🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,086 in Ploiesti versus $2,217 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,641 in Ploiesti versus $3,245 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,196 in Ploiesti versus $4,272 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Ploiesti costs roughly 51% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ploiesti is 19% below, Lisbon is 66% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ploiesti
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.77RON 44.01
$15.78€13.59
-38.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.76RON 188
$62.5€53.8
-33.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.06RON 36.29
$10.54€9.07
-23.53%
Cappuccino
$2.66RON 11.97
$2.77€2.38
-3.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97RON 8.89
$2.28€1.97
-13.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92RON 8.63
$1.55€1.33
23.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.25RON 10.12
$3.55€3.05
-36.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53RON 15.91
$3.98€3.43
-11.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ploiesti
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.35RON 6.10
$1.08€0.93
25.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.04RON 4.69
$1.77€1.52
-41.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.78RON 8.01
$1.77€1.52
0.56%
Eggs
$3.38RON 15.20
$3.12€2.69
8.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.49RON 38.23
$13.34€11.49
-36.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.10RON 31.98
$7.99€6.88
-11.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.06RON 40.81
$15.92€13.70
-43.09%
Apples(1kg)
$1.21RON 5.44
$2.28€1.97
-46.93%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46RON 6.59
$1.64€1.42
-10.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.34RON 6.04
$1.98€1.70
-32.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.88RON 8.47
$2.45€2.11
-23.27%
Potato(1kg)
$0.77RON 3.46
$1.77€1.52
-56.50%
Onion(1kg)
$0.94RON 4.24
$1.97€1.69
-52.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.71RON 3.20
$1.97€1.70
-63.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81RON 3.65
$0.80€0.69
1.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.70RON 25.69
$6.54€5.63
-12.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.01RON 31.57
$5.75€4.95
21.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.92RON 4.16
$1.32€1.13
-30.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36RON 6.15
$2.99€2.57
-54.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Ploiesti
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60RON 2.70
$2.34€2.01
-74.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.19RON 86.4
$45.85€39.48
-58.15%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.68RON 3.06
$4.26€3.66
-84.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.65RON 2.93
$0.84€0.73
-22.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.74RON 25.85
$18.86€16.24
-69.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54RON 6.96
$2.07€1.78
-25.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0KRON 112.6K
$35.2K€30.3K
-29.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7KRON 124.7K
$38.6K€33.2K
-28.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ploiesti
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146RON 660
$151€130
-3.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.58RON 38.65
$20.91€18.00
-58.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.02RON 45.11
$39.54€34.05
-74.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ploiesti
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$50.6RON 228
$48.39€41.67
4.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.54RON 92.5
$18.61€16.02
10.37%
Cinema Ticket
$6.83RON 30.78
$9.04€7.79
-24.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ploiesti
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$431RON 1,940
$610€525
-29.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,999RON 31.5K
$16.3K€14.0K
-56.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ploiesti
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.6RON 367
$101€87.2
-19.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.85RON 188
$40.58€34.94
3.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.3RON 339
$93.0€80.1
-19.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.7RON 436
$119€102
-18.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ploiesti
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$520RON 2,340
$1,603€1,380
-67.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$341RON 1,536
$1,239€1,067
-72.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$767RON 3,453
$3,019€2,599
-74.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$467RON 2,105
$2,061€1,775
-77.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,975RON 8,893
$7,981€6,872
-75.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,281RON 5,768
$4,533€3,903
-71.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ploiesti
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,028RON 4,631
$1,628€1,402
-36.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.62
3.81
73.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ploiesti: June 16, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $520 in Ploiesti and $1,603 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 58% 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: $42.00 in Ploiesti vs $62.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $200 vs $268 per month, with Ploiesti 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
Ploiesti vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ploiesti and Lisbon?
Ploiesti and Lisbon differ by about 104% in total monthly costs ($1,086 vs $2,217 including rent). Ploiesti 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 58% 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 Ploiesti and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $520 in Ploiesti versus $1,603 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 Ploiesti and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $431 in Ploiesti versus $610 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 34% 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 $1,086 in Ploiesti versus $2,217 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ploiesti but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Ploiesti the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ploiesti 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 Ploiesti or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ploiesti 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: Ploiesti or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Ploiesti gentler on the wallet – expenses run 104% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.