Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Zilina Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Zilina

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $1,435 in Zilina.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $2,090 in Zilina.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $2,744 in Zilina.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 55% more expensive than Zilina, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 66% above, Zilina 7% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Zilina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17 €13.84
$9.44 €8.08
71.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6 €55.3
$50.2 €42.99
28.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 €8.88
$8.04 €6.88
29.10%
Cappuccino
$2.77 €2.37
$2.55 €2.18
8.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 €1.92
$1.76 €1.51
27.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 €1.35
$1.50 €1.28
4.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €2.99
$2.28 €1.95
53.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00 €3.43
$2.54 €2.17
57.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Zilina
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.93
$1.07 €0.91
0.93%
White Bread (500g)
$1.74 €1.49
$1.39 €1.19
25.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 €1.49
$2.05 €1.75
-15.12%
Eggs
$3.18 €2.72
$3.71 €3.17
-14.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.43 €11.50
$14.38 €12.31
-6.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.99 €6.84
$7.18 €6.15
11.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.09 €13.77
$13.23 €11.32
21.62%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 €1.95
$1.83 €1.56
24.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 €1.48
$1.83 €1.57
-6.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 €1.66
$2.39 €2.04
-18.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.54 €2.18
$4.52 €3.87
-43.81%
Potato (1kg)
$1.83 €1.57
$1.37 €1.17
33.58%
Onion (1kg)
$2.04 €1.75
$1.81 €1.55
12.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.98 €1.69
$1.70 €1.46
16.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.73
$0.82 €0.70
3.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85 €5.87
$6.56 €5.62
4.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.78 €4.94
$6.08 €5.21
-4.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.18
$1.10 €0.94
24.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 €2.48
$1.50 €1.29
93.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Zilina
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €1.95
$1.18 €1.01
93.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.84 €40.10
$23.20 €19.86
101.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.08 €3.49
$1.40 €1.20
191.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$1.02 €0.87
-19.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.27 €15.64
$23.51 €20.12
-22.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.01 €1.72
$1.77 €1.51
13.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K €30.2K
$28.9K €24.8K
21.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K €32.9K
$25.2K €21.6K
52.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Zilina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$145 €124
$236 €202
-38.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96 €17.94
$30.40 €26.02
-31.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05 €34.29
$19.59 €16.77
104.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Zilina
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.79 €41.76
$37.05 €31.72
31.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69 €16.00
$11.93 €10.21
56.66%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06 €7.76
$9.04 €7.74
0.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Zilina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$607 €519
$457 €392
32.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K €14.0K
$6,981 €5,975
133.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Zilina
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €89.6
$58.9 €50.4
77.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95 €35.06
$24.66 €21.11
66.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.6 €80.1
$75.3 €64.5
24.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €101
$106 €90.3
12.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Zilina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,604 €1,373
$573 €491
179.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,236 €1,058
$514 €440
140.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,046 €2,607
$952 €815
220.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,057 €1,761
$751 €643
173.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,709 €6,599
$3,472 €2,972
122.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,266 €3,652
$2,999 €2,567
42.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Zilina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,584 €1,356
$1,419 €1,215
11.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
4.33
-12.01%

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

Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026

Last update for Zilina: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $573 in Zilina. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 12% 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 $50.0 in Zilina for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $264 per month, with Zilina 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 Zilina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Zilina?
Lisbon and Zilina differ by about 55% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $1,435 including rent). Zilina is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Zilina?
Lisbon pays 12% 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 Zilina?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $573 in Zilina. 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 Zilina?
Childcare runs $607 in Lisbon versus $457 in Zilina. 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 3% 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 $1,435 in Zilina versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Zilina but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Zilina the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Zilina?
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 Zilina safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Zilina 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 Zilina?
Expats usually find Zilina gentler on the wallet – expenses run 55% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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