🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,405 in Szczecin versus $2,291 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,031 in Szczecin versus $3,322 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,657 in Szczecin versus $4,354 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Szczecin costs roughly 39% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Szczecin5% above, Lisbon71% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Szczecin
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.39zł 35.60
$16.19€14.15
-42.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.78zł 185
$63.3€55.3
-22.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.52zł 32.29
$10.32€9.02
-17.44%
Cappuccino
$3.35zł 12.69
$2.83€2.47
18.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85zł 7.00
$2.29€2.00
-19.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42zł 5.37
$1.58€1.38
-10.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.29zł 12.46
$3.40€2.97
-3.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19zł 12.09
$4.03€3.52
-20.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Szczecin
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.96zł 3.65
$1.09€0.95
-11.93%
White Bread(500g)
$1.33zł 5.04
$1.75€1.53
-24.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.99zł 3.77
$1.76€1.54
-43.75%
Eggs
$3.28zł 12.44
$3.17€2.77
3.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.42zł 35.69
$13.19€11.53
-28.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.36zł 24.10
$7.97€6.96
-20.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.98zł 49.18
$15.53€13.57
-16.42%
Apples(1kg)
$0.89zł 3.38
$2.37€2.07
-62.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79zł 6.77
$1.71€1.49
4.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.39zł 5.26
$2.01€1.75
-30.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.15zł 8.15
$2.43€2.12
-11.52%
Potato(1kg)
$0.89zł 3.39
$1.76€1.54
-49.43%
Onion(1kg)
$1.08zł 4.08
$2.03€1.78
-46.80%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02zł 3.87
$1.92€1.68
-46.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56zł 2.14
$0.85€0.74
-34.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.40zł 20.45
$6.58€5.75
-17.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.41zł 24.30
$5.58€4.87
14.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09zł 4.13
$1.33€1.16
-18.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44zł 5.46
$2.97€2.60
-51.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Szczecin
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79zł 3.01
$2.28€1.99
-65.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$27.49zł 104
$45.79€40.01
-39.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.15zł 8.13
$4.23€3.69
-49.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.01zł 3.83
$0.81€0.71
24.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.67zł 51.8
$18.44€16.11
-25.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.75zł 6.63
$2.08€1.82
-15.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.4Kzł 126.7K
$34.7K€30.3K
-3.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.8Kzł 116.9K
$39.2K€34.2K
-21.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Szczecin
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$257zł 974
$148€129
73.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.70zł 40.56
$20.46€17.88
-47.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.65zł 66.9
$39.56€34.56
-55.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Szczecin
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.13zł 114
$47.99€41.93
-37.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.53zł 62.7
$18.60€16.25
-11.13%
Cinema Ticket
$6.85zł 25.95
$9.22€8.06
-25.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Szczecin
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$376zł 1,424
$616€538
-39.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,122zł 30.8K
$16.4K€14.4K
-50.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Szczecin
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.9zł 216
$103€89.7
-44.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.91zł 117
$41.74€36.47
-25.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.2zł 281
$94.8€82.8
-21.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.2zł 319
$122€107
-31.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Szczecin
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$658zł 2,495
$1,633€1,426
-59.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$527zł 1,999
$1,232€1,077
-57.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$981zł 3,718
$3,098€2,707
-68.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$817zł 3,097
$2,031€1,775
-59.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,435zł 13.0K
$7,831€6,842
-56.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,448zł 9,280
$4,389€3,835
-44.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Szczecin
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,622zł 6,150
$1,607€1,404
0.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.36
3.81
66.93%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Szczecin: July 14, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $658 in Szczecin and $1,633 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Szczecin pays 1% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $49.00 in Szczecin vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $207 vs $267 per month, with Szczecin 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
Szczecin vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Szczecin and in Lisbon?
Szczecin and Lisbon differ by about 63% in total monthly costs ($1,405 vs $2,291 including rent). Szczecin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Szczecin or Lisbon?
Average pay runs 1% higher in Szczecin, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Szczecin and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $658 in Szczecin 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 Szczecin and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $376 in Szczecin 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 29% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,405 in Szczecin versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Szczecin but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Szczecin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Szczecin 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 Szczecin or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Szczecin 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: Szczecin or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Szczecin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 63% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.