Cost of Living Comparison Between Penza and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Penza and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $887 in Penza versus $2,217 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,299 in Penza versus $3,245 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,710 in Penza versus $4,272 in Lisbon.

Living in Penza costs roughly 60% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Penza is 33% below, Lisbon is 66% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Penza
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.61 ₽552
$15.78 €13.59
-51.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.18 ₽2,405
$62.5 €53.8
-46.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.59 ₽405
$10.54 €9.07
-46.96%
Cappuccino
$1.16 ₽84.2
$2.77 €2.38
-58.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ₽63.7
$2.28 €1.97
-61.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 ₽44.62
$1.55 €1.33
-60.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.16 ₽84.1
$3.55 €3.05
-67.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 ₽167
$3.98 €3.43
-42.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Penza
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.19 ₽86.2
$1.08 €0.93
10.19%
White Bread (500g)
$0.78 ₽56.6
$1.77 €1.52
-55.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 ₽117
$1.77 €1.52
-9.04%
Eggs
$1.81 ₽131
$3.12 €2.69
-41.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.36 ₽751
$13.34 €11.49
-22.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.94 ₽285
$7.99 €6.88
-50.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.69 ₽629
$15.92 €13.70
-45.41%
Apples (1kg)
$1.16 ₽83.8
$2.28 €1.97
-49.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.86 ₽135
$1.64 €1.42
13.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.77 ₽128
$1.98 €1.70
-10.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.85 ₽206
$2.45 €2.11
16.33%
Potato (1kg)
$0.49 ₽35.72
$1.77 €1.52
-72.32%
Onion (1kg)
$0.53 ₽38.70
$1.97 €1.69
-73.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.84 ₽134
$1.97 €1.70
-6.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 ₽52.4
$0.80 €0.69
-10.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.02 ₽219
$6.54 €5.63
-53.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 ₽748
$5.75 €4.95
79.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.03 ₽74.4
$1.32 €1.13
-21.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 ₽135
$2.99 €2.57
-37.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Penza
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.45 ₽32.72
$2.34 €2.01
-80.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$45.85 €39.48
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.86 ₽135
$4.26 €3.66
-56.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.59 ₽42.99
$0.84 €0.73
-29.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.32 ₽313
$18.86 €16.24
-77.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.75 ₽54.5
$2.07 €1.78
-63.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.9K ₽2.5M
$35.2K €30.3K
-3.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.1K ₽2.6M
$38.6K €33.2K
-6.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Penza
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$110 ₽7,977
$151 €130
-27.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.80 ₽420
$20.91 €18.00
-72.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.63 ₽553
$39.54 €34.05
-80.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Penza
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.29 ₽2,267
$48.39 €41.67
-35.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.61 €16.02
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.70 ₽268
$9.04 €7.79
-59.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Penza
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$328 ₽23.8K
$610 €525
-46.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,037 ₽509.9K
$16.3K €14.0K
-56.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Penza
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.4 ₽5,100
$101 €87.2
-30.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.85 ₽3,250
$40.58 €34.94
10.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$116 ₽8,416
$93.0 €80.1
24.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 ₽7,898
$119 €102
-8.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Penza
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$441 ₽31.9K
$1,603 €1,380
-72.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$256 ₽18.6K
$1,239 €1,067
-79.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$772 ₽55.9K
$3,019 €2,599
-74.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$358 ₽25.9K
$2,061 €1,775
-82.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,591 ₽187.7K
$7,981 €6,872
-67.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,222 ₽88.5K
$4,533 €3,903
-73.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Penza
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$667 ₽48.3K
$1,628 €1,402
-59.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8
3.81
109.97%

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

Last update for Penza: June 14, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $441 in Penza and $1,603 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 144% 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: $33.00 in Penza vs $62.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $197 vs $268 per month, with Penza cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Penza vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Penza and Lisbon?
Penza and Lisbon differ by about 150% in total monthly costs ($887 vs $2,217 including rent). Penza is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Lisbon earns 144% less. 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 Penza and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $441 in Penza versus $1,603 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 36% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Penza or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $887 per month in Penza versus $2,217 in Lisbon – a 150% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $887 in Penza versus $2,217 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Penza but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Penza the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Penza 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 Penza or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Penza 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: Penza or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Penza gentler on the wallet – expenses run 150% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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