Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Zgorzelec and Lisbon

For one person, living is cheaper in Zgorzelec: $1,412 a month against $2,202 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $9,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Zgorzelec
🇵🇱 Poland
$1,412
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,202
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Zgorzelec 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 Zgorzelec and in Lisbon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,412 in Zgorzelec versus $2,202 in Lisbon.

  • Zgorzelec $1,412
  • Lisbon $2,202

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,062 in Zgorzelec versus $3,274 in Lisbon.

  • Zgorzelec $2,062
  • Lisbon $3,274

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,712 in Zgorzelec versus $4,346 in Lisbon.

  • Zgorzelec $2,712
  • Lisbon $4,346

Living in Zgorzelec costs roughly 36% less than in Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Zgorzelec 4% above, Lisbon 62% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zgorzelec
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.96 zł 34.83
$17.04 €15.15
-47.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.8 zł 197
$62.3 €55.4
-18.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.65 zł 29.70
$11.02 €9.80
-30.58%
Cappuccino
$3.09 zł 12.02
$3.12 €2.78
-0.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 zł 3.40
$2.27 €2.02
-61.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 zł 6.09
$1.74 €1.55
-9.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.49 zł 5.77
$3.42 €3.04
-56.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 zł 7.79
$3.74 €3.33
-46.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zgorzelec
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.91 zł 3.52
$1.17 €1.04
-22.22%
White Bread (500g)
$1.20 zł 4.67
$1.86 €1.66
-35.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.43 zł 5.54
$1.54 €1.37
-7.14%
Eggs
$3.60 zł 13.97
$4.06 €3.61
-11.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.70 zł 33.79
$12.91 €11.49
-32.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.13 zł 23.83
$7.90 €7.03
-22.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.18 zł 51.2
$17.64 €15.69
-25.28%
Apples (1kg)
$0.86 zł 3.32
$2.26 €2.01
-61.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 zł 6.04
$1.75 €1.55
-11.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.68 zł 6.53
$1.89 €1.68
-11.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 zł 5.81
$2.56 €2.27
-41.41%
Potato (1kg)
$0.66 zł 2.57
$1.85 €1.64
-64.32%
Onion (1kg)
$1.01 zł 3.91
$1.97 €1.75
-48.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.23 zł 4.76
$1.45 €1.29
-15.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 zł 2.68
$0.77 €0.69
-10.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 zł 18.35
$6.71 €5.97
-29.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.56 zł 29.36
$5.67 €5.04
33.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 zł 3.39
$1.37 €1.22
-36.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40 zł 5.45
$2.11 €1.88
-33.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Zgorzelec
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.05 zł 4.07
$2.32 €2.07
-54.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.83 zł 120
$44.43 €39.52
-30.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.23 zł 8.66
$3.95 €3.51
-43.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 zł 3.85
$1.05 €0.93
-5.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.86 zł 49.96
$17.15 €15.26
-25.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.67 zł 6.47
$2.19 €1.95
-23.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9K zł 119.9K
$33.8K €30.0K
-8.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K zł 103.9K
$38.3K €34.0K
-30.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zgorzelec
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$295 zł 1,147
$164 €146
80.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.65 zł 29.71
$18.48 €16.43
-58.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.94 zł 73.6
$32.96 €29.32
-42.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zgorzelec
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.09 zł 148
$45.87 €40.80
-16.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.82 zł 84.8
$18.68 €16.61
16.81%
Cinema Ticket
$7.55 zł 29.35
$9.75 €8.67
-22.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zgorzelec
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$483 zł 1,875
$684 €608
-29.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,429 zł 28.9K
$17.6K €15.7K
-57.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zgorzelec
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.2 zł 300
$104 €92.3
-25.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.43 zł 145
$46.20 €41.09
-18.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.4 zł 332
$99.7 €88.7
-14.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 zł 420
$125 €111
-13.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zgorzelec
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$603 zł 2,341
$1,589 €1,414
-62.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 zł 1,935
$1,169 €1,040
-57.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$994 zł 3,860
$2,851 €2,536
-65.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$815 zł 3,168
$1,993 €1,773
-59.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,924 zł 11.4K
$7,793 €6,932
-62.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,192 zł 8,515
$4,418 €3,930
-50.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zgorzelec
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,356 zł 5,270
$1,600 €1,423
-15.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.63
3.85
72.21%

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

Last update for Zgorzelec: October 19, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Zgorzelec
$498
Lisbon
$1.2K 135% $671
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zgorzelec
$322
Lisbon
$215 33.1% $107
Groceries & Markets
Zgorzelec
$205
Lisbon
$273 33.4% $68
Eating Out
Zgorzelec
$153
Lisbon
$247 61.8% $94
Clothing & Footwear
Zgorzelec
$139
Lisbon
$168 21.5% $30
Sport & Entertainment
Zgorzelec
$53
Lisbon
$65 22.9% $12
Getting Around
Zgorzelec
$42
Lisbon
$63 49.1% $21

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $603 in Zgorzelec and $1,589 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 18% 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: $51.0 in Zgorzelec vs $62.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $273 per month, with Zgorzelec cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇱 Zgorzelec
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🕒 Local time
14:30 2:30 PM
13:30 1:30 PM
1 h behind Zgorzelec
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
29,534
545,923 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to PLN – Polish Złoty Converter

Polish Złoty exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 3.89 PLN (1 PLN = 0.257 USD). 1 EUR = 4.37 PLN (1 PLN = 0.229 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Zgorzelec Lisbon 2,330 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Zgorzelec
  • 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
Zgorzelec vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Zgorzelec and in Lisbon?
Zgorzelec and Lisbon differ by about 56% in total monthly costs ($1,412 vs $2,202 including rent). Zgorzelec 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 18% lower in Lisbon. 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 Zgorzelec and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $603 in Zgorzelec versus $1,589 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 Zgorzelec and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $483 in Zgorzelec versus $684 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 33% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,412 in Zgorzelec versus $2,202 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Zgorzelec but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Zgorzelec the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Zgorzelec 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 Zgorzelec or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Zgorzelec 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: Zgorzelec or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Zgorzelec gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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