😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $1,498 in Zielona Gora.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $2,085 in Zielona Gora.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $2,672 in Zielona Gora.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 53% more expensive than in Zielona Gora, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon68% above, Zielona Gora9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Zielona Gora
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59€15.31
$10.69zł 40.58
64.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€54.7
$44.55zł 169
41.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.58€10.08
$7.51zł 28.52
54.19%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$3.45zł 13.08
-10.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.17
$1.52zł 5.78
63.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74€1.52
$1.62zł 6.14
7.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.48€3.03
$3.95zł 15.00
-11.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€3.00
$2.59zł 9.82
32.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Zielona Gora
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15€1.00
$0.93zł 3.54
23.66%
White Bread(500g)
$1.91€1.66
$1.54zł 5.85
24.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50€1.31
$0.93zł 3.52
61.29%
Eggs
$3.98€3.47
$3.64zł 13.82
9.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.57
$9.45zł 35.87
40.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.97
$4.49zł 17.05
78.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.04€15.70
$10.54zł 40.02
71.16%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35€2.05
$0.94zł 3.57
150.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75€1.52
$1.48zł 5.63
18.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85€1.61
$1.64zł 6.22
12.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.22
$2.03zł 7.69
25.62%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.60
$0.78zł 2.97
135.90%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10€1.83
$1.24zł 4.69
69.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.29
$1.04zł 3.93
43.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.71
$0.46zł 1.75
78.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10€6.18
$5.58zł 21.20
27.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.91€5.14
$5.93zł 22.52
-0.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.14
$1.04zł 3.93
25.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.86
$1.43zł 5.42
48.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Zielona Gora
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.36€2.05
$0.79zł 2.99
198.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.62€40.57
$25.10zł 95.3
85.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.55
$2.27zł 8.63
79.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.99
$0.82zł 3.12
39.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.09€14.88
$10.55zł 40.04
61.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.31€2.01
$1.56zł 5.91
48.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.7K
$31.3Kzł 118.9K
8.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€36.0K
$28.6Kzł 108.5K
44.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Zielona Gora
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169€147
$268zł 1,017
-37.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33€16.83
$8.16zł 30.97
136.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51€29.17
$17.62zł 66.9
90.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Zielona Gora
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.84€42.51
$38.00zł 144
28.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43€16.92
$9.27zł 35.20
109.60%
Cinema Ticket
$9.57€8.33
$7.76zł 29.46
23.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Zielona Gora
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696€606
$335zł 1,272
107.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.4K€15.1K
$5,406zł 20.5K
221.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Zielona Gora
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€91.7
$86.5zł 328
21.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75€41.56
$38.22zł 145
24.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.5
$79.9zł 303
25.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€108
$104zł 395
19.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Zielona Gora
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,662€1,446
$530zł 2,010
213.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,246€1,085
$610zł 2,317
104.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,965€2,580
$966zł 3,668
206.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,049€1,783
$802zł 3,044
155.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,834€6,819
$3,081zł 11.7K
154.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,464€3,886
$2,346zł 8,905
90.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Zielona Gora
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,632€1,420
$2,283zł 8,667
-28.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
6.85
-44.82%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Last update for Zielona Gora: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $530 in Zielona Gora. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Zielona Gora pays 40% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $45.00 in Zielona Gora for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $190 per month, with Zielona Gora 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 Zielona Gora: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Zielona Gora?
Lisbon and Zielona Gora differ by about 53% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $1,498 including rent). Zielona Gora is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 40% lower in Zielona Gora. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in Zielona Gora?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $530 in Zielona Gora. 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 Zielona Gora?
Childcare runs $696 in Lisbon versus $335 in Zielona Gora. 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 46% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,498 in Zielona Gora versus $2,296 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Zielona Gora but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Zielona Gora the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Zielona Gora?
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 Zielona Gora safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Zielona Gora 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 Zielona Gora?
Expats usually find Zielona Gora gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.