🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $919 in Silistra versus $2,291 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,364 in Silistra versus $3,322 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,809 in Silistra versus $4,354 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Silistra costs roughly 60% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Silistra is 31% below, Lisbon is 71% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Silistra
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.72BGN 17.83
$16.19€14.17
-33.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.59BGN 42.57
$63.3€55.4
-59.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.00BGN 14.97
$10.32€9.03
-12.79%
Cappuccino
$1.72BGN 2.87
$2.83€2.48
-39.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17BGN 1.94
$2.29€2.00
-48.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65BGN 1.08
$1.58€1.38
-58.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.94BGN 3.23
$3.40€2.98
-42.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72BGN 4.53
$4.03€3.52
-32.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Silistra
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.63BGN 2.71
$1.09€0.95
49.54%
White Bread(500g)
$0.95BGN 1.58
$1.75€1.53
-45.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87BGN 3.12
$1.76€1.54
6.25%
Eggs
$3.31BGN 5.50
$3.17€2.77
4.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.17BGN 15.26
$13.19€11.54
-30.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.88BGN 13.11
$7.97€6.97
-1.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.53BGN 19.17
$15.53€13.59
-25.76%
Apples(1kg)
$1.93BGN 3.22
$2.37€2.07
-18.57%
Banana(1kg)
$2.12BGN 3.52
$1.71€1.49
23.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01BGN 3.34
$2.01€1.76
-
Tomato(1kg)
$2.51BGN 4.18
$2.43€2.13
3.29%
Potato(1kg)
$1.46BGN 2.42
$1.76€1.54
-17.05%
Onion(1kg)
$1.35BGN 2.25
$2.03€1.78
-33.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05BGN 1.74
$1.92€1.68
-45.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83BGN 1.38
$0.85€0.74
-2.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.63BGN 6.03
$6.58€5.76
-44.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.19BGN 8.64
$5.58€4.88
-6.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.94BGN 1.56
$1.33€1.17
-29.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73BGN 2.88
$2.97€2.60
-41.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Silistra
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.62BGN 1.03
$2.28€1.99
-72.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.41BGN 43.94
$45.79€40.06
-42.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.20BGN 1.99
$4.23€3.70
-71.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.71BGN 1.18
$0.81€0.71
-12.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.05BGN 10.06
$18.44€16.13
-67.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.46BGN 2.43
$2.08€1.82
-29.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.5KBGN 54.0K
$34.7K€30.3K
-6.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6KBGN 42.5K
$39.2K€34.3K
-34.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Silistra
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$94.8BGN 158
$148€130
-35.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.72BGN 27.82
$20.46€17.90
-18.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.08BGN 23.42
$39.56€34.61
-64.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Silistra
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.80BGN 52.9
$47.99€41.99
-33.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.54BGN 24.19
$18.60€16.27
-21.83%
Cinema Ticket
$7.12BGN 11.84
$9.22€8.07
-22.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Silistra
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$233BGN 388
$616€539
-62.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,159BGN 6,919
$16.4K€14.4K
-74.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Silistra
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.6BGN 99.1
$103€89.9
-41.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.12BGN 48.45
$41.74€36.52
-30.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.5BGN 119
$94.8€82.9
-24.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.0BGN 120
$122€107
-40.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Silistra
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$235BGN 391
$1,633€1,428
-85.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$210BGN 349
$1,232€1,078
-82.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$339BGN 564
$3,098€2,711
-89.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$258BGN 430
$2,031€1,777
-87.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,389BGN 2,311
$7,831€6,851
-82.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$972BGN 1,617
$4,389€3,840
-77.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Silistra
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$735BGN 1,223
$1,607€1,406
-54.25%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $235 in Silistra and $1,633 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 119% 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 $231 vs $267 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 149% in total monthly costs ($919 vs $2,291 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 119% 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: $235 in Silistra versus $1,633 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 $233 in Silistra versus $616 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 16% 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 $919 in Silistra versus $2,291 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 149% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.