Cost of Living Comparison Between Sibiu and LisbonCost of Living Comparison Between Sibiu and Lisbon
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,178 in Sibiu versus $2,316 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,732 in Sibiu versus $3,361 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,285 in Sibiu versus $4,405 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Sibiu costs roughly 49% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Sibiu is 14% below, Lisbon is 69% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sibiu
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.74RON 39.48
$17.30€14.87
-49.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.54RON 197
$63.3€54.4
-31.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.95RON 35.89
$11.39€9.79
-30.20%
Cappuccino
$3.27RON 14.75
$3.19€2.74
2.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16RON 9.75
$2.45€2.10
-11.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89RON 8.54
$1.76€1.52
7.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.38RON 15.28
$3.59€3.09
-5.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97RON 17.94
$3.39€2.92
17.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sibiu
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.45RON 6.56
$1.24€1.06
16.94%
White Bread(500g)
$1.19RON 5.38
$1.98€1.71
-39.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.45RON 6.55
$1.52€1.31
-4.61%
Eggs
$3.68RON 16.62
$4.04€3.47
-8.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.52RON 38.49
$13.54€11.64
-37.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.36RON 28.71
$8.39€7.21
-24.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.22RON 37.13
$18.25€15.69
-54.96%
Apples(1kg)
$1.22RON 5.52
$2.29€1.97
-46.72%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56RON 7.06
$1.74€1.50
-10.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52RON 6.87
$1.86€1.60
-18.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.73RON 12.33
$2.63€2.26
3.80%
Potato(1kg)
$0.70RON 3.18
$1.92€1.65
-63.54%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68RON 3.06
$2.09€1.80
-67.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04RON 4.68
$1.44€1.24
-27.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92RON 4.17
$0.84€0.72
9.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.23RON 28.13
$6.78€5.83
-8.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.85RON 35.47
$5.71€4.91
37.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.95RON 4.28
$1.38€1.18
-31.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47RON 6.64
$2.22€1.91
-33.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Sibiu
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79RON 3.59
$2.40€2.06
-67.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.07RON 81.6
$46.78€40.22
-61.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.00RON 4.52
$4.17€3.59
-76.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.90RON 4.07
$1.14€0.98
-21.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.64RON 39.01
$17.68€15.20
-51.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.85RON 8.35
$2.32€2.00
-20.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1KRON 135.9K
$35.3K€30.4K
-14.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KRON 120.0K
$41.4K€35.6K
-35.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sibiu
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$119RON 540
$170€146
-29.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.48RON 42.80
$19.34€16.62
-50.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.69RON 57.3
$33.64€28.92
-62.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sibiu
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.45RON 165
$48.10€41.35
-24.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.68RON 66.3
$19.90€17.11
-26.23%
Cinema Ticket
$7.12RON 32.15
$9.92€8.53
-28.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sibiu
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$455RON 2,055
$717€617
-36.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,957RON 31.4K
$17.5K€15.0K
-60.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sibiu
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.6RON 360
$105€90.1
-24.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.09RON 154
$46.95€40.36
-27.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.3RON 417
$103€88.9
-10.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.6RON 418
$124€107
-25.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sibiu
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$458RON 2,071
$1,677€1,441
-72.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$431RON 1,947
$1,271€1,093
-66.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$859RON 3,880
$2,985€2,566
-71.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631RON 2,848
$1,992€1,713
-68.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,524RON 11.4K
$7,826€6,728
-67.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,150RON 9,709
$4,658€4,004
-53.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sibiu
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,161RON 5,245
$1,583€1,361
-26.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.02
3.79
85.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sibiu: August 31, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $458 in Sibiu and $1,677 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 36% 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: $44.00 in Sibiu vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $283 per month, with Sibiu 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
Sibiu vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Sibiu and in Lisbon?
Sibiu and Lisbon differ by about 97% in total monthly costs ($1,178 vs $2,316 including rent). Sibiu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 36% lower in Lisbon. 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 Sibiu and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $458 in Sibiu versus $1,677 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 Sibiu and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $455 in Sibiu versus $717 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 37% 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 $1,178 in Sibiu versus $2,316 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sibiu but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Sibiu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Sibiu 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 Sibiu or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Sibiu 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: Sibiu or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Sibiu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 97% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.