🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $889 in Strumica versus $2,227 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,282 in Strumica versus $3,305 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,674 in Strumica versus $4,384 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Strumica costs roughly 60% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Strumica is 34% below, Lisbon is 66% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Strumica
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.65MKD 193
$16.17€13.84
-77.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.37MKD 1,496
$64.6€55.3
-56.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.99MKD 263
$10.38€8.88
-51.93%
Cappuccino
$1.66MKD 87.6
$2.77€2.37
-40.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52MKD 80.3
$2.25€1.92
-32.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15MKD 60.7
$1.57€1.35
-26.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.91MKD 101
$3.49€2.99
-45.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21MKD 116
$4.00€3.43
-44.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Strumica
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.34MKD 70.5
$1.08€0.93
24.07%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73MKD 38.32
$1.74€1.49
-58.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.79MKD 94.2
$1.74€1.49
2.87%
Eggs
$2.04MKD 108
$3.18€2.72
-35.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.14MKD 535
$13.43€11.50
-24.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.27MKD 330
$7.99€6.84
-21.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.53MKD 556
$16.09€13.77
-34.56%
Apples(1kg)
$0.64MKD 33.64
$2.28€1.95
-71.93%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45MKD 76.5
$1.72€1.48
-15.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.20MKD 63.1
$1.94€1.66
-38.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.65MKD 86.8
$2.54€2.18
-35.04%
Potato(1kg)
$0.94MKD 49.71
$1.83€1.57
-48.63%
Onion(1kg)
$0.89MKD 46.71
$2.04€1.75
-56.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.57MKD 30.19
$1.98€1.69
-71.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57MKD 30.01
$0.85€0.73
-32.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.76MKD 145
$6.85€5.87
-59.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.56MKD 293
$5.78€4.94
-3.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91MKD 48.11
$1.37€1.18
-33.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.20MKD 63.3
$2.90€2.48
-58.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Strumica
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.73MKD 38.39
$2.28€1.95
-67.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.98MKD 1,053
$46.84€40.10
-57.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.16MKD 61.0
$4.08€3.49
-71.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.49MKD 25.64
$0.82€0.70
-40.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.69MKD 353
$18.27€15.64
-63.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43MKD 75.2
$2.01€1.72
-28.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.9KMKD 1.7M
$35.3K€30.2K
-9.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4KMKD 1.8M
$38.5K€32.9K
-13.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Strumica
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146MKD 7,703
$145€124
0.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.29MKD 701
$20.96€17.94
-36.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.59MKD 822
$40.05€34.29
-61.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Strumica
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.90MKD 1,102
$48.79€41.76
-57.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.69€16.00
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.74MKD 250
$9.06€7.76
-47.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Strumica
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$219MKD 11.6K
$607€519
-63.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,195MKD 63.0K
$16.3K€14.0K
-92.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Strumica
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7MKD 4,099
$105€89.6
-25.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.91MKD 2,526
$40.95€35.06
17.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.4MKD 3,921
$93.6€80.1
-20.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.1MKD 4,911
$119€101
-21.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Strumica
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$320MKD 16.9K
$1,604€1,373
-80.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$244MKD 12.9K
$1,236€1,058
-80.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$496MKD 26.1K
$3,046€2,607
-83.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$305MKD 16.1K
$2,057€1,761
-85.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,546MKD 81.5K
$7,709€6,599
-79.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,009MKD 53.2K
$4,266€3,652
-76.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Strumica
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$659MKD 34.7K
$1,584€1,356
-58.40%
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: April 28, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $320 in Strumica and $1,604 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 140% 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: $28.00 in Strumica vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $186 vs $271 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 150% in total monthly costs ($889 vs $2,227 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 140% 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: $320 in Strumica versus $1,604 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 $219 in Strumica versus $607 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 45% 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 $889 in Strumica versus $2,227 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 150% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.