🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $963 in Sighisoara versus $2,217 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,511 in Sighisoara versus $3,245 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,060 in Sighisoara versus $4,272 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Sighisoara costs roughly 57% 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
$11.29RON 50.9
$15.78€13.59
-28.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.43RON 182
$62.5€53.8
-35.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.97RON 35.91
$10.54€9.07
-24.38%
Cappuccino
$2.37RON 10.67
$2.77€2.38
-14.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31RON 10.42
$2.28€1.97
1.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72RON 7.77
$1.55€1.33
10.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24RON 10.10
$3.55€3.05
-36.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00RON 13.51
$3.98€3.43
-24.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sighisoara
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64RON 7.40
$1.08€0.93
51.85%
White Bread(500g)
$1.33RON 6.00
$1.77€1.52
-24.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63RON 7.35
$1.77€1.52
-7.91%
Eggs
$3.29RON 14.80
$3.12€2.69
5.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.20RON 36.93
$13.34€11.49
-38.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.98RON 31.43
$7.99€6.88
-12.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.28RON 37.29
$15.92€13.70
-47.99%
Apples(1kg)
$1.13RON 5.09
$2.28€1.97
-50.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71RON 7.72
$1.64€1.42
4.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.57RON 7.09
$1.98€1.70
-20.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.38RON 10.70
$2.45€2.11
-2.86%
Potato(1kg)
$0.85RON 3.81
$1.77€1.52
-51.98%
Onion(1kg)
$0.92RON 4.16
$1.97€1.69
-53.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04RON 4.68
$1.97€1.70
-47.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87RON 3.91
$0.80€0.69
8.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.86RON 26.39
$6.54€5.63
-10.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.68RON 34.60
$5.75€4.95
33.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.12RON 5.06
$1.32€1.13
-15.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03RON 9.15
$2.99€2.57
-32.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Sighisoara
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.72RON 3.26
$2.34€2.01
-69.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.12RON 90.6
$45.85€39.48
-56.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.98RON 4.42
$4.26€3.66
-77.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81RON 3.64
$0.84€0.73
-3.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.21RON 41.47
$18.86€16.24
-51.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.63RON 7.36
$2.07€1.78
-21.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1KRON 126.4K
$35.2K€30.3K
-20.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1KRON 122.1K
$38.6K€33.2K
-29.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sighisoara
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.3RON 294
$151€130
-56.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.87RON 39.93
$20.91€18.00
-57.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.28RON 41.79
$39.54€34.05
-76.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sighisoara
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.74RON 188
$48.39€41.67
-13.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.37RON 87.2
$18.61€16.02
4.08%
Cinema Ticket
$8.04RON 36.20
$9.04€7.79
-11.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sighisoara
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$484RON 2,181
$610€525
-20.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.6KRON 47.6K
$16.3K€14.0K
-35.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sighisoara
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.7RON 314
$101€87.2
-31.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.48RON 182
$40.58€34.94
-0.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.9RON 382
$93.0€80.1
-8.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.5RON 448
$119€102
-16.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sighisoara
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$386RON 1,737
$1,603€1,380
-75.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$293RON 1,319
$1,239€1,067
-76.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$590RON 2,656
$3,019€2,599
-80.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$441RON 1,985
$2,061€1,775
-78.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,894RON 8,530
$7,981€6,872
-76.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,395RON 6,281
$4,533€3,903
-69.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sighisoara
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$620RON 2,792
$1,628€1,402
-61.92%
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: June 14, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $386 in Sighisoara and $1,603 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 163% 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: $40.00 in Sighisoara vs $62.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $212 vs $268 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 ($963 vs $2,217 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 163% 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: $386 in Sighisoara versus $1,603 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 $484 in Sighisoara versus $610 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 26% 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 $963 in Sighisoara versus $2,217 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