Cost of Living Comparison Between Žalec and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Žalec and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,617 in Žalec versus $2,227 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,364 in Žalec versus $3,305 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,110 in Žalec versus $4,384 in Lisbon.

Living in Žalec costs roughly 27% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Žalec 21% above, Lisbon 66% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Žalec
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.50 €10.70
$16.17 €13.84
-22.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.91 €35.02
$64.6 €55.3
-36.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.12 €6.95
$10.38 €8.88
-21.77%
Cappuccino
$1.93 €1.65
$2.77 €2.37
-30.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04 €2.61
$2.25 €1.92
35.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 €1.45
$1.57 €1.35
7.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.45 €2.95
$3.49 €2.99
-1.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 €2.43
$4.00 €3.43
-29.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Žalec
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 €1.31
$1.08 €0.93
41.67%
White Bread (500g)
$2.15 €1.84
$1.74 €1.49
23.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 €1.40
$1.74 €1.49
-5.75%
Eggs
$3.82 €3.27
$3.18 €2.72
20.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.56 €9.89
$13.43 €11.50
-13.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.51 €8.14
$7.99 €6.84
19.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.02 €11.14
$16.09 €13.77
-19.08%
Apples (1kg)
$1.18 €1.01
$2.28 €1.95
-48.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 €1.29
$1.72 €1.48
-12.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.03 €1.73
$1.94 €1.66
4.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.96 €2.53
$2.54 €2.18
16.54%
Potato (1kg)
$1.23 €1.06
$1.83 €1.57
-32.79%
Onion (1kg)
$0.89 €0.76
$2.04 €1.75
-56.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.64 €1.40
$1.98 €1.69
-17.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 €0.63
$0.85 €0.73
-12.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.84 €5.00
$6.85 €5.87
-14.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.86 €5.87
$5.78 €4.94
18.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.40 €1.20
$1.37 €1.18
2.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 €1.76
$2.90 €2.48
-29.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Žalec
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.43 €1.22
$2.28 €1.95
-37.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$32.21 €27.58
$46.84 €40.10
-31.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.00 €1.71
$4.08 €3.49
-50.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.17 €1.00
$0.82 €0.70
42.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.01 €17.13
$18.27 €15.64
9.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.67 €1.43
$2.01 €1.72
-16.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.4K €25.1K
$35.3K €30.2K
-16.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K €22.7K
$38.5K €32.9K
-31.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Žalec
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$283 €242
$145 €124
94.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.78 €16.08
$20.96 €17.94
-10.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.39 €24.30
$40.05 €34.29
-29.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Žalec
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$66.2 €56.6
$48.79 €41.76
35.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.69 €16.00
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.12 €7.80
$9.06 €7.76
0.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Žalec
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$557 €477
$607 €519
-8.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.1K €12.1K
$16.3K €14.0K
-13.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Žalec
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$98.2 €84.0
$105 €89.6
-6.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.01 €31.68
$40.95 €35.06
-9.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 €88.7
$93.6 €80.1
10.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 €107
$119 €101
5.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Žalec
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$655 €560
$1,604 €1,373
-59.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$543 €465
$1,236 €1,058
-56.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,104 €945
$3,046 €2,607
-63.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$970 €830
$2,057 €1,761
-52.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,521 €3,014
$7,709 €6,599
-54.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,576 €3,061
$4,266 €3,652
-16.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Žalec
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,555 €1,331
$1,584 €1,356
-1.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.84
3.81
0.79%

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

Last update for Žalec: April 28, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $655 in Žalec and $1,604 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 2% 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: $41.00 in Žalec vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $264 vs $271 per month, with Žalec 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
Žalec vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Žalec and Lisbon?
Žalec and Lisbon differ by about 38% in total monthly costs ($1,617 vs $2,227 including rent). Žalec 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 2% 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 Žalec and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $655 in Žalec versus $1,604 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 Žalec and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $557 in Žalec versus $607 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 3% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,617 in Žalec versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Žalec but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Žalec the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Žalec 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 Žalec or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Žalec 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: Žalec or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Žalec gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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