Cost of Living Comparison Between Szczecin and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Szczecin and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,408 in Szczecin versus $2,210 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,007 in Szczecin versus $3,311 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,606 in Szczecin versus $4,411 in Lisbon.

Living in Szczecin costs roughly 36% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Szczecin 5% above, Lisbon 65% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Szczecin
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.33 zł 34.08
$15.91 €13.70
-41.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.78 zł 182
$64.8 €55.8
-23.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.76 zł 31.98
$10.51 €9.05
-16.65%
Cappuccino
$3.33 zł 12.15
$2.87 €2.47
16.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 zł 6.81
$2.24 €1.93
-16.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 zł 5.16
$1.50 €1.30
-6.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.32 zł 12.13
$3.49 €3.01
-4.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 zł 11.62
$3.88 €3.34
-18.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Szczecin
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.96 zł 3.51
$1.14 €0.98
-15.79%
White Bread (500g)
$1.28 zł 4.68
$1.75 €1.51
-26.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.99 zł 3.60
$1.76 €1.51
-43.75%
Eggs
$3.34 zł 12.18
$3.22 €2.77
3.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.64 zł 35.22
$13.49 €11.62
-28.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.39 zł 23.33
$7.91 €6.81
-19.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.30 zł 48.58
$15.87 €13.67
-16.19%
Apples (1kg)
$0.89 zł 3.26
$2.31 €1.99
-61.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 zł 6.50
$1.70 €1.46
4.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.39 zł 5.09
$2.01 €1.73
-30.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 zł 7.97
$2.46 €2.12
-11.38%
Potato (1kg)
$0.89 zł 3.24
$1.84 €1.59
-51.63%
Onion (1kg)
$1.07 zł 3.90
$2.00 €1.72
-46.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 zł 3.77
$1.93 €1.66
-46.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 zł 2.20
$0.79 €0.68
-24.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.32 zł 19.44
$6.61 €5.69
-19.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.03 zł 25.67
$5.72 €4.93
22.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 zł 4.15
$1.37 €1.18
-16.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 zł 5.38
$2.97 €2.56
-50.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Szczecin
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.82 zł 3.01
$2.37 €2.04
-65.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.10 zł 99.0
$45.56 €39.23
-40.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.20 zł 8.04
$4.29 €3.69
-48.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.97 zł 3.55
$0.82 €0.70
18.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.44 zł 49.09
$18.30 €15.76
-26.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.67 zł 6.10
$2.06 €1.78
-18.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.7K zł 119.6K
$34.3K €29.5K
-4.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.7K zł 112.2K
$39.3K €33.8K
-21.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Szczecin
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$253 zł 924
$148 €127
70.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.70 zł 39.07
$20.52 €17.67
-47.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.06 zł 62.3
$39.61 €34.11
-56.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Szczecin
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.59 zł 108
$47.85 €41.20
-38.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.99 zł 58.4
$18.92 €16.29
-15.49%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 zł 25.23
$9.18 €7.91
-24.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Szczecin
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$379 zł 1,386
$614 €529
-38.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,219 zł 30.0K
$16.0K €13.8K
-48.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Szczecin
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.4 zł 206
$105 €90.1
-46.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.67 zł 112
$42.06 €36.22
-27.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.4 zł 265
$94.0 €80.9
-22.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.1 zł 311
$120 €103
-28.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Szczecin
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$657 zł 2,399
$1,628 €1,402
-59.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$534 zł 1,950
$1,255 €1,081
-57.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 zł 3,519
$3,030 €2,609
-68.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$811 zł 2,962
$2,020 €1,740
-59.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,413 zł 12.5K
$7,800 €6,716
-56.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,566 zł 9,374
$4,273 €3,679
-39.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Szczecin
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,660 zł 6,064
$1,603 €1,381
3.52%
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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $657 in Szczecin and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Szczecin pays 4% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $50.0 in Szczecin vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $211 vs $269 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 Lisbon?
Szczecin and Lisbon differ by about 57% in total monthly costs ($1,408 vs $2,210 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?
Szczecin pays 4% more on average, 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 Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $657 in Szczecin versus $1,628 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 $379 in Szczecin versus $614 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 28% 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 $1,408 in Szczecin versus $2,210 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 57% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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