Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Minsk and Lisbon

For one person, living is cheaper in Minsk: $1,020 a month against $2,223 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $14,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Minsk
🇧🇾 Belarus
$1,020
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,223
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Minsk and in Lisbon

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Minsk and in Lisbon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,020 in Minsk versus $2,223 in Lisbon.

  • Minsk $1,020
  • Lisbon $2,223

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,662 in Minsk versus $3,271 in Lisbon.

  • Minsk $1,662
  • Lisbon $3,271

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,303 in Minsk versus $4,319 in Lisbon.

  • Minsk $2,303
  • Lisbon $4,319

Living in Minsk costs roughly 54% less than in Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Minsk is 24% below, Lisbon is 65% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Minsk
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.97 BYN 29.91
$16.50 €14.67
-39.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.01 BYN 147
$61.3 €54.5
-19.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.87 BYN 20.60
$11.27 €10.03
-39.04%
Cappuccino
$2.31 BYN 6.92
$3.06 €2.72
-24.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 BYN 2.77
$2.26 €2.01
-59.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 BYN 1.76
$1.73 €1.54
-65.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.67 BYN 5.01
$3.39 €3.02
-50.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 BYN 7.61
$3.40 €3.02
-25.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Minsk
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.89 BYN 2.68
$1.12 €1.00
-20.54%
White Bread (500g)
$0.67 BYN 2.02
$1.86 €1.65
-63.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.26 BYN 3.78
$1.53 €1.36
-17.65%
Eggs
$1.64 BYN 4.91
$3.96 €3.53
-58.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.90 BYN 23.71
$12.76 €11.35
-38.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.33 BYN 16.00
$7.90 €7.02
-32.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.17 BYN 33.50
$16.97 €15.09
-34.18%
Apples (1kg)
$1.57 BYN 4.72
$2.27 €2.02
-30.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 BYN 5.25
$1.75 €1.55
-
Oranges (1kg)
$2.14 BYN 6.43
$1.85 €1.64
15.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.70 BYN 8.11
$2.57 €2.28
5.06%
Potato (1kg)
$0.64 BYN 1.92
$1.86 €1.65
-65.59%
Onion (1kg)
$0.78 BYN 2.33
$2.02 €1.80
-61.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.41 BYN 4.22
$1.44 €1.28
-2.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 BYN 2.02
$0.82 €0.73
-18.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.69 BYN 8.07
$6.56 €5.83
-58.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.47 BYN 25.42
$5.62 €5.00
50.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.03 BYN 3.10
$1.28 €1.14
-19.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 BYN 5.94
$2.07 €1.84
-4.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Minsk
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 BYN 1.02
$2.35 €2.09
-85.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.79 BYN 56.4
$44.18 €39.30
-57.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.68 BYN 5.04
$3.99 €3.55
-57.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.49 BYN 1.46
$1.09 €0.97
-55.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.90 BYN 29.69
$16.64 €14.81
-40.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.92 BYN 2.75
$2.28 €2.03
-59.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K BYN 64.8K
$33.7K €30.0K
-35.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K BYN 67.5K
$39.3K €35.0K
-42.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Minsk
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.5 BYN 185
$167 €149
-63.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.64 BYN 25.91
$18.80 €16.72
-54.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.57 BYN 40.72
$33.09 €29.43
-58.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Minsk
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.89 BYN 114
$46.01 €40.93
-17.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.71 BYN 62.1
$19.19 €17.07
7.92%
Cinema Ticket
$6.09 BYN 18.28
$9.84 €8.75
-38.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Minsk
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$397 BYN 1,190
$677 €602
-41.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.4K BYN 73.1K
$16.9K €15.1K
43.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Minsk
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.2 BYN 157
$101 €90.1
-48.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.67 BYN 134
$45.76 €40.70
-2.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$109 BYN 327
$100.0 €88.9
9.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 BYN 330
$123 €109
-10.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Minsk
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$595 BYN 1,785
$1,614 €1,436
-63.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$377 BYN 1,131
$1,197 €1,065
-68.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,034 BYN 3,102
$2,862 €2,545
-63.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$728 BYN 2,183
$1,990 €1,770
-63.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,554 BYN 7,661
$7,577 €6,740
-66.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,683 BYN 5,048
$4,307 €3,831
-60.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Minsk
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$957 BYN 2,872
$1,588 €1,412
-39.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
15.93
3.85
313.77%

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

Last update for Minsk: October 12, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Minsk
$377
Lisbon
$1.2K 217% $820
Groceries & Markets
Minsk
$195
Lisbon
$269 38.3% $75
Eating Out
Minsk
$148
Lisbon
$242 64.2% $95
Clothing & Footwear
Minsk
$142
Lisbon
$166 17.1% $24
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Minsk
$84
Lisbon
$219 162% $136
Sport & Entertainment
Minsk
$50
Lisbon
$66 31.2% $16
Getting Around
Minsk
$24
Lisbon
$63 160% $39

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $595 in Minsk and $1,614 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 66% 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: $49.00 in Minsk vs $61.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $195 vs $269 per month, with Minsk cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇾 Minsk
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🕒 Local time
06:24 6:24 AM
04:24 4:24 AM
2 h behind Minsk
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,992,862 Capital
545,923 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to BYN – Belarusian Ruble Converter

Belarusian Ruble exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 3 BYN (1 BYN = 0.333 USD). 1 EUR = 3.37 BYN (1 BYN = 0.297 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Minsk Lisbon 3,230 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Minsk
  • Lisbon

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Minsk vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Minsk and in Lisbon?
Minsk and Lisbon differ by about 118% in total monthly costs ($1,020 vs $2,223 including rent). Minsk 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 66% 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 Minsk and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $595 in Minsk versus $1,614 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 Minsk and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $397 in Minsk versus $677 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 38% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,020 in Minsk versus $2,223 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Minsk but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Minsk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Minsk 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 Minsk or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Minsk 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: Minsk or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Minsk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 118% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Minsk vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?