🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $922 in Silistra versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,357 in Silistra versus $3,311 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,792 in Silistra versus $4,411 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Silistra costs roughly 58% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Silistra is 31% below, Lisbon is 65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Silistra
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.74BGN 17.86
$15.91€13.69
-32.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.98BGN 41.56
$64.8€55.7
-61.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.98BGN 14.94
$10.51€9.04
-14.56%
Cappuccino
$1.81BGN 3.02
$2.87€2.47
-36.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.20BGN 2.00
$2.24€1.93
-46.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67BGN 1.11
$1.50€1.29
-55.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.87BGN 3.12
$3.49€3.00
-46.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57BGN 4.28
$3.88€3.34
-33.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Silistra
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.69BGN 2.80
$1.14€0.98
48.25%
White Bread(500g)
$0.90BGN 1.51
$1.75€1.51
-48.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.95BGN 3.24
$1.76€1.51
10.80%
Eggs
$3.29BGN 5.47
$3.22€2.77
2.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.20BGN 15.31
$13.49€11.61
-31.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.75BGN 12.89
$7.91€6.81
-2.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.70BGN 19.46
$15.87€13.65
-26.28%
Apples(1kg)
$1.93BGN 3.20
$2.31€1.99
-16.45%
Banana(1kg)
$2.03BGN 3.39
$1.70€1.46
19.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08BGN 3.46
$2.01€1.73
3.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.48BGN 4.13
$2.46€2.12
0.81%
Potato(1kg)
$1.43BGN 2.38
$1.84€1.59
-22.28%
Onion(1kg)
$1.36BGN 2.26
$2.00€1.72
-32.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05BGN 1.75
$1.93€1.66
-45.60%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76BGN 1.27
$0.79€0.68
-3.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.70BGN 6.15
$6.61€5.68
-44.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.39BGN 8.96
$5.72€4.92
-5.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.96BGN 1.60
$1.37€1.17
-29.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75BGN 2.92
$2.97€2.56
-41.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Silistra
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.57BGN 0.95
$2.37€2.04
-75.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46BGN 44.02
$45.56€39.19
-41.92%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.20BGN 1.99
$4.29€3.69
-72.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68BGN 1.13
$0.82€0.70
-17.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.86BGN 9.74
$18.30€15.74
-67.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.53BGN 2.55
$2.06€1.78
-25.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.9KBGN 53.1K
$34.3K€29.5K
-6.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8KBGN 43.0K
$39.3K€33.8K
-34.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Silistra
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$93.7BGN 156
$148€127
-36.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.47BGN 27.41
$20.52€17.65
-19.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.85BGN 23.04
$39.61€34.08
-65.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Silistra
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.88BGN 53.0
$47.85€41.16
-33.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.76BGN 24.56
$18.92€16.28
-21.99%
Cinema Ticket
$7.25BGN 12.06
$9.18€7.90
-21.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Silistra
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$234BGN 390
$614€528
-61.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,177BGN 6,949
$16.0K€13.8K
-73.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Silistra
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6BGN 97.5
$105€90.0
-44.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.77BGN 49.53
$42.06€36.18
-29.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.9BGN 118
$94.0€80.8
-24.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.4BGN 117
$120€103
-41.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Silistra
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$233BGN 388
$1,628€1,400
-85.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$206BGN 342
$1,255€1,080
-83.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$340BGN 566
$3,030€2,607
-88.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$253BGN 420
$2,020€1,738
-87.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,340BGN 2,229
$7,800€6,709
-82.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,078BGN 1,793
$4,273€3,675
-74.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Silistra
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$752BGN 1,252
$1,603€1,379
-53.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.57
3.81
19.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Silistra: June 2, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $233 in Silistra and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 113% 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: $25.00 in Silistra vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $230 vs $269 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 Lisbon?
Silistra and Lisbon differ by about 140% in total monthly costs ($922 vs $2,210 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, Lisbon earns 113% 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 Silistra and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $233 in Silistra versus $1,628 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 $234 in Silistra versus $614 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 17% 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 $922 in Silistra versus $2,210 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 140% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.