🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $891 in Silistra versus $2,316 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,265 in Silistra versus $3,361 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,639 in Silistra versus $4,405 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Silistra costs roughly 62% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Silistra is 35% below, Lisbon is 69% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Silistra
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.77BGN 17.92
$17.30€14.87
-37.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.00BGN 43.25
$63.3€54.4
-58.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.51BGN 15.82
$11.39€9.79
-16.51%
Cappuccino
$1.76BGN 2.92
$3.19€2.74
-44.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18BGN 1.96
$2.45€2.10
-51.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84BGN 1.39
$1.76€1.52
-52.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.87BGN 3.11
$3.59€3.09
-47.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03BGN 3.37
$3.39€2.92
-40.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Silistra
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.80BGN 2.99
$1.24€1.06
45.16%
White Bread(500g)
$0.88BGN 1.47
$1.98€1.71
-55.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.49BGN 2.47
$1.52€1.31
-1.97%
Eggs
$2.42BGN 4.03
$4.04€3.47
-40.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.55BGN 15.89
$13.54€11.64
-29.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.61BGN 11.00
$8.39€7.21
-21.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.73BGN 14.52
$18.25€15.69
-52.16%
Apples(1kg)
$1.32BGN 2.20
$2.29€1.97
-42.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.78BGN 2.96
$1.74€1.50
2.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.75BGN 2.92
$1.86€1.60
-5.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.05BGN 3.41
$2.63€2.26
-22.05%
Potato(1kg)
$1.00BGN 1.66
$1.92€1.65
-47.92%
Onion(1kg)
$0.74BGN 1.23
$2.09€1.80
-64.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.61BGN 1.02
$1.44€1.24
-57.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68BGN 1.14
$0.84€0.72
-19.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.85BGN 6.40
$6.78€5.83
-43.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.37BGN 8.93
$5.71€4.91
-5.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.13BGN 1.88
$1.38€1.18
-18.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74BGN 2.90
$2.22€1.91
-21.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Silistra
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.92BGN 1.53
$2.40€2.06
-61.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.50BGN 44.09
$46.78€40.22
-43.35%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.16BGN 1.93
$4.17€3.59
-72.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.67BGN 1.12
$1.14€0.98
-41.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.00BGN 9.99
$17.68€15.20
-66.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49BGN 2.48
$2.32€2.00
-35.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.3KBGN 52.0K
$35.3K€30.4K
-11.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.5KBGN 35.8K
$41.4K€35.6K
-48.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Silistra
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$96.8BGN 161
$170€146
-43.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.34BGN 25.53
$19.34€16.62
-20.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.47BGN 20.75
$33.64€28.92
-62.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Silistra
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.39BGN 53.9
$48.10€41.35
-32.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.14BGN 30.17
$19.90€17.11
-8.84%
Cinema Ticket
$7.01BGN 11.65
$9.92€8.53
-29.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Silistra
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$236BGN 393
$717€617
-67.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,403BGN 3,998
$17.5K€15.0K
-86.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Silistra
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.03BGN 51.6
$105€90.1
-70.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.83BGN 32.99
$46.95€40.36
-57.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.9BGN 111
$103€88.9
-35.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.3BGN 88.7
$124€107
-56.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Silistra
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$351BGN 584
$1,677€1,441
-79.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$261BGN 434
$1,271€1,093
-79.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$351BGN 584
$2,985€2,566
-88.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$255BGN 424
$1,992€1,713
-87.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,333BGN 2,217
$7,826€6,728
-82.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,227BGN 2,042
$4,658€4,004
-73.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Silistra
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$738BGN 1,228
$1,583€1,361
-53.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.99
3.79
-21.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Silistra: August 31, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $351 in Silistra and $1,677 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 114% 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: $26.00 in Silistra vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $200 vs $283 per month, with Silistra 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
Silistra vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Silistra and in Lisbon?
Silistra and Lisbon differ by about 160% in total monthly costs ($891 vs $2,316 including rent). Silistra 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 114% 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 Silistra and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $351 in Silistra 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 Silistra and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $236 in Silistra 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 41% 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 $891 in Silistra versus $2,316 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Silistra but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Silistra the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Silistra 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 Silistra or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Silistra 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: Silistra or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Silistra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 160% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.