Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Szeged and Lisbon

For one person, living is cheaper in Szeged: $1,223 a month against $2,210 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $11,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Szeged, Hungary
Lisbon, Portugal
Szeged
🇭🇺 Hungary
$1,223
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,210
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Szeged and in Lisbon

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Szeged and in Lisbon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,223 in Szeged versus $2,210 in Lisbon.

  • Szeged $1,223
  • Lisbon $2,210

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,918 in Szeged versus $3,275 in Lisbon.

  • Szeged $1,918
  • Lisbon $3,275

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,613 in Szeged versus $4,341 in Lisbon.

  • Szeged $2,613
  • Lisbon $4,341

Living in Szeged costs roughly 45% less than in Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Szeged is 10% below, Lisbon is 62% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Szeged
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.23 Ft 3,044
$16.65 €14.95
-44.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.0 Ft 19.1K
$61.7 €55.5
-6.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.04 Ft 2,981
$11.36 €10.20
-20.42%
Cappuccino
$2.37 Ft 782
$2.97 €2.67
-20.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 Ft 519
$2.29 €2.06
-31.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 Ft 432
$1.74 €1.56
-24.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.23 Ft 737
$3.40 €3.06
-34.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 Ft 760
$3.31 €2.97
-30.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Szeged
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 Ft 390
$1.16 €1.04
1.72%
White Bread (500g)
$1.35 Ft 446
$1.91 €1.72
-29.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.43 Ft 803
$1.51 €1.36
60.93%
Eggs
$3.56 Ft 1,175
$4.02 €3.61
-11.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.68 Ft 3,520
$12.94 €11.62
-17.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.58 Ft 2,169
$7.77 €6.98
-15.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.85 Ft 5,225
$17.76 €15.95
-10.75%
Apples (1kg)
$2.19 Ft 720
$2.30 €2.07
-4.78%
Banana (1kg)
$2.25 Ft 742
$1.73 €1.56
30.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.00 Ft 658
$1.86 €1.67
7.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.34 Ft 1,100
$2.59 €2.33
28.96%
Potato (1kg)
$1.03 Ft 338
$1.82 €1.64
-43.41%
Onion (1kg)
$1.04 Ft 343
$1.97 €1.77
-47.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.59 Ft 525
$1.47 €1.32
8.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 Ft 165
$0.72 €0.65
-30.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.94 Ft 2,616
$6.58 €5.91
20.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.18 Ft 1,706
$5.61 €5.04
-7.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 Ft 405
$1.36 €1.22
-9.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 Ft 651
$2.14 €1.92
-7.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Szeged
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.71 Ft 564
$2.33 €2.10
-26.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.69 Ft 9,457
$44.68 €40.14
-35.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 Ft 999
$3.85 €3.46
-21.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.64 Ft 542
$1.07 €0.96
53.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.32 Ft 6,039
$16.46 €14.79
11.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.82 Ft 599
$2.20 €1.98
-17.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.9K Ft 8.9M
$34.2K €30.7K
-21.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5K Ft 11.7M
$38.7K €34.8K
-8.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Szeged
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$128 Ft 42.1K
$161 €145
-20.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.90 Ft 7,221
$18.41 €16.54
18.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.74 Ft 6,509
$32.74 €29.41
-39.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Szeged
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.5 Ft 17.0K
$44.55 €40.02
15.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.38 Ft 9,687
$19.10 €17.16
53.82%
Cinema Ticket
$8.64 Ft 2,849
$9.60 €8.62
-10.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Szeged
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$250 Ft 82.4K
$668 €600
-62.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,580 Ft 2.2M
$17.6K €15.8K
-62.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Szeged
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$112 Ft 37.0K
$102 €91.6
10.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.50 Ft 10.7K
$44.46 €39.94
-26.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.6 Ft 30.8K
$98.5 €88.5
-5.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 Ft 36.4K
$124 €111
-10.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Szeged
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$518 Ft 170.8K
$1,608 €1,445
-67.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$375 Ft 123.7K
$1,190 €1,069
-68.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$739 Ft 243.6K
$2,812 €2,526
-73.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$615 Ft 202.9K
$2,013 €1,808
-69.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,210 Ft 1.1M
$7,839 €7,042
-59.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,316 Ft 763.7K
$4,576 €4,110
-49.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Szeged
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,224 Ft 403.6K
$1,575 €1,415
-22.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.67
3.85
73.25%

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

Last update for Szeged: October 26, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Szeged
$375
Lisbon
$1.2K 217% $815
Groceries & Markets
Szeged
$249
Lisbon
$272 9.4% $23
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Szeged
$169
Lisbon
$212 25.4% $43
Clothing & Footwear
Szeged
$157
Lisbon
$166 5.7% $9
Eating Out
Szeged
$157
Lisbon
$243 54.8% $86
Sport & Entertainment
Szeged
$69
Lisbon
$64 7.3% $5
Getting Around
Szeged
$47
Lisbon
$63 35.1% $16

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $518 in Szeged and $1,608 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 29% 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: $58 in Szeged vs $62 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $272 per month, with Szeged cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇭🇺 Szeged
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🕒 Local time
13:10 1:10 PM
12:10 12:10 PM
1 h behind Szeged
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
157,930
545,923 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to HUF – Hungarian Forint Converter

Hungarian Forint exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 330 HUF (1,000 HUF = 3.03 USD). 1 EUR = 367 HUF (1,000 HUF = 2.73 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 0.898 EUR (1 EUR = 1.11 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Szeged Lisbon 2,530 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Szeged
  • Lisbon

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Szeged vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Szeged and in Lisbon?
Szeged and Lisbon differ by about 81% in total monthly costs ($1,223 vs $2,210 including rent). Szeged 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 22% lower in Szeged. 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 Szeged and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $518 in Szeged versus $1,608 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 Szeged and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $250 in Szeged versus $668 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 9% 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 $1,223 in Szeged versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Szeged but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Szeged the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Szeged 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 Szeged or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Szeged 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: Szeged or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Szeged gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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