.76 MDL 116
134.76%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$0.56 MDL 9.53
312.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$1.50 MDL 25.81
13.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$1.73 MDL 29.78
16.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$1.36 MDL 23.28
80.88%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$0.54 MDL 9.35
240.74%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$0.33 MDL 5.74
506.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$1.36 MDL 23.28
41.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$0.48 MDL 8.18
64.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.69
$3.15 MDL 54.1
109.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.93
$4.38 MDL 75.3
30.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.18
$1.14 MDL 19.65
20.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$1.35 MDL 23.21
120.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Ungheni
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$0.34 MDL 5.76
597.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.23
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$1.71 MDL 29.44
150.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$0.25 MDL 4.27
228.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.76
$4.49 MDL 77.2
307.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$1.24 MDL 21.24
66.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$32.6K MDL 559.1K
5.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$30.9K MDL 531.0K
27.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Ungheni
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$167 MDL 2,861
-11.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.67
$7.73 MDL 133
165.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.11
$10.66 MDL 183
271.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Ungheni
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.20
$20.83 MDL 358
129.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.29
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.91
$4.03 MDL 69.2
127.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Ungheni
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €529
$395 MDL 6,778
55.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$7,623 MDL 130.9K
110.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Ungheni
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.1
$43.67 MDL 750
139.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.22
$21.84 MDL 375
92.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.9
$39.71 MDL 682
136.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$110 MDL 1,885
9.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Ungheni
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,402
$940 MDL 16.1K
73.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,081
$367 MDL 6,294
242.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,609
$1,488 MDL 25.5K
103.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,740
$1,247 MDL 21.4K
62.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,716
$2,361 MDL 40.5K
230.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,679
$1,752 MDL 30.1K
143.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Ungheni
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,381
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
8
-52.37%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ungheni: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $940 in Ungheni. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $31.00 in Ungheni for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $149 per month, with Ungheni 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 Ungheni: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Ungheni?
Lisbon and Ungheni differ by about 139% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $923 including rent). Ungheni is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Ungheni?
You'd need roughly $3,315 in Lisbon and $1,384 in Ungheni to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Ungheni?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $940 in Ungheni. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 81% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Ungheni?
All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $923 in Ungheni – a 139% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $923 in Ungheni versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ungheni but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Ungheni the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Ungheni?
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 Ungheni safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Ungheni 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 Ungheni?
Expats usually find Ungheni gentler on the wallet – expenses run 139% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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