🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,115 in Ploiesti versus $2,227 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,625 in Ploiesti versus $3,305 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,136 in Ploiesti versus $4,384 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Ploiesti costs roughly 50% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ploiesti is 17% below, Lisbon is 66% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ploiesti
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.71RON 42.25
$16.17€13.81
-39.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.01RON 183
$64.6€55.1
-34.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.99RON 34.78
$10.38€8.86
-23.03%
Cappuccino
$2.65RON 11.51
$2.77€2.37
-4.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92RON 8.33
$2.25€1.92
-14.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91RON 8.30
$1.57€1.34
21.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.26RON 9.83
$3.49€2.98
-35.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46RON 15.07
$4.00€3.42
-13.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ploiesti
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40RON 6.07
$1.08€0.93
29.63%
White Bread(500g)
$1.09RON 4.72
$1.74€1.49
-37.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.68RON 7.32
$1.74€1.48
-3.45%
Eggs
$3.41RON 14.82
$3.18€2.71
7.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.67RON 37.71
$13.43€11.47
-35.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.87RON 29.88
$7.99€6.83
-14.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.01RON 39.19
$16.09€13.74
-44.00%
Apples(1kg)
$1.22RON 5.31
$2.28€1.95
-46.49%
Banana(1kg)
$1.40RON 6.11
$1.72€1.47
-18.60%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.34RON 5.83
$1.94€1.66
-30.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.88RON 8.18
$2.54€2.17
-25.98%
Potato(1kg)
$0.77RON 3.34
$1.83€1.56
-57.92%
Onion(1kg)
$0.89RON 3.87
$2.04€1.74
-56.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.71RON 3.07
$1.98€1.69
-64.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80RON 3.47
$0.85€0.73
-5.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.75RON 25.00
$6.85€5.85
-16.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.71RON 29.18
$5.78€4.93
16.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93RON 4.03
$1.37€1.17
-32.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37RON 5.95
$2.90€2.48
-52.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Ploiesti
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.55RON 2.41
$2.28€1.95
-75.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.28RON 83.9
$46.84€40.00
-58.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.71RON 3.09
$4.08€3.48
-82.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.66RON 2.86
$0.82€0.70
-19.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.78RON 25.14
$18.27€15.60
-68.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.62RON 7.03
$2.01€1.71
-19.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4KRON 110.5K
$35.3K€30.1K
-27.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2KRON 118.2K
$38.5K€32.9K
-29.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ploiesti
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146RON 637
$145€124
0.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.48RON 36.89
$20.96€17.90
-59.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.81RON 42.68
$40.05€34.21
-75.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ploiesti
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$50.9RON 221
$48.79€41.66
4.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.18RON 87.8
$18.69€15.97
7.97%
Cinema Ticket
$7.11RON 30.91
$9.06€7.74
-21.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ploiesti
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$424RON 1,846
$607€518
-30.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,841RON 29.8K
$16.3K€13.9K
-58.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ploiesti
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.8RON 356
$105€89.4
-21.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.15RON 188
$40.95€34.97
5.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.6RON 329
$93.6€79.9
-19.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.8RON 421
$119€101
-18.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ploiesti
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$529RON 2,301
$1,604€1,370
-67.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$336RON 1,462
$1,236€1,055
-72.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$757RON 3,294
$3,046€2,601
-75.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$469RON 2,041
$2,057€1,756
-77.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,052RON 8,927
$7,709€6,583
-73.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,358RON 5,906
$4,266€3,644
-68.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ploiesti
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,080RON 4,698
$1,584€1,353
-31.82%
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: April 28, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $529 in Ploiesti and $1,604 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 47% 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 $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $199 vs $271 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 100% in total monthly costs ($1,115 vs $2,227 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 47% 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: $529 in Ploiesti versus $1,604 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 $424 in Ploiesti versus $607 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 36% 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 $1,115 in Ploiesti versus $2,227 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 100% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.