🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $969 in Sighisoara versus $2,227 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,507 in Sighisoara versus $3,305 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,045 in Sighisoara versus $4,384 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Sighisoara costs roughly 56% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Sighisoara is 28% below, Lisbon is 66% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sighisoara
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.57RON 50.3
$16.17€13.81
-28.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.82RON 178
$64.6€55.1
-36.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.29RON 36.05
$10.38€8.86
-20.13%
Cappuccino
$2.23RON 9.72
$2.77€2.37
-19.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28RON 9.92
$2.25€1.92
1.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68RON 7.33
$1.57€1.34
7.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.26RON 9.83
$3.49€2.98
-35.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05RON 13.28
$4.00€3.42
-23.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sighisoara
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64RON 7.13
$1.08€0.93
51.85%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31RON 5.69
$1.74€1.49
-24.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.60RON 6.95
$1.74€1.48
-8.05%
Eggs
$3.34RON 14.52
$3.18€2.71
5.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.92RON 34.46
$13.43€11.47
-41.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.23RON 31.45
$7.99€6.83
-9.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.02RON 34.87
$16.09€13.74
-50.16%
Apples(1kg)
$1.12RON 4.89
$2.28€1.95
-50.88%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73RON 7.51
$1.72€1.47
0.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.57RON 6.83
$1.94€1.66
-19.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.29RON 9.97
$2.54€2.17
-9.84%
Potato(1kg)
$0.78RON 3.41
$1.83€1.56
-57.38%
Onion(1kg)
$0.97RON 4.23
$2.04€1.74
-52.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07RON 4.66
$1.98€1.69
-45.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89RON 3.85
$0.85€0.73
4.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.89RON 25.61
$6.85€5.85
-14.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.51RON 32.69
$5.78€4.93
29.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17RON 5.10
$1.37€1.17
-14.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04RON 8.86
$2.90€2.48
-29.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Sighisoara
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.67RON 2.91
$2.28€1.95
-70.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.87RON 86.4
$46.84€40.00
-57.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.99RON 4.33
$4.08€3.48
-75.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.75RON 3.27
$0.82€0.70
-8.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.31RON 40.52
$18.27€15.60
-49.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.66RON 7.20
$2.01€1.71
-17.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7KRON 120.4K
$35.3K€30.1K
-21.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3KRON 114.5K
$38.5K€32.9K
-31.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sighisoara
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.7RON 286
$145€124
-54.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.91RON 38.74
$20.96€17.90
-57.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.11RON 39.62
$40.05€34.21
-77.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sighisoara
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.64RON 177
$48.79€41.66
-16.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.99RON 82.6
$18.69€15.97
1.61%
Cinema Ticket
$7.98RON 34.72
$9.06€7.74
-11.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sighisoara
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$493RON 2,144
$607€518
-18.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.9KRON 47.2K
$16.3K€13.9K
-33.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sighisoara
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.1RON 301
$105€89.4
-33.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.36RON 176
$40.95€34.97
-1.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.8RON 364
$93.6€79.9
-10.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101RON 437
$119€101
-15.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sighisoara
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$396RON 1,721
$1,604€1,370
-75.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$290RON 1,261
$1,236€1,055
-76.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$593RON 2,578
$3,046€2,601
-80.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$445RON 1,937
$2,057€1,756
-78.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,790RON 7,785
$7,709€6,583
-76.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,388RON 6,038
$4,266€3,644
-67.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sighisoara
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$652RON 2,836
$1,584€1,353
-58.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.85
3.81
53.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sighisoara: April 26, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $396 in Sighisoara and $1,604 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 143% 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: $41.00 in Sighisoara vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $211 vs $271 per month, with Sighisoara 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
Sighisoara vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Sighisoara and Lisbon?
Sighisoara and Lisbon differ by about 130% in total monthly costs ($969 vs $2,227 including rent). Sighisoara 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 143% 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 Sighisoara and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $396 in Sighisoara 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 Sighisoara and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $493 in Sighisoara 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 28% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $969 in Sighisoara versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sighisoara but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Sighisoara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Sighisoara 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 Sighisoara or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Sighisoara 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: Sighisoara or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Sighisoara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 130% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Sighisoara vs other spots: cost of living compared