🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $801 in Miercurea Ciuc versus $2,291 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,287 in Miercurea Ciuc versus $3,322 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,774 in Miercurea Ciuc versus $4,354 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Miercurea Ciuc costs roughly 65% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Miercurea Ciuc is 40% below, Lisbon is 71% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Miercurea Ciuc
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.02RON 32.19
$16.19€14.17
-56.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.35RON 107
$63.3€55.4
-63.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.73RON 30.88
$10.32€9.03
-34.79%
Cappuccino
$1.78RON 8.19
$2.83€2.48
-37.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70RON 7.81
$2.29€2.00
-25.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53RON 7.03
$1.58€1.38
-3.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13RON 9.75
$3.40€2.98
-37.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13RON 9.78
$4.03€3.52
-47.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Miercurea Ciuc
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.35RON 6.17
$1.09€0.95
23.85%
White Bread(500g)
$1.10RON 5.03
$1.75€1.53
-37.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18RON 5.40
$1.76€1.54
-32.95%
Eggs
$3.23RON 14.83
$3.17€2.77
1.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.85RON 40.61
$13.19€11.54
-32.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.99RON 32.07
$7.97€6.97
-12.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.28RON 28.78
$15.53€13.59
-59.56%
Apples(1kg)
$0.84RON 3.84
$2.37€2.07
-64.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.40RON 6.43
$1.71€1.49
-18.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.32RON 6.07
$2.01€1.76
-34.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.92RON 8.78
$2.43€2.13
-20.99%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71RON 3.25
$1.76€1.54
-59.66%
Onion(1kg)
$0.96RON 4.38
$2.03€1.78
-52.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.71RON 3.25
$1.92€1.68
-63.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68RON 3.12
$0.85€0.74
-20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.85RON 26.82
$6.58€5.76
-11.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.50RON 25.23
$5.58€4.88
-1.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.90RON 4.13
$1.33€1.17
-32.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18RON 5.41
$2.97€2.60
-60.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Miercurea Ciuc
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.90RON 4.12
$2.28€1.99
-60.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.64RON 104
$45.79€40.06
-50.56%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.68RON 3.11
$4.23€3.70
-83.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.64RON 2.94
$0.81€0.71
-20.99%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.63RON 25.80
$18.44€16.13
-69.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55RON 7.11
$2.08€1.82
-25.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0KRON 114.5K
$34.7K€30.3K
-27.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0KRON 123.9K
$39.2K€34.3K
-31.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Miercurea Ciuc
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$135RON 620
$148€130
-8.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.66RON 25.98
$20.46€17.90
-72.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.62RON 25.76
$39.56€34.61
-85.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Miercurea Ciuc
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.01RON 161
$47.99€41.99
-27.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.56RON 53.0
$18.60€16.27
-37.85%
Cinema Ticket
$5.30RON 24.29
$9.22€8.07
-42.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Miercurea Ciuc
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$423RON 1,941
$616€539
-31.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,882RON 31.6K
$16.4K€14.4K
-58.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Miercurea Ciuc
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.00RON 211
$103€89.9
-55.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.58RON 85.2
$41.74€36.52
-55.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.3RON 345
$94.8€82.9
-20.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.2RON 418
$122€107
-25.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Miercurea Ciuc
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$211RON 968
$1,633€1,428
-87.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$172RON 788
$1,232€1,078
-86.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$468RON 2,146
$3,098€2,711
-84.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$407RON 1,867
$2,031€1,777
-79.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,500RON 6,879
$7,831€6,851
-80.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407RON 6,454
$4,389€3,840
-67.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Miercurea Ciuc
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$715RON 3,278
$1,607€1,406
-55.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.5
3.81
70.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Miercurea Ciuc: July 11, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $211 in Miercurea Ciuc and $1,633 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 125% 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: $23.00 in Miercurea Ciuc vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $183 vs $267 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 186% in total monthly costs ($801 vs $2,291 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 125% 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: $211 in Miercurea Ciuc versus $1,633 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 $423 in Miercurea Ciuc versus $616 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 46% 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 $801 in Miercurea Ciuc versus $2,291 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 186% 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