Cost of Living Comparison Between Szeged and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Szeged and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,055 in Szeged versus $2,243 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,657 in Szeged versus $3,315 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,258 in Szeged versus $4,387 in Lisbon.

Living in Szeged costs roughly 53% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Szeged is 21% below, Lisbon is 67% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Szeged
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.82 Ft 2,432
$15.73 €13.42
-50.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.23 Ft 14.1K
$63.2 €53.9
-28.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.65 Ft 1,759
$10.32 €8.80
-45.25%
Cappuccino
$1.96 Ft 609
$2.81 €2.40
-30.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36 Ft 423
$2.33 €1.99
-41.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98 Ft 305
$1.51 €1.29
-35.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.33 Ft 724
$3.37 €2.87
-30.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 Ft 672
$3.91 €3.34
-44.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Szeged
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 Ft 344
$1.08 €0.92
2.78%
White Bread (500g)
$1.53 Ft 477
$1.75 €1.49
-12.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 Ft 575
$1.75 €1.50
5.71%
Eggs
$2.95 Ft 919
$3.10 €2.64
-4.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.82 Ft 2,435
$13.28 €11.33
-41.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.62 Ft 1,749
$7.85 €6.70
-28.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.94 Ft 3,403
$16.05 €13.69
-31.84%
Apples (1kg)
$1.92 Ft 598
$2.39 €2.04
-19.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.85 Ft 575
$1.72 €1.47
7.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.04 Ft 634
$1.97 €1.68
3.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.81 Ft 875
$2.55 €2.17
10.20%
Potato (1kg)
$1.05 Ft 328
$1.79 €1.53
-41.34%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 Ft 371
$1.97 €1.68
-39.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 Ft 450
$1.96 €1.67
-26.02%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 Ft 149
$0.84 €0.71
-42.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.14 Ft 2,221
$6.82 €5.82
4.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.18 Ft 1,612
$5.85 €4.99
-11.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.00 Ft 312
$1.38 €1.18
-27.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.20 Ft 372
$2.92 €2.49
-58.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Szeged
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.56 Ft 486
$2.29 €1.95
-31.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.50 Ft 8,555
$46.88 €39.99
-41.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.78 Ft 864
$4.12 €3.51
-32.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.27 Ft 396
$0.81 €0.69
56.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.38 Ft 5,408
$18.94 €16.16
-8.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.75 Ft 544
$2.09 €1.78
-16.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.8K Ft 8.0M
$35.1K €30.0K
-26.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K Ft 8.0M
$39.7K €33.9K
-35.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Szeged
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$106 Ft 33.0K
$150 €128
-29.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.82 Ft 7,723
$20.49 €17.48
21.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.19 Ft 5,970
$39.15 €33.40
-50.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Szeged
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.56 Ft 12.6K
$49.65 €42.35
-18.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.08 Ft 6,249
$18.47 €15.76
8.72%
Cinema Ticket
$7.84 Ft 2,440
$9.20 €7.84
-14.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Szeged
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$223 Ft 69.5K
$624 €533
-64.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,248 Ft 1.9M
$15.9K €13.6K
-60.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Szeged
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.1 Ft 27.4K
$102 €87.2
-13.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.98 Ft 8,084
$40.88 €34.87
-36.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.8 Ft 26.7K
$95.7 €81.6
-10.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 Ft 33.1K
$121 €103
-12.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Szeged
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$432 Ft 134.5K
$1,653 €1,410
-73.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$339 Ft 105.4K
$1,233 €1,051
-72.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$655 Ft 203.9K
$3,043 €2,596
-78.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$536 Ft 166.9K
$2,059 €1,756
-73.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,360 Ft 1.0M
$7,879 €6,720
-57.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,468 Ft 767.9K
$4,303 €3,671
-42.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Szeged
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,295 Ft 402.8K
$1,566 €1,336
-17.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.85
3.81
53.54%

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

Last update for Szeged: April 19, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $432 in Szeged and $1,653 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 21% 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: $45 in Szeged vs $63 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $208 vs $270 per month, with Szeged 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
Szeged vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Szeged and Lisbon?
Szeged and Lisbon differ by about 113% in total monthly costs ($1,055 vs $2,243 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, Lisbon earns 21% less. 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 Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $432 in Szeged versus $1,653 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 $223 in Szeged versus $624 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 30% 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 $1,055 in Szeged versus $2,243 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 113% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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