Cost of Living Comparison Between Orhei and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Orhei and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $680 in Orhei versus $2,280 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,065 in Orhei versus $3,294 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,449 in Orhei versus $4,307 in Lisbon.

Living in Orhei costs roughly 70% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Orhei is 49% below, Lisbon is 71% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Orhei
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.02 MDL 158
$15.75 €13.74
-42.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.51 MDL 640
$63.5 €55.3
-42.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.69 MDL 135
$10.45 €9.11
-26.41%
Cappuccino
$1.80 MDL 31.54
$2.91 €2.54
-38.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99 MDL 17.38
$2.29 €2.00
-56.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 MDL 11.95
$1.50 €1.31
-54.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.73 MDL 30.35
$3.56 €3.11
-51.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 MDL 40.23
$3.96 €3.46
-42.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Orhei
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.30 MDL 22.72
$1.08 €0.94
20.37%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 MDL 9.88
$1.76 €1.54
-68.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.44 MDL 25.28
$1.70 €1.48
-15.29%
Eggs
$2.55 MDL 44.66
$3.25 €2.83
-21.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.21 MDL 179
$13.25 €11.55
-22.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.41 MDL 94.9
$7.70 €6.72
-29.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.65 MDL 152
$15.77 €13.75
-45.15%
Apples (1kg)
$0.89 MDL 15.55
$2.28 €1.99
-60.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.76 MDL 30.89
$1.66 €1.44
6.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.73 MDL 30.31
$2.02 €1.76
-14.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 MDL 37.97
$2.47 €2.16
-12.55%
Potato (1kg)
$0.83 MDL 14.59
$1.79 €1.56
-53.63%
Onion (1kg)
$0.60 MDL 10.48
$2.07 €1.80
-71.01%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.36 MDL 23.91
$1.97 €1.72
-30.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 MDL 14.83
$0.83 €0.73
2.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.15 MDL 55.3
$6.55 €5.71
-51.91%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$5.57 €4.85
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22 MDL 21.35
$1.33 €1.16
-8.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 MDL 33.71
$3.01 €2.62
-36.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Orhei
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.18 MDL 3.21
$2.27 €1.98
-92.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$46.35 €40.41
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.06 MDL 36.22
$4.23 €3.69
-51.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.27 MDL 4.78
$0.85 €0.74
-68.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.13 MDL 90.1
$18.83 €16.41
-72.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 MDL 25.10
$2.02 €1.76
-29.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.7K MDL 573.4K
$35.0K €30.5K
-6.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.0K MDL 543.9K
$39.6K €34.6K
-21.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Orhei
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$173 MDL 3,039
$148 €129
17.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.64 MDL 134
$20.52 €17.89
-62.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.90 MDL 191
$39.52 €34.46
-72.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Orhei
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$48.17 €42.00
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.39 €16.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.72 MDL 135
$9.10 €7.93
-15.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Orhei
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$396 MDL 6,942
$615 €536
-35.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,745 MDL 135.9K
$16.3K €14.2K
-52.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Orhei
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.5 MDL 1,166
$102 €88.6
-34.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.3 MDL 934
$42.09 €36.69
26.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 MDL 1,968
$92.3 €80.5
21.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 MDL 2,128
$122 €106
-0.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Orhei
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,612 €1,405
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,254 €1,093
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$3,069 €2,676
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,037 €1,776
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,751 €6,757
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$4,286 €3,737
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Orhei
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,602 €1,396
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.24
3.81
142.52%

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

Last update for Orhei: July 26, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $37.00 in Orhei vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $180 vs $267 per month, with Orhei 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
Orhei vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Orhei and in Lisbon?
Orhei and Lisbon differ by about 235% in total monthly costs ($680 vs $2,280 including rent). Orhei is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Orhei compared to Lisbon?
You'd need roughly $1,020 in Orhei and $3,420 in Lisbon to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 48% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Orhei or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $680 per month in Orhei versus $2,280 in Lisbon – a 235% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $680 in Orhei versus $2,280 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Orhei but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Orhei the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Orhei 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 Orhei or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Orhei 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: Orhei or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Orhei gentler on the wallet – expenses run 235% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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