🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $875 in Strumica versus $2,263 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,251 in Strumica versus $3,315 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,627 in Strumica versus $4,368 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Strumica costs roughly 61% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Strumica is 35% below, Lisbon is 68% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Strumica
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.71MKD 197
$15.94€13.73
-76.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.68MKD 1,522
$63.4€54.6
-54.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.97MKD 264
$10.38€8.95
-52.12%
Cappuccino
$1.67MKD 88.8
$2.79€2.40
-40.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46MKD 77.2
$2.34€2.01
-37.61%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12MKD 59.3
$1.57€1.35
-28.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.84MKD 97.6
$3.43€2.95
-46.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18MKD 116
$3.91€3.37
-44.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Strumica
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.33MKD 70.6
$1.08€0.93
23.15%
White Bread(500g)
$0.72MKD 38.31
$1.77€1.52
-59.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77MKD 93.9
$1.71€1.47
3.51%
Eggs
$2.08MKD 111
$3.15€2.71
-33.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.36MKD 550
$13.68€11.79
-24.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.37MKD 338
$8.01€6.90
-20.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.38MKD 551
$15.52€13.37
-33.12%
Apples(1kg)
$0.68MKD 36.07
$2.29€1.98
-70.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.37MKD 72.7
$1.64€1.41
-16.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.23MKD 65.3
$1.94€1.67
-36.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.61MKD 85.5
$2.51€2.17
-35.86%
Potato(1kg)
$0.92MKD 48.86
$1.79€1.54
-48.60%
Onion(1kg)
$0.84MKD 44.56
$2.01€1.73
-58.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.58MKD 30.84
$1.97€1.69
-70.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54MKD 28.60
$0.84€0.73
-35.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.78MKD 148
$6.79€5.85
-59.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.51MKD 293
$5.67€4.89
-2.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.98MKD 52.0
$1.39€1.20
-29.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.20MKD 63.9
$3.02€2.60
-60.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Strumica
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.73MKD 38.56
$2.27€1.95
-67.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.59MKD 1,092
$45.44€39.15
-54.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.10MKD 58.3
$4.29€3.70
-74.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.49MKD 26.24
$0.85€0.73
-42.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.75MKD 358
$18.28€15.75
-63.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.50MKD 79.5
$1.99€1.71
-24.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.5KMKD 1.7M
$35.0K€30.2K
-10.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3KMKD 1.8M
$39.5K€34.1K
-15.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Strumica
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$143MKD 7,586
$146€126
-2.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.40MKD 711
$20.45€17.62
-34.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.59MKD 827
$38.98€33.58
-60.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Strumica
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.32MKD 1,078
$48.98€42.21
-58.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.83€16.22
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.68MKD 248
$9.52€8.21
-50.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Strumica
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$223MKD 11.8K
$608€524
-63.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,207MKD 64.1K
$16.5K€14.2K
-92.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Strumica
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.1MKD 4,036
$104€89.5
-26.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.25MKD 2,560
$42.12€36.29
14.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.9MKD 3,922
$92.2€79.5
-19.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.0MKD 4,935
$120€103
-22.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Strumica
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$324MKD 17.2K
$1,621€1,397
-80.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$244MKD 13.0K
$1,268€1,092
-80.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$511MKD 27.1K
$3,048€2,626
-83.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$300MKD 15.9K
$2,009€1,731
-85.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,478MKD 78.4K
$7,663€6,602
-80.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,004MKD 53.3K
$4,329€3,730
-76.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Strumica
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MKD 35.3K
$1,585€1,366
-58.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4
3.81
4.99%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Strumica: June 9, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $324 in Strumica and $1,621 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 139% 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: $29.00 in Strumica vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $186 vs $269 per month, with Strumica 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
Strumica vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Strumica and Lisbon?
Strumica and Lisbon differ by about 159% in total monthly costs ($875 vs $2,263 including rent). Strumica 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 139% 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 Strumica and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $324 in Strumica versus $1,621 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 Strumica and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $223 in Strumica versus $608 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 44% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $875 in Strumica versus $2,263 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Strumica but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Strumica the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Strumica 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 Strumica or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Strumica 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: Strumica or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Strumica gentler on the wallet – expenses run 159% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.