🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $977 in Sighisoara versus $2,280 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,508 in Sighisoara versus $3,294 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,038 in Sighisoara versus $4,307 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Sighisoara costs roughly 57% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Sighisoara is 27% below, Lisbon is 71% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sighisoara
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.44RON 52.0
$15.75€13.64
-27.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.22RON 183
$63.5€55.0
-36.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.22RON 37.36
$10.45€9.05
-21.34%
Cappuccino
$2.35RON 10.70
$2.91€2.52
-19.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36RON 10.72
$2.29€1.98
3.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66RON 7.55
$1.50€1.30
10.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.32RON 10.55
$3.56€3.09
-34.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08RON 13.98
$3.96€3.43
-22.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sighisoara
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.58RON 7.17
$1.08€0.94
46.30%
White Bread(500g)
$1.34RON 6.11
$1.76€1.53
-23.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.65RON 7.49
$1.70€1.47
-2.94%
Eggs
$3.29RON 14.95
$3.25€2.81
1.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.27RON 37.59
$13.25€11.47
-37.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.29RON 33.15
$7.70€6.67
-5.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.16RON 37.12
$15.77€13.66
-48.26%
Apples(1kg)
$1.12RON 5.11
$2.28€1.97
-50.88%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70RON 7.74
$1.66€1.43
2.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.59RON 7.23
$2.02€1.75
-21.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.41RON 10.97
$2.47€2.14
-2.43%
Potato(1kg)
$0.79RON 3.58
$1.79€1.55
-55.87%
Onion(1kg)
$0.97RON 4.43
$2.07€1.79
-53.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04RON 4.71
$1.97€1.71
-47.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89RON 4.06
$0.83€0.72
7.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.70RON 25.91
$6.55€5.68
-12.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.72RON 35.11
$5.57€4.82
38.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17RON 5.33
$1.33€1.15
-12.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06RON 9.35
$3.01€2.60
-31.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Sighisoara
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.72RON 3.25
$2.27€1.97
-68.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.09RON 91.3
$46.35€40.14
-56.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.93RON 4.21
$4.23€3.66
-78.01%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.75RON 3.43
$0.85€0.73
-11.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.34RON 42.47
$18.83€16.31
-50.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.70RON 7.71
$2.02€1.75
-15.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6KRON 125.5K
$35.0K€30.3K
-21.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7KRON 121.5K
$39.6K€34.3K
-32.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sighisoara
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.0RON 295
$148€128
-56.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.18RON 41.73
$20.52€17.77
-55.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.08RON 41.26
$39.52€34.23
-77.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sighisoara
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.05RON 191
$48.17€41.72
-12.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.82RON 85.6
$18.39€15.92
2.34%
Cinema Ticket
$8.09RON 36.77
$9.10€7.88
-11.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sighisoara
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$486RON 2,208
$615€532
-21.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KRON 47.8K
$16.3K€14.1K
-35.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sighisoara
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.9RON 318
$102€88.0
-31.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.79RON 185
$42.09€36.45
-3.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.8RON 386
$92.3€79.9
-8.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.6RON 448
$122€106
-19.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sighisoara
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$392RON 1,783
$1,612€1,396
-75.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$287RON 1,304
$1,254€1,086
-77.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$592RON 2,690
$3,069€2,658
-80.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$434RON 1,972
$2,037€1,764
-78.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,984RON 9,021
$7,751€6,712
-74.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,438RON 6,540
$4,286€3,712
-66.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sighisoara
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$615RON 2,795
$1,602€1,387
-61.61%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $392 in Sighisoara and $1,612 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 161% 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 $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $214 vs $267 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 133% in total monthly costs ($977 vs $2,280 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 161% 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: $392 in Sighisoara versus $1,612 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 $486 in Sighisoara versus $615 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 25% 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 $977 in Sighisoara versus $2,280 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 133% 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