Cost of Living Comparison Between Rijeka and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Rijeka and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,572 in Rijeka versus $2,210 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Rijeka versus $3,311 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,170 in Rijeka versus $4,411 in Lisbon.

Living in Rijeka costs roughly 29% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Rijeka 17% above, Lisbon 65% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rijeka
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.60 €10.84
$15.91 €13.69
-20.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7 €59.9
$64.8 €55.7
7.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.27 €8.84
$10.51 €9.04
-2.28%
Cappuccino
$2.32 €1.99
$2.87 €2.47
-19.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 €3.00
$2.24 €1.93
55.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 €1.86
$1.50 €1.29
44.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.29 €3.69
$3.49 €3.00
22.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69 €4.03
$3.88 €3.34
20.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rijeka
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 €1.01
$1.14 €0.98
3.51%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 €1.39
$1.75 €1.51
-7.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.95 €3.40
$1.76 €1.51
124.43%
Eggs
$3.56 €3.06
$3.22 €2.77
10.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.29 €14.02
$13.49 €11.61
20.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.14 €9.59
$7.91 €6.81
40.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.58 €12.54
$15.87 €13.65
-8.13%
Apples (1kg)
$1.60 €1.38
$2.31 €1.99
-30.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 €1.47
$1.70 €1.46
0.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.76 €1.52
$2.01 €1.73
-12.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.60 €2.24
$2.46 €2.12
5.69%
Potato (1kg)
$1.22 €1.05
$1.84 €1.59
-33.70%
Onion (1kg)
$1.27 €1.10
$2.00 €1.72
-36.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 €0.93
$1.93 €1.66
-44.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 €1.01
$0.79 €0.68
49.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.92 €5.09
$6.61 €5.68
-10.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.30 €7.14
$5.72 €4.92
45.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.57 €1.35
$1.37 €1.17
14.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 €1.82
$2.97 €2.56
-28.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Rijeka
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.92 €1.65
$2.37 €2.04
-18.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$55.7 €47.90
$45.56 €39.19
22.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.67 €4.88
$4.29 €3.69
32.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.33 €1.14
$0.82 €0.70
62.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.69 €24.68
$18.30 €15.74
56.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.71 €1.47
$2.06 €1.78
-16.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.6K €32.3K
$34.3K €29.5K
9.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K €22.8K
$39.3K €33.8K
-32.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rijeka
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$184 €158
$148 €127
24.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.09 €19.00
$20.52 €17.65
7.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.71 €28.13
$39.61 €34.08
-17.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rijeka
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.3 €44.08
$47.85 €41.16
7.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.78 €12.72
$18.92 €16.28
-21.88%
Cinema Ticket
$9.24 €7.95
$9.18 €7.90
0.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rijeka
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$293 €252
$614 €528
-52.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.8K €14.4K
$16.0K €13.8K
4.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rijeka
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.8 €79.8
$105 €90.0
-11.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.41 €29.60
$42.06 €36.18
-18.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.9 €85.1
$94.0 €80.8
5.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 €88.8
$120 €103
-13.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rijeka
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$661 €569
$1,628 €1,400
-59.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$531 €457
$1,255 €1,080
-57.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,062 €914
$3,030 €2,607
-64.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$772 €664
$2,020 €1,738
-61.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,187 €3,602
$7,800 €6,709
-46.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,039 €3,474
$4,273 €3,675
-5.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rijeka
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,573 €1,353
$1,603 €1,379
-1.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.63
3.81
21.52%

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

Last update for Rijeka: May 31, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $661 in Rijeka and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 2% 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: $70.0 in Rijeka vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $298 vs $269 per month, with Lisbon 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
Rijeka vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Rijeka and Lisbon?
Rijeka and Lisbon differ by about 41% in total monthly costs ($1,572 vs $2,210 including rent). Rijeka 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 2% 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 Rijeka and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $661 in Rijeka versus $1,628 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 Rijeka and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $293 in Rijeka versus $614 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?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 11% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,572 in Rijeka versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Rijeka but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Rijeka the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Rijeka 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 Rijeka or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Rijeka 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: Rijeka or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Rijeka gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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