Cost of Living Comparison Between Sunny Beach and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Sunny Beach and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,111 in Sunny Beach versus $2,291 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,671 in Sunny Beach versus $3,322 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,230 in Sunny Beach versus $4,354 in Lisbon.

Living in Sunny Beach costs roughly 52% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Sunny Beach is 17% below, Lisbon is 71% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sunny Beach
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.10 BGN 13.47
$16.19 €14.17
-49.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.93 BGN 69.8
$63.3 €55.4
-33.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.02 BGN 16.67
$10.32 €9.03
-2.91%
Cappuccino
$1.90 BGN 3.16
$2.83 €2.48
-32.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 BGN 2.20
$2.29 €2.00
-42.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 BGN 1.75
$1.58 €1.38
-33.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.80 BGN 2.99
$3.40 €2.98
-47.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82 BGN 3.03
$4.03 €3.52
-54.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sunny Beach
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.04 BGN 3.39
$1.09 €0.95
87.16%
White Bread (500g)
$0.62 BGN 1.03
$1.75 €1.53
-64.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.76 BGN 4.60
$1.76 €1.54
56.82%
Eggs
$3.92 BGN 6.52
$3.17 €2.77
23.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.00 BGN 21.62
$13.19 €11.54
-1.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.33 BGN 13.86
$7.97 €6.97
4.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.74 BGN 21.19
$15.53 €13.59
-17.97%
Apples (1kg)
$1.60 BGN 2.66
$2.37 €2.07
-32.49%
Banana (1kg)
$2.20 BGN 3.65
$1.71 €1.49
28.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.75 BGN 2.91
$2.01 €1.76
-12.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.74 BGN 4.56
$2.43 €2.13
12.76%
Potato (1kg)
$1.19 BGN 1.98
$1.76 €1.54
-32.39%
Onion (1kg)
$1.36 BGN 2.26
$2.03 €1.78
-33.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.22 BGN 2.04
$1.92 €1.68
-36.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 BGN 1.32
$0.85 €0.74
-7.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.70 BGN 6.15
$6.58 €5.76
-43.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.96 BGN 9.91
$5.58 €4.88
6.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 BGN 1.98
$1.33 €1.17
-10.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 BGN 2.82
$2.97 €2.60
-42.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Sunny Beach
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.20 BGN 1.99
$2.28 €1.99
-47.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.06 BGN 45.01
$45.79 €40.06
-40.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 BGN 1.93
$4.23 €3.70
-72.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.61 BGN 1.01
$0.81 €0.71
-24.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.03 BGN 20.01
$18.44 €16.13
-34.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.48 BGN 2.47
$2.08 €1.82
-28.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.5K BGN 62.3K
$34.7K €30.3K
8.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K BGN 57.4K
$39.2K €34.3K
-11.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sunny Beach
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$117 BGN 195
$148 €130
-20.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.33 BGN 28.84
$20.46 €17.90
-15.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.38 BGN 22.26
$39.56 €34.61
-66.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sunny Beach
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.54 BGN 49.14
$47.99 €41.99
-38.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.59 BGN 24.27
$18.60 €16.27
-21.56%
Cinema Ticket
$6.88 BGN 11.44
$9.22 €8.07
-25.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sunny Beach
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$328 BGN 545
$616 €539
-46.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,492 BGN 9,136
$16.4K €14.4K
-66.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sunny Beach
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.40 BGN 57.2
$103 €89.9
-66.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.72 BGN 49.43
$41.74 €36.52
-28.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$125 BGN 209
$94.8 €82.9
32.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 BGN 130
$122 €107
-36.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sunny Beach
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$598 BGN 995
$1,633 €1,428
-63.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$361 BGN 600
$1,232 €1,078
-70.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$701 BGN 1,166
$3,098 €2,711
-77.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$537 BGN 893
$2,031 €1,777
-73.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,367 BGN 2,275
$7,831 €6,851
-82.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,129 BGN 1,878
$4,389 €3,840
-74.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sunny Beach
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$939 BGN 1,563
$1,607 €1,406
-41.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.1
3.81
33.86%

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

Last update for Sunny Beach: July 13, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $598 in Sunny Beach and $1,633 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 71% 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: $42.00 in Sunny Beach vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $256 vs $267 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 106% in total monthly costs ($1,111 vs $2,291 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 71% 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: $598 in Sunny Beach versus $1,633 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 Sunny Beach and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $328 in Sunny Beach versus $616 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 4% 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 $1,111 in Sunny Beach versus $2,291 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 106% 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

Similar cities