😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $993 in Zalaegerszeg.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $1,463 in Zalaegerszeg.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $1,934 in Zalaegerszeg.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 128% more expensive than Zalaegerszeg, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Zalaegerszeg is 26% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Zalaegerszeg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94€13.73
$11.42Ft 3,455
39.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4€54.6
$57.8Ft 17.5K
9.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.95
$8.50Ft 2,571
22.12%
Cappuccino
$2.79€2.40
$2.22Ft 673
25.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34€2.01
$1.68Ft 509
39.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$1.23Ft 373
27.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43€2.95
$1.82Ft 551
88.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.37
$1.91Ft 577
104.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Zalaegerszeg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.03Ft 313
4.85%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.52
$1.43Ft 432
23.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71€1.47
$2.15Ft 650
-20.47%
Eggs
$3.15€2.71
$3.13Ft 946
0.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.68€11.79
$9.71Ft 2,936
40.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.90
$4.61Ft 1,396
73.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.52€13.37
$7.02Ft 2,122
121.08%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.98
$1.48Ft 446
54.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.41
$1.90Ft 575
-13.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.67
$1.83Ft 553
6.01%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.51€2.17
$3.58Ft 1,085
-29.89%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.54
$1.13Ft 341
58.41%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.26Ft 382
59.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.69
$1.17Ft 355
68.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.54Ft 163
55.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79€5.85
$6.57Ft 1,987
3.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.67€4.89
$5.70Ft 1,724
-0.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$0.90Ft 273
54.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.60
$1.46Ft 443
106.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Zalaegerszeg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.95
$1.03Ft 312
120.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.44€39.15
$17.18Ft 5,199
164.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.70
$3.18Ft 963
34.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$1.06Ft 319
-19.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.28€15.75
$18.69Ft 5,654
-2.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99€1.71
$1.73Ft 525
15.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.2K
$25.9KFt 7.8M
35.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K€34.1K
$31.6KFt 9.6M
25.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Zalaegerszeg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146€126
$136Ft 41.1K
7.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45€17.62
$26.54Ft 8,031
-22.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98€33.58
$20.47Ft 6,193
90.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Zalaegerszeg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.98€42.21
$37.66Ft 11.4K
30.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83€16.22
$33.97Ft 10.3K
-44.57%
Cinema Ticket
$9.52€8.21
$7.06Ft 2,137
34.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Zalaegerszeg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$608€524
$201Ft 60.8K
202.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.2K
$6,382Ft 1.9M
158.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Zalaegerszeg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€89.5
$28.45Ft 8,608
265.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12€36.29
$22.94Ft 6,940
83.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.2€79.5
$46.75Ft 14.1K
97.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$52.2Ft 15.8K
129.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Zalaegerszeg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621€1,397
$318Ft 96.3K
409.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,268€1,092
$278Ft 84.2K
355.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,048€2,626
$437Ft 132.1K
597.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,009€1,731
$293Ft 88.6K
585.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,663€6,602
$1,944Ft 588.2K
294.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,329€3,730
$1,652Ft 499.7K
162.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Zalaegerszeg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,585€1,366
$826Ft 249.9K
91.86%
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Zalaegerszeg: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $318 in Zalaegerszeg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 92% 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: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $58.0 in Zalaegerszeg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $199 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 128% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $993 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 92% 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: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $318 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 $608 in Lisbon versus $201 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 $993 in Zalaegerszeg versus $2,263 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 128% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.