🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $894 in Strumica versus $2,296 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,257 in Strumica versus $3,376 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,620 in Strumica versus $4,457 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
$3.68MKD 197
$17.59€15.31
-79.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.66MKD 1,266
$62.9€54.7
-62.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.84MKD 206
$11.58€10.08
-66.84%
Cappuccino
$1.63MKD 87.1
$3.10€2.70
-47.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39MKD 74.3
$2.49€2.17
-44.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24MKD 66.6
$1.74€1.52
-28.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.93MKD 103
$3.48€3.03
-44.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01MKD 108
$3.44€3.00
-41.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Strumica
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.31MKD 70.1
$1.15€1.00
13.91%
White Bread(500g)
$0.77MKD 41.19
$1.91€1.66
-59.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.80MKD 96.2
$1.50€1.31
20.00%
Eggs
$2.19MKD 117
$3.98€3.47
-44.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.66MKD 463
$13.29€11.57
-34.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.42MKD 344
$8.01€6.97
-19.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.27MKD 550
$18.04€15.70
-43.07%
Apples(1kg)
$0.69MKD 36.71
$2.35€2.05
-70.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45MKD 77.4
$1.75€1.52
-17.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.19MKD 63.6
$1.85€1.61
-35.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.10MKD 112
$2.55€2.22
-17.65%
Potato(1kg)
$0.91MKD 48.53
$1.84€1.60
-50.54%
Onion(1kg)
$0.83MKD 44.17
$2.10€1.83
-60.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.60MKD 32.34
$1.49€1.29
-59.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62MKD 33.32
$0.82€0.71
-24.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.88MKD 154
$7.10€6.18
-59.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.77MKD 309
$5.91€5.14
-2.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.97MKD 52.1
$1.31€1.14
-25.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.20MKD 64.3
$2.13€1.86
-43.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Strumica
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.73MKD 39.32
$2.36€2.05
-69.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$46.62€40.57
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.11MKD 59.7
$4.08€3.55
-72.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.60MKD 31.88
$1.14€0.99
-47.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.96MKD 426
$17.09€14.88
-53.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.58MKD 84.7
$2.31€2.01
-31.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.2KMKD 2.0M
$34.1K€29.7K
9.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.8KMKD 1.5M
$41.4K€36.0K
-32.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Strumica
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$157MKD 8,419
$169€147
-6.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.02MKD 697
$19.33€16.83
-32.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.96MKD 1,015
$33.51€29.17
-43.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Strumica
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.68MKD 1,107
$48.84€42.51
-57.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.43€16.92
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.73MKD 414
$9.57€8.33
-19.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Strumica
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$372MKD 19.9K
$696€606
-46.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,799MKD 310.3K
$17.4K€15.1K
-66.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Strumica
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.4MKD 4,622
$105€91.7
-17.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.62MKD 2,013
$47.75€41.56
-21.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MKD 5,537
$101€87.5
2.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.1MKD 4,928
$124€108
-26.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Strumica
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$324MKD 17.3K
$1,662€1,446
-80.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$244MKD 13.0K
$1,246€1,085
-80.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$490MKD 26.2K
$2,965€2,580
-83.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$302MKD 16.1K
$2,049€1,783
-85.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,478MKD 79.1K
$7,834€6,819
-81.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$990MKD 53.0K
$4,464€3,886
-77.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Strumica
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$669MKD 35.8K
$1,632€1,420
-59.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4
3.78
5.82%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Strumica: September 14, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $324 in Strumica and $1,662 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 144% 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: $24.00 in Strumica vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $186 vs $277 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 in Lisbon?
Strumica and Lisbon differ by about 157% in total monthly costs ($894 vs $2,296 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, salaries run 144% 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 Strumica and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $324 in Strumica versus $1,662 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 49% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Strumica or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $894 per month in Strumica versus $2,296 in Lisbon – a 157% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $894 in Strumica versus $2,296 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 157% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.