Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Vulcanesti Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Vulcanesti

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $5.36 in Vulcanesti.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $7.00 in Vulcanesti.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $8.46 in Vulcanesti.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 42114% more expensive than Vulcanesti, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Vulcanesti is 100% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.94 €13.73

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.4 €54.6

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.38 €8.95

Cappuccino

$2.79 €2.40

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 €2.01

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 €1.35

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.43 €2.95

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 €3.37

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 €0.93

White Bread (500g)

$1.77 €1.52

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 €1.47

Eggs

$3.15 €2.71

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.68 €11.79

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.01 €6.90

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.52 €13.37

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 €1.98

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 €1.41

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 €1.67

Tomato (1kg)

$2.51 €2.17

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 €1.54

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 €1.73

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 €1.69

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 €0.73

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.79 €5.85

Wine (Bottle)

$5.67 €4.89

$2.54 MDL 43.85

123.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 €1.20

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 €2.60

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.27 €1.95

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.44 €39.15

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 €3.70

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.85 €0.73

$0.12 MDL 2.10

608.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.28 €15.75

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.99 €1.71

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.0K €30.2K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$39.5K €34.1K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$146 €126

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$20.45 €17.62

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.98 €33.58

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.98 €42.21

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.83 €16.22

Cinema Ticket

$9.52 €8.21

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$608 €524

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.5K €14.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$104 €89.5

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.12 €36.29

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.2 €79.5

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 €103

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 €1,397

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,268 €1,092

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,048 €2,626

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,009 €1,731

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,663 €6,602

$902 MDL 15.6K

749.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,329 €3,730

$897 MDL 15.5K

382.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,585 €1,366

$751 MDL 13.0K

111.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.81

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026

Last update for Vulcanesti: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Lisbon pays 111% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

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 Vulcanesti: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lisbon and Vulcanesti differ by about 42114% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $5.36 including rent). Vulcanesti is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Lisbon pays 111% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 5193% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,263 per month in Lisbon versus $5.36 in Vulcanesti – a 42114% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $5.36 in Vulcanesti versus $2,263 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Vulcanesti but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Vulcanesti the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Lisbon and Vulcanesti are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Vulcanesti gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42114% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.