😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $980 in Zalaegerszeg.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $1,468 in Zalaegerszeg.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $1,955 in Zalaegerszeg.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 127% more expensive than Zalaegerszeg, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Zalaegerszeg is 27% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Zalaegerszeg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.84
$11.61Ft 3,622
39.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.3
$56.8Ft 17.7K
13.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.88
$8.38Ft 2,614
23.87%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.37
$2.26Ft 707
22.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$1.67Ft 522
34.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$1.24Ft 387
26.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€2.99
$1.82Ft 567
91.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.43
$1.91Ft 596
109.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Zalaegerszeg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$0.99Ft 307
9.09%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.49
$1.40Ft 436
24.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.49
$2.06Ft 644
-15.53%
Eggs
$3.18€2.72
$3.06Ft 955
3.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43€11.50
$9.83Ft 3,066
36.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.84
$4.58Ft 1,430
74.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€13.77
$7.38Ft 2,301
118.02%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
$1.46Ft 455
56.16%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$1.97Ft 615
-12.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$1.92Ft 598
1.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
$3.65Ft 1,137
-30.41%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$1.17Ft 364
56.41%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$1.20Ft 376
70.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98€1.69
$1.16Ft 363
70.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$0.58Ft 180
46.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.87
$6.65Ft 2,075
3.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€4.94
$5.80Ft 1,808
-0.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$0.82Ft 255
67.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
$1.41Ft 439
105.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Zalaegerszeg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.95
$1.04Ft 325
119.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€40.10
$17.23Ft 5,375
171.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.49
$3.21Ft 1,002
27.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$1.06Ft 331
-22.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27€15.64
$18.67Ft 5,826
-2.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.72
$1.76Ft 549
14.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.2K
$26.1KFt 8.1M
35.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
$31.0KFt 9.7M
24.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Zalaegerszeg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145€124
$135Ft 42.2K
7.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96€17.94
$25.97Ft 8,104
-19.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05€34.29
$19.75Ft 6,161
102.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Zalaegerszeg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79€41.76
$37.15Ft 11.6K
31.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€16.00
$34.09Ft 10.6K
-45.17%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06€7.76
$7.24Ft 2,260
25.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Zalaegerszeg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607€519
$204Ft 63.7K
197.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$12.3KFt 3.8M
33.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Zalaegerszeg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.6
$29.35Ft 9,158
256.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€35.06
$22.77Ft 7,104
79.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€80.1
$47.44Ft 14.8K
97.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€101
$52.3Ft 16.3K
126.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Zalaegerszeg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,373
$316Ft 98.6K
407.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,058
$273Ft 85.3K
352.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046€2,607
$436Ft 136.1K
598.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057€1,761
$292Ft 91.3K
603.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709€6,599
$1,932Ft 602.9K
298.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,652
$1,592Ft 496.7K
167.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Zalaegerszeg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584€1,356
$805Ft 251.1K
96.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
7
-45.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Last update for Zalaegerszeg: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $316 in Zalaegerszeg. 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 $57.0 in Zalaegerszeg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $200 per month, with Zalaegerszeg 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 Zalaegerszeg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Zalaegerszeg?
Lisbon and Zalaegerszeg differ by about 127% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $980 including rent). Zalaegerszeg is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Zalaegerszeg?
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 Zalaegerszeg?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $316 in Zalaegerszeg. 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 Zalaegerszeg?
Childcare runs $607 in Lisbon versus $204 in Zalaegerszeg. 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 35% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $980 in Zalaegerszeg versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Zalaegerszeg but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Zalaegerszeg the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Zalaegerszeg?
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 Zalaegerszeg safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Zalaegerszeg 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 Zalaegerszeg?
Expats usually find Zalaegerszeg gentler on the wallet – expenses run 127% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.