For one person, living is cheaper in Nis: $1,033 a month against $2,203 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $14,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Nis and in Lisbon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,033 in Nis versus $2,203 in Lisbon.
Nis $1,033
Lisbon $2,203
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,512 in Nis versus $3,237 in Lisbon.
Nis $1,512
Lisbon $3,237
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,991 in Nis versus $4,272 in Lisbon.
Nis $1,991
Lisbon $4,272
🌍
Living in Nis costs roughly 53% less than in Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.
📊
The two cities straddle the global median: Nis is 23% below, Lisbon is 64% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Nis
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.78RSD 915
$17.01€15.18
-48.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.92RSD 3,533
$62.7€56.0
-45.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.57RSD 997
$11.42€10.19
-16.20%
Cappuccino
$1.97RSD 206
$3.09€2.76
-36.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31RSD 241
$2.37€2.11
-2.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74RSD 181
$1.66€1.48
4.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.61RSD 377
$3.46€3.09
4.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.49RSD 468
$3.29€2.93
36.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nis
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14RSD 119
$1.17€1.04
-2.56%
White Bread(500g)
$0.70RSD 73.0
$1.87€1.66
-62.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76RSD 183
$1.52€1.36
15.79%
Eggs
$2.35RSD 245
$3.88€3.46
-39.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.65RSD 797
$12.87€11.49
-40.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.72RSD 596
$7.94€7.08
-27.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.59RSD 1,103
$17.63€15.73
-39.93%
Apples(1kg)
$1.11RSD 116
$2.26€2.01
-50.88%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68RSD 175
$1.76€1.57
-4.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50RSD 157
$1.88€1.68
-20.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.17RSD 226
$2.47€2.20
-12.15%
Potato(1kg)
$0.78RSD 81.6
$1.86€1.66
-58.06%
Onion(1kg)
$0.72RSD 74.5
$2.07€1.85
-65.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.64RSD 66.4
$1.39€1.24
-53.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58RSD 60.4
$0.81€0.73
-28.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.42RSD 460
$6.89€6.15
-35.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78RSD 602
$5.53€4.93
4.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.72RSD 75.1
$1.33€1.19
-45.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29RSD 134
$2.17€1.93
-40.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Nis
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$2.24€2.00
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$45.14€40.29
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.84RSD 192
$4.00€3.57
-54.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.66RSD 68.6
$1.07€0.95
-38.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.29RSD 864
$16.53€14.75
-49.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89RSD 197
$2.26€2.02
-16.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.7KRSD 3.2M
$33.5K€29.9K
-8.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.0KRSD 2.5M
$40.5K€36.1K
-40.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nis
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$160RSD 16.7K
$164€146
-1.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.03RSD 1,982
$18.54€16.55
2.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.20RSD 2,312
$33.21€29.64
-33.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nis
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.54RSD 3,181
$46.01€41.06
-33.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.65RSD 1,630
$18.80€16.78
-16.76%
Cinema Ticket
$4.68RSD 488
$9.47€8.45
-50.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nis
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$252RSD 26.3K
$690€615
-63.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,989RSD 519.7K
$16.9K€15.0K
-70.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nis
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.4RSD 9,213
$105€93.4
-15.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.42RSD 3,898
$45.27€40.40
-17.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.3RSD 10.3K
$99.0€88.3
0.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112RSD 11.6K
$124€111
-9.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nis
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$398RSD 41.4K
$1,583€1,413
-74.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$277RSD 28.9K
$1,209€1,079
-77.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$591RSD 61.6K
$2,833€2,528
-79.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$397RSD 41.4K
$1,964€1,753
-79.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,531RSD 263.6K
$7,643€6,821
-66.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,884RSD 196.3K
$4,431€3,954
-57.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nis
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$901RSD 93.8K
$1,573€1,403
-42.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.12
3.79
35.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Nis: October 6, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: October 4, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Nis
$277 27.1%
Lisbon
$1.2K 54% ↑ 336%$932
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nis
$202 19.7%
Lisbon
$215 9.6% ↑ 6.8%$14
🛒Groceries & Markets
Nis
$182 17.8%
Lisbon
$272 12.1% ↑ 49.6%$90
🍽Eating Out
Nis
$166 16.2%
Lisbon
$247 11% ↑ 49.1%$81
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Nis
$152 14.8%
Lisbon
$168 7.5% ↑ 10.7%$16
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Nis
$40 3.9%
Lisbon
$65 2.9% ↑ 62.8%$25
🚌Getting Around
Nis
$5.1 * 0.5%
Lisbon
$63 2.8% ↑ 1134%$58
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Nis
$397 20%
Lisbon
$2K 45.5% ↑ 395%$1.6K
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nis
$221 11.1%
Lisbon
$234 5.4% ↑ 6%$13
🛒Groceries & Markets
Nis
$428 21.6%
Lisbon
$648 15% ↑ 51.3%$220
🍽Eating Out
Nis
$494 24.9%
Lisbon
$816 18.9% ↑ 65.1%$322
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Nis
$337 17%
Lisbon
$373 8.6% ↑ 10.7%$36
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Nis
$95 4.8%
Lisbon
$149 3.5% ↑ 55.8%$53
🚌Getting Around
Nis
$10 * 0.5%
Lisbon
$131 3% ↑ 1179%$121
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $398 in Nis and $1,583 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 75% 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: $34.00 in Nis vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $182 vs $272 per month, with Nis cheaper across the board.
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
Nis vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Nis and in Lisbon?
Nis and Lisbon differ by about 113% in total monthly costs ($1,033 vs $2,203 including rent). Nis 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 75% 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 Nis and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $398 in Nis versus $1,583 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 50% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Nis or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $1,033 per month in Nis versus $2,203 in Lisbon – a 113% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,033 in Nis versus $2,203 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Nis but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Nis the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Nis 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 Nis or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Nis 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: Nis or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Nis gentler on the wallet – expenses run 113% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.