Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Soroca and Lisbon

For one person, living is cheaper in Soroca: $388 a month against $2,202 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $21,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Soroca
🇲🇩 Moldova
$388
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,202
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Soroca and in Lisbon

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Soroca and in Lisbon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $388 in Soroca versus $2,202 in Lisbon.

  • Soroca $388
  • Lisbon $2,202

Estimated couple costs with rent: $629 in Soroca versus $3,274 in Lisbon.

  • Soroca $629
  • Lisbon $3,274

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $870 in Soroca versus $4,346 in Lisbon.

  • Soroca $870
  • Lisbon $4,346

Living in Soroca costs roughly 82% less than in Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Soroca is 71% below, Lisbon is 62% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Soroca
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.28 MDL 200
$17.04 €15.15
-33.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.20 MDL 394
$62.3 €55.4
-64.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.43 MDL 78.7
$11.02 €9.80
-59.80%
Cappuccino
$1.42 MDL 25.13
$3.12 €2.78
-54.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 MDL 13.57
$2.27 €2.02
-66.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 MDL 8.38
$1.74 €1.55
-72.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.15 MDL 20.44
$3.42 €3.04
-66.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 MDL 25.26
$3.74 €3.33
-62.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Soroca
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.99 MDL 17.55
$1.17 €1.04
-15.38%
White Bread (500g)
$0.36 MDL 6.33
$1.86 €1.66
-80.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.14 MDL 20.29
$1.54 €1.37
-25.97%
Eggs
$1.95 MDL 34.59
$4.06 €3.61
-51.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$12.91 €11.49
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$7.90 €7.03
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$17.64 €15.69
-
Apples (1kg)
-
$2.26 €2.01
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.90 MDL 33.80
$1.75 €1.55
8.57%
Oranges (1kg)
-
$1.89 €1.68
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$2.56 €2.27
-
Potato (1kg)
$0.67 MDL 11.88
$1.85 €1.64
-63.78%
Onion (1kg)
-
$1.97 €1.75
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.45 €1.29
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 MDL 9.66
$0.77 €0.69
-29.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$6.71 €5.97
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$5.67 €5.04
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.37 €1.22
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.11 €1.88
-
🚌 Getting Around
Soroca
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.32 €2.07
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$44.43 €39.52
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.15 MDL 20.43
$3.95 €3.51
-70.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.05 €0.93
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$17.15 €15.26
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.74 MDL 30.99
$2.19 €1.95
-20.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$33.8K €30.0K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K MDL 360.9K
$38.3K €34.0K
-46.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Soroca
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$58.5 MDL 1,038
$164 €146
-64.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.48 MDL 151
$18.48 €16.43
-54.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.72 MDL 226
$32.96 €29.32
-61.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Soroca
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.56 MDL 490
$45.87 €40.80
-39.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.68 €16.61
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.27 MDL 58.1
$9.75 €8.67
-66.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Soroca
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$684 €608
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$17.6K €15.7K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Soroca
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.40 MDL 593
$104 €92.3
-67.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.78 MDL 600
$46.20 €41.09
-26.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 MDL 1,899
$99.7 €88.7
7.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$33.98 MDL 603
$125 €111
-72.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Soroca
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,589 €1,414
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,169 €1,040
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,851 €2,536
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,993 €1,773
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,793 €6,932
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$4,418 €3,930
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Soroca
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$498 MDL 8,836
$1,600 €1,423
-68.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
3.85
-

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Soroca: October 19, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Eating Out
Soroca
$134
Lisbon
$247 84.6% $113
Clothing & Footwear
Soroca
$94
Lisbon
$168 79.9% $75
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Soroca
$80
Lisbon
$215 170% $136
Groceries & Markets
Soroca
$46 *
Lisbon
$273 497% $227
Sport & Entertainment
Soroca
$34
Lisbon
$65 91.7% $31
Getting Around
Soroca
$1.2 *
Lisbon
$63 5371% $62
Accommodation & Living
Soroca
- *
Lisbon
$1.2K

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Lisbon pays 222% 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: $22.00 in Soroca vs $62.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $46.00 vs $273 per month, with Soroca cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇩 Soroca
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🕒 Local time
14:35 2:35 PM
12:35 12:35 PM
2 h behind Soroca
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
37,400
545,923 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to MDL – Moldovan Leu Converter

Moldovan Leu exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 17.76 MDL (100 MDL = 5.63 USD). 1 EUR = 19.97 MDL (100 MDL = 5.01 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Soroca Lisbon 3,160 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Soroca
  • Lisbon

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Soroca vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Soroca and in Lisbon?
Soroca and Lisbon differ by about 467% in total monthly costs ($388 vs $2,202 including rent). Soroca 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 222% 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.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Soroca – a meal for two runs $22.00 versus $62.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Soroca or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $388 per month in Soroca versus $2,202 in Lisbon – a 467% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $388 in Soroca versus $2,202 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Soroca but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Soroca the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Soroca 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 Soroca or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Soroca 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: Soroca or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Soroca gentler on the wallet – expenses run 467% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Soroca vs other spots: cost of living compared

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