🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $961 in Sighisoara versus $2,296 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,549 in Sighisoara versus $3,376 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,137 in Sighisoara versus $4,457 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Sighisoara costs roughly 58% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Sighisoara is 30% below, Lisbon is 68% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sighisoara
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.08RON 50.8
$17.59€15.31
-37.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.01RON 174
$62.9€54.7
-39.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.00RON 41.21
$11.58€10.08
-22.28%
Cappuccino
$2.18RON 9.98
$3.10€2.70
-29.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25RON 10.28
$2.49€2.17
-9.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35RON 10.78
$1.74€1.52
35.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24RON 10.26
$3.48€3.03
-35.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87RON 13.15
$3.44€3.00
-16.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sighisoara
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.56RON 7.13
$1.15€1.00
35.65%
White Bread(500g)
$1.28RON 5.87
$1.91€1.66
-32.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51RON 6.91
$1.50€1.31
0.67%
Eggs
$3.50RON 16.05
$3.98€3.47
-12.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.78RON 35.62
$13.29€11.57
-41.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.48RON 34.26
$8.01€6.97
-6.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.78RON 35.65
$18.04€15.70
-56.87%
Apples(1kg)
$1.08RON 4.95
$2.35€2.05
-54.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70RON 7.78
$1.75€1.52
-2.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92RON 8.82
$1.85€1.61
3.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.53RON 11.60
$2.55€2.22
-0.78%
Potato(1kg)
$0.80RON 3.68
$1.84€1.60
-56.52%
Onion(1kg)
$1.02RON 4.68
$2.10€1.83
-51.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.97RON 4.43
$1.49€1.29
-34.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03RON 4.71
$0.82€0.71
25.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.43RON 24.87
$7.10€6.18
-23.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.59RON 34.77
$5.91€5.14
28.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28RON 5.88
$1.31€1.14
-2.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81RON 8.28
$2.13€1.86
-15.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Sighisoara
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.69RON 3.15
$2.36€2.05
-70.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$46.62€40.57
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.92RON 4.23
$4.08€3.55
-77.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.98RON 4.48
$1.14€0.99
-14.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.14RON 41.88
$17.09€14.88
-46.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.72RON 7.88
$2.31€2.01
-25.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.5KRON 135.1K
$34.1K€29.7K
-13.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3KRON 120.3K
$41.4K€36.0K
-36.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sighisoara
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$61.3RON 281
$169€147
-63.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.84RON 40.49
$19.33€16.83
-54.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.03RON 41.39
$33.51€29.17
-73.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sighisoara
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.8RON 251
$48.84€42.51
12.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.43€16.92
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.96RON 45.63
$9.57€8.33
4.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sighisoara
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$625RON 2,863
$696€606
-10.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,929RON 45.5K
$17.4K€15.1K
-42.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sighisoara
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.4RON 428
$105€91.7
-11.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.72RON 219
$47.75€41.56
-0.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103RON 473
$101€87.5
2.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115RON 526
$124€108
-7.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sighisoara
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$327RON 1,498
$1,662€1,446
-80.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$264RON 1,209
$1,246€1,085
-78.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$541RON 2,480
$2,965€2,580
-81.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$496RON 2,274
$2,049€1,783
-75.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,627RON 7,453
$7,834€6,819
-79.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,097RON 5,026
$4,464€3,886
-75.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sighisoara
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617RON 2,827
$1,632€1,420
-62.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.8
3.78
79.89%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sighisoara: September 13, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $327 in Sighisoara and $1,662 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 164% 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: $38.00 in Sighisoara vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $214 vs $277 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 in Lisbon?
Sighisoara and Lisbon differ by about 139% in total monthly costs ($961 vs $2,296 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, salaries run 164% 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 Sighisoara and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $327 in Sighisoara versus $1,662 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 29% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Sighisoara or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $961 per month in Sighisoara versus $2,296 in Lisbon – a 139% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $961 in Sighisoara versus $2,296 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 139% 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