🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $789 in Miercurea Ciuc versus $2,316 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,248 in Miercurea Ciuc versus $3,361 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,708 in Miercurea Ciuc versus $4,405 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Miercurea Ciuc costs roughly 66% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Miercurea Ciuc is 43% below, Lisbon is 69% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Miercurea Ciuc
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.44RON 29.10
$17.30€14.87
-62.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.80RON 98.5
$63.3€54.4
-65.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.44RON 29.11
$11.39€9.79
-43.46%
Cappuccino
$1.81RON 8.16
$3.19€2.74
-43.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64RON 7.39
$2.45€2.10
-33.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42RON 6.43
$1.76€1.52
-19.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.08RON 9.39
$3.59€3.09
-42.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06RON 9.30
$3.39€2.92
-39.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Miercurea Ciuc
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.45RON 6.54
$1.24€1.06
16.94%
White Bread(500g)
$1.16RON 5.24
$1.98€1.71
-41.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.41RON 6.39
$1.52€1.31
-7.24%
Eggs
$3.58RON 16.15
$4.04€3.47
-11.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.16RON 36.87
$13.54€11.64
-39.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.98RON 22.50
$8.39€7.21
-40.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.44RON 38.10
$18.25€15.69
-53.75%
Apples(1kg)
$0.76RON 3.43
$2.29€1.97
-66.81%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57RON 7.10
$1.74€1.50
-9.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.58RON 7.13
$1.86€1.60
-15.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.63RON 11.87
$2.63€2.26
-
Potato(1kg)
$0.64RON 2.88
$1.92€1.65
-66.67%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68RON 3.06
$2.09€1.80
-67.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.42RON 1.90
$1.44€1.24
-70.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69RON 3.13
$0.84€0.72
-17.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.39RON 24.37
$6.78€5.83
-20.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.66RON 25.58
$5.71€4.91
-0.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99RON 4.48
$1.38€1.18
-28.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36RON 6.14
$2.22€1.91
-38.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Miercurea Ciuc
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.90RON 4.05
$2.40€2.06
-62.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.82RON 98.6
$46.78€40.22
-53.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.96RON 4.32
$4.17€3.59
-76.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.89RON 4.04
$1.14€0.98
-21.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.80RON 39.76
$17.68€15.20
-50.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.74RON 7.86
$2.32€2.00
-25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8KRON 121.3K
$35.3K€30.4K
-24.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KRON 118.0K
$41.4K€35.6K
-36.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Miercurea Ciuc
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$120RON 542
$170€146
-29.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.55RON 25.08
$19.34€16.62
-71.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.36RON 24.20
$33.64€28.92
-84.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Miercurea Ciuc
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.70RON 152
$48.10€41.35
-29.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.84RON 48.98
$19.90€17.11
-45.53%
Cinema Ticket
$4.99RON 22.56
$9.92€8.53
-49.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Miercurea Ciuc
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$462RON 2,088
$717€617
-35.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,892RON 31.1K
$17.5K€15.0K
-60.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Miercurea Ciuc
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.90RON 198
$105€90.1
-58.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.34RON 78.3
$46.95€40.36
-63.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.1RON 321
$103€88.9
-31.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5RON 404
$124€107
-27.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Miercurea Ciuc
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$196RON 887
$1,677€1,441
-88.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$163RON 737
$1,271€1,093
-87.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$444RON 2,004
$2,985€2,566
-85.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$393RON 1,775
$1,992€1,713
-80.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,566RON 7,072
$7,826€6,728
-79.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,416RON 6,397
$4,658€4,004
-69.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Miercurea Ciuc
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$728RON 3,288
$1,583€1,361
-54.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.85
3.79
80.74%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Miercurea Ciuc: September 1, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $196 in Miercurea Ciuc and $1,677 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 117% 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: $22.00 in Miercurea Ciuc vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $186 vs $283 per month, with Miercurea Ciuc 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
Miercurea Ciuc vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Miercurea Ciuc and in Lisbon?
Miercurea Ciuc and Lisbon differ by about 194% in total monthly costs ($789 vs $2,316 including rent). Miercurea Ciuc 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 117% lower in Lisbon. 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 Miercurea Ciuc and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $196 in Miercurea Ciuc versus $1,677 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Miercurea Ciuc and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $462 in Miercurea Ciuc versus $717 in Lisbon. 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 52% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $789 in Miercurea Ciuc versus $2,316 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Miercurea Ciuc but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Miercurea Ciuc the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Miercurea Ciuc and Lisbon?
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 Miercurea Ciuc or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Miercurea Ciuc and Lisbon 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: Miercurea Ciuc or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Miercurea Ciuc gentler on the wallet – expenses run 194% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Miercurea Ciuc vs other spots: cost of living compared