🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,081 in Sunny Beach versus $2,316 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,619 in Sunny Beach versus $3,361 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,157 in Sunny Beach versus $4,405 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Sunny Beach costs roughly 53% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Sunny Beach is 21% below, Lisbon is 69% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sunny Beach
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.41BGN 13.99
$17.30€14.87
-51.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.69BGN 79.3
$63.3€54.4
-24.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.04BGN 16.71
$11.39€9.79
-11.85%
Cappuccino
$2.90BGN 4.82
$3.19€2.74
-9.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76BGN 2.93
$2.45€2.10
-28.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59BGN 2.64
$1.76€1.52
-9.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.39BGN 3.98
$3.59€3.09
-33.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76BGN 2.92
$3.39€2.92
-48.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sunny Beach
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.80BGN 2.99
$1.24€1.06
45.16%
White Bread(500g)
$0.83BGN 1.38
$1.98€1.71
-58.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.29BGN 3.80
$1.52€1.31
50.66%
Eggs
$3.88BGN 6.45
$4.04€3.47
-3.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.84BGN 14.70
$13.54€11.64
-34.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.77BGN 14.58
$8.39€7.21
4.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.56BGN 24.21
$18.25€15.69
-20.22%
Apples(1kg)
$1.78BGN 2.97
$2.29€1.97
-22.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.87BGN 3.12
$1.74€1.50
7.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.07BGN 3.45
$1.86€1.60
11.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.63BGN 4.37
$2.63€2.26
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.13BGN 1.88
$1.92€1.65
-41.15%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12BGN 1.87
$2.09€1.80
-46.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18BGN 1.96
$1.44€1.24
-18.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75BGN 1.25
$0.84€0.72
-10.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.05BGN 6.74
$6.78€5.83
-40.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.31BGN 10.49
$5.71€4.91
10.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22BGN 2.03
$1.38€1.18
-11.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05BGN 3.40
$2.22€1.91
-7.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Sunny Beach
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.16BGN 1.94
$2.40€2.06
-51.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$46.78€40.22
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33BGN 2.21
$4.17€3.59
-68.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.63BGN 1.06
$1.14€0.98
-44.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.88BGN 18.11
$17.68€15.20
-38.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.59BGN 2.64
$2.32€2.00
-31.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.1KBGN 51.8K
$35.3K€30.4K
-11.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2KBGN 42.0K
$41.4K€35.6K
-39.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sunny Beach
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$117BGN 195
$170€146
-31.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.67BGN 32.73
$19.34€16.62
1.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.78BGN 26.26
$33.64€28.92
-53.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sunny Beach
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$48.10€41.35
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.90€17.11
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.42BGN 15.67
$9.92€8.53
-5.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sunny Beach
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$541BGN 899
$717€617
-24.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,768BGN 9,595
$17.5K€15.0K
-67.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sunny Beach
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.75BGN 57.8
$105€90.1
-66.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.51BGN 72.4
$46.95€40.36
-7.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.4BGN 164
$103€88.9
-4.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108BGN 179
$124€107
-13.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sunny Beach
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$600BGN 999
$1,677€1,441
-64.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$362BGN 602
$1,271€1,093
-71.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$708BGN 1,177
$2,985€2,566
-76.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$543BGN 903
$1,992€1,713
-72.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,397BGN 2,325
$7,826€6,728
-82.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,168BGN 1,943
$4,658€4,004
-74.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sunny Beach
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$962BGN 1,600
$1,583€1,361
-39.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.1
3.79
-18.21%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sunny Beach: August 30, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $600 in Sunny Beach and $1,677 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 65% 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: $48.00 in Sunny Beach vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $283 per month, with Sunny Beach 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
Sunny Beach vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Sunny Beach and in Lisbon?
Sunny Beach and Lisbon differ by about 114% in total monthly costs ($1,081 vs $2,316 including rent). Sunny Beach 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 65% 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 Sunny Beach and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $600 in Sunny Beach versus $1,677 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 14% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Sunny Beach or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $1,081 per month in Sunny Beach versus $2,316 in Lisbon – a 114% 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 $1,081 in Sunny Beach versus $2,316 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sunny Beach but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Sunny Beach the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Sunny Beach 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 Sunny Beach or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Sunny Beach 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: Sunny Beach or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Sunny Beach gentler on the wallet – expenses run 114% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Sunny Beach vs other spots: cost of living compared