🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,039 in Targu Jiu versus $2,243 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,627 in Targu Jiu versus $3,315 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,214 in Targu Jiu versus $4,387 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Targu Jiu costs roughly 54% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Targu Jiu is 22% below, Lisbon is 67% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Targu Jiu
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.93RON 60.5
$15.73€13.42
-11.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.5RON 297
$63.2€53.9
8.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.09RON 35.10
$10.32€8.80
-21.61%
Cappuccino
$3.44RON 14.93
$2.81€2.40
22.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17RON 5.07
$2.33€1.99
-49.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29RON 9.94
$1.51€1.29
51.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.52RON 15.29
$3.37€2.87
4.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85RON 16.71
$3.91€3.34
-1.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Targu Jiu
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.75RON 7.58
$1.08€0.92
62.04%
White Bread(500g)
$1.43RON 6.20
$1.75€1.49
-18.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92RON 8.32
$1.75€1.50
9.71%
Eggs
$3.08RON 13.38
$3.10€2.64
-0.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.97RON 34.59
$13.28€11.33
-39.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.30RON 14.31
$7.85€6.70
-57.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.05RON 34.95
$16.05€13.69
-49.84%
Apples(1kg)
$1.02RON 4.43
$2.39€2.04
-57.32%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64RON 7.14
$1.72€1.47
-4.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.25RON 5.41
$1.97€1.68
-36.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37RON 5.93
$2.55€2.17
-46.27%
Potato(1kg)
$0.94RON 4.08
$1.79€1.53
-47.49%
Onion(1kg)
$0.96RON 4.17
$1.97€1.68
-51.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.70RON 3.06
$1.96€1.67
-64.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56RON 2.45
$0.84€0.71
-33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.66RON 24.55
$6.82€5.82
-17.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.24RON 14.06
$5.85€4.99
-44.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.94RON 4.06
$1.38€1.18
-31.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12RON 4.86
$2.92€2.49
-61.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Targu Jiu
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.72RON 3.11
$2.29€1.95
-68.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.69RON 85.4
$46.88€39.99
-58.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.70RON 3.05
$4.12€3.51
-83.01%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.61RON 2.64
$0.81€0.69
-24.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.01RON 30.42
$18.94€16.16
-62.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.67RON 7.25
$2.09€1.78
-20.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.8KRON 125.2K
$35.1K€30.0K
-17.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.9KRON 129.8K
$39.7K€33.9K
-24.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Targu Jiu
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$178RON 771
$150€128
18.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.41RON 27.82
$20.49€17.48
-68.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.25RON 44.49
$39.15€33.40
-73.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Targu Jiu
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.67RON 181
$49.65€42.35
-16.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.38RON 84.1
$18.47€15.76
4.93%
Cinema Ticket
$9.38RON 40.71
$9.20€7.84
1.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Targu Jiu
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$670RON 2,906
$624€533
7.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.5KRON 63.0K
$15.9K€13.6K
-8.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Targu Jiu
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8RON 242
$102€87.2
-45.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.14RON 118
$40.88€34.87
-33.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$56.8RON 247
$95.7€81.6
-40.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.7RON 407
$121€103
-22.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Targu Jiu
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$375RON 1,627
$1,653€1,410
-77.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$250RON 1,084
$1,233€1,051
-79.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$527RON 2,287
$3,043€2,596
-82.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$440RON 1,911
$2,059€1,756
-78.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,788RON 12.1K
$7,879€6,720
-64.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,303€3,671
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Targu Jiu
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$565RON 2,454
$1,566€1,336
-63.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.1
3.81
86.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Targu Jiu: April 21, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $375 in Targu Jiu and $1,653 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 177% 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: $68 in Targu Jiu vs $63 in Lisbon. Groceries flip the comparison at $171 vs $270, with Targu Jiu cheaper for home cooking.
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
Targu Jiu vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Targu Jiu and Lisbon?
Targu Jiu and Lisbon differ by about 116% in total monthly costs ($1,039 vs $2,243 including rent). Targu Jiu 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 177% 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 Targu Jiu and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $375 in Targu Jiu 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 Targu Jiu and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $670 in Targu Jiu 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 58% 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 $1,039 in Targu Jiu versus $2,243 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Targu Jiu but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Targu Jiu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Targu Jiu 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 Targu Jiu or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Targu Jiu 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: Targu Jiu or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Targu Jiu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 116% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.