Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nis and Lisbon

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.

Nis
🇷🇸 Serbia
$1,033
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,203
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nis 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 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
🍽 Eating Out
Nis
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.78 RSD 915
$17.01 €15.18
-48.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.92 RSD 3,533
$62.7 €56.0
-45.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.57 RSD 997
$11.42 €10.19
-16.20%
Cappuccino
$1.97 RSD 206
$3.09 €2.76
-36.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 RSD 241
$2.37 €2.11
-2.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 RSD 181
$1.66 €1.48
4.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.61 RSD 377
$3.46 €3.09
4.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.49 RSD 468
$3.29 €2.93
36.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nis
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 RSD 119
$1.17 €1.04
-2.56%
White Bread (500g)
$0.70 RSD 73.0
$1.87 €1.66
-62.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 RSD 183
$1.52 €1.36
15.79%
Eggs
$2.35 RSD 245
$3.88 €3.46
-39.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.65 RSD 797
$12.87 €11.49
-40.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.72 RSD 596
$7.94 €7.08
-27.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.59 RSD 1,103
$17.63 €15.73
-39.93%
Apples (1kg)
$1.11 RSD 116
$2.26 €2.01
-50.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 RSD 175
$1.76 €1.57
-4.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 RSD 157
$1.88 €1.68
-20.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.17 RSD 226
$2.47 €2.20
-12.15%
Potato (1kg)
$0.78 RSD 81.6
$1.86 €1.66
-58.06%
Onion (1kg)
$0.72 RSD 74.5
$2.07 €1.85
-65.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.64 RSD 66.4
$1.39 €1.24
-53.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 RSD 60.4
$0.81 €0.73
-28.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.42 RSD 460
$6.89 €6.15
-35.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.78 RSD 602
$5.53 €4.93
4.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 RSD 75.1
$1.33 €1.19
-45.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 RSD 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)
$1.84 RSD 192
$4.00 €3.57
-54.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.66 RSD 68.6
$1.07 €0.95
-38.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.29 RSD 864
$16.53 €14.75
-49.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.89 RSD 197
$2.26 €2.02
-16.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.7K RSD 3.2M
$33.5K €29.9K
-8.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.0K RSD 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)
$160 RSD 16.7K
$164 €146
-1.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.03 RSD 1,982
$18.54 €16.55
2.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.20 RSD 2,312
$33.21 €29.64
-33.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nis
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.54 RSD 3,181
$46.01 €41.06
-33.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.65 RSD 1,630
$18.80 €16.78
-16.76%
Cinema Ticket
$4.68 RSD 488
$9.47 €8.45
-50.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nis
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$252 RSD 26.3K
$690 €615
-63.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,989 RSD 519.7K
$16.9K €15.0K
-70.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nis
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.4 RSD 9,213
$105 €93.4
-15.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.42 RSD 3,898
$45.27 €40.40
-17.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.3 RSD 10.3K
$99.0 €88.3
0.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 RSD 11.6K
$124 €111
-9.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nis
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$398 RSD 41.4K
$1,583 €1,413
-74.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$277 RSD 28.9K
$1,209 €1,079
-77.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$591 RSD 61.6K
$2,833 €2,528
-79.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$397 RSD 41.4K
$1,964 €1,753
-79.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,531 RSD 263.6K
$7,643 €6,821
-66.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,884 RSD 196.3K
$4,431 €3,954
-57.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nis
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$901 RSD 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.
Accommodation & Living
Nis
$277
Lisbon
$1.2K 336% $932
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nis
$202
Lisbon
$215 6.8% $14
Groceries & Markets
Nis
$182
Lisbon
$272 49.6% $90
Eating Out
Nis
$166
Lisbon
$247 49.1% $81
Clothing & Footwear
Nis
$152
Lisbon
$168 10.7% $16
Sport & Entertainment
Nis
$40
Lisbon
$65 62.8% $25
Getting Around
Nis
$5.1 *
Lisbon
$63 1134% $58

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.

Good to know
🇷🇸 Nis
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🕒 Local time
03:39 3:39 AM
02:39 2:39 AM
1 h behind Nis
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
78,470
545,923 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to RSD – Serbian Dinar Converter

Serbian Dinar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 104 RSD (1,000 RSD = 9.6 USD). 1 EUR = 117 RSD (1,000 RSD = 8.56 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 0.892 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nis Lisbon 2,640 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Nis
  • 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
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.

Nis vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

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