😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,280 in Lisbon versus $1,388 in Zielona Gora.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,294 in Lisbon versus $1,943 in Zielona Gora.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,307 in Lisbon versus $2,497 in Zielona Gora.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 64% more expensive than in Zielona Gora, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon71% above, Zielona Gora4% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Zielona Gora
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75€13.74
$9.44zł 35.59
66.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5€55.3
$45.55zł 172
39.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.45€9.11
$7.95zł 29.98
31.45%
Cappuccino
$2.91€2.54
$2.93zł 11.06
-0.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.00
$1.71zł 6.46
33.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.31
$1.60zł 6.03
-6.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.56€3.11
$2.99zł 11.29
19.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96€3.46
$3.74zł 14.09
5.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Zielona Gora
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.94
$1.04zł 3.92
3.85%
White Bread(500g)
$1.76€1.54
$1.14zł 4.29
54.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70€1.48
$1.71zł 6.46
-0.58%
Eggs
$3.25€2.83
$2.99zł 11.28
8.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.25€11.55
$9.24zł 34.83
43.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.70€6.72
$4.59zł 17.30
67.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.77€13.75
$11.05zł 41.66
42.71%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.99
$0.95zł 3.58
140.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66€1.44
$1.48zł 5.58
12.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.02€1.76
$1.69zł 6.38
19.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47€2.16
$1.60zł 6.03
54.38%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.56
$0.84zł 3.18
113.10%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07€1.80
$1.21zł 4.55
71.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.72
$1.08zł 4.06
82.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.73
$0.47zł 1.79
76.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55€5.71
$4.98zł 18.77
31.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.57€4.85
$5.81zł 21.90
-4.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.16
$1.01zł 3.80
31.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01€2.62
$1.58zł 5.94
90.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Zielona Gora
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.98
$0.85zł 3.19
167.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.35€40.41
$25.96zł 97.9
78.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.69
$2.14zł 8.08
97.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.74
$0.71zł 2.69
19.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.83€16.41
$10.46zł 39.45
80.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02€1.76
$1.71zł 6.44
18.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.5K
$33.5Kzł 126.3K
4.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K€34.6K
$29.9Kzł 112.9K
32.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Zielona Gora
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€129
$206zł 777
-28.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.89
$8.22zł 31.01
149.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52€34.46
$16.08zł 60.6
145.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Zielona Gora
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.17€42.00
$38.23zł 144
26.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39€16.03
$9.51zł 35.86
93.38%
Cinema Ticket
$9.10€7.93
$7.15zł 26.94
27.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Zielona Gora
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$615€536
$465zł 1,753
32.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.2K
$5,521zł 20.8K
194.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Zielona Gora
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€88.6
$96.3zł 363
5.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09€36.69
$38.01zł 143
10.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.3€80.5
$82.8zł 312
11.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€106
$121zł 458
0.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Zielona Gora
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,612€1,405
$543zł 2,047
196.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254€1,093
$541zł 2,041
131.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,069€2,676
$961zł 3,623
219.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,037€1,776
$770zł 2,902
164.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,751€6,757
$3,129zł 11.8K
147.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,286€3,737
$2,330zł 8,787
83.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Zielona Gora
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,602€1,396
$2,215zł 8,352
-27.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
6.4
-40.47%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026
Last update for Zielona Gora: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Lisbon and $543 in Zielona Gora. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Zielona Gora pays 38% 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 $46.00 in Zielona Gora for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $188 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 64% in total monthly costs ($2,280 vs $1,388 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 38% 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: $1,612 in Lisbon versus $543 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 $615 in Lisbon versus $465 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 42% 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 $1,388 in Zielona Gora versus $2,280 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 64% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.