🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,905 in Aarschot versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,893 in Aarschot versus $3,311 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,881 in Aarschot versus $4,411 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Aarschot costs roughly 14% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Aarschot42% above, Lisbon65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aarschot
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.71€15.23
$15.91€13.69
11.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$92.2€79.3
$64.8€55.7
42.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.60€9.97
$10.51€9.04
10.37%
Cappuccino
$4.07€3.50
$2.87€2.47
41.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47€2.98
$2.24€1.93
54.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07€2.64
$1.50€1.29
104.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.99€4.29
$3.49€3.00
42.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73€3.21
$3.88€3.34
-3.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aarschot
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.37€1.18
$1.14€0.98
20.18%
White Bread(500g)
$2.79€2.40
$1.75€1.51
59.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.61€2.25
$1.76€1.51
48.30%
Eggs
$4.13€3.55
$3.22€2.77
28.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.08€10.39
$13.49€11.61
-10.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.73€10.09
$7.91€6.81
48.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.18€14.78
$15.87€13.65
8.25%
Apples(1kg)
$2.96€2.54
$2.31€1.99
28.14%
Banana(1kg)
$2.36€2.03
$1.70€1.46
38.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25€1.93
$2.01€1.73
11.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.67€2.30
$2.46€2.12
8.54%
Potato(1kg)
$2.22€1.91
$1.84€1.59
20.65%
Onion(1kg)
$1.69€1.46
$2.00€1.72
-15.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.43€1.23
$1.93€1.66
-25.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.72
$0.79€0.68
6.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.82€11.03
$6.61€5.68
93.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.90€5.94
$5.72€4.92
20.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85€1.59
$1.37€1.17
35.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.71
$2.97€2.56
-33.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Aarschot
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.91€2.51
$2.37€2.04
22.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$57.1€49.15
$45.56€39.19
25.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.91€5.09
$4.29€3.69
37.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.54€2.19
$0.82€0.70
209.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.51€29.69
$18.30€15.74
88.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.92€1.65
$2.06€1.78
-6.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.7K€26.4K
$34.3K€29.5K
-10.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.9K€24.9K
$39.3K€33.8K
-26.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aarschot
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$182€157
$148€127
23.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.76€18.72
$20.52€17.65
6.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.81€41.99
$39.61€34.08
23.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aarschot
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.92€33.48
$47.85€41.16
-18.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.18€14.78
$18.92€16.28
-9.20%
Cinema Ticket
$14.67€12.62
$9.18€7.90
59.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aarschot
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$660€568
$614€528
7.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.8K€11.8K
$16.0K€13.8K
-14.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aarschot
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€89.5
$105€90.0
-0.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.98€28.37
$42.06€36.18
-21.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.9€80.8
$94.0€80.8
-0.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131€112
$120€103
9.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aarschot
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$910€783
$1,628€1,400
-44.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$757€652
$1,255€1,080
-39.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,367€1,176
$3,030€2,607
-54.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,086€934
$2,020€1,738
-46.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,244€3,651
$7,800€6,709
-45.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,675€2,301
$4,273€3,675
-37.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aarschot
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,262€2,806
$1,603€1,379
103.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.27
3.81
-14.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Aarschot: May 31, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $910 in Aarschot and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Aarschot pays 103% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $92.0 in Aarschot vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $269 per month, with Lisbon 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
Aarschot vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Aarschot and Lisbon?
Aarschot and Lisbon differ by about 16% in total monthly costs ($1,905 vs $2,210 including rent). Aarschot is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Where can you earn more: Aarschot or Lisbon?
Aarschot pays 103% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Aarschot and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $910 in Aarschot versus $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Aarschot and Lisbon?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 18% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is eating out cheaper in Aarschot or Lisbon?
Dining out is cheaper in Aarschot – a meal for two runs $92.0 versus $65.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Aarschot or Lisbon?
At $1,905 in Aarschot versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Aarschot but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Aarschot the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Aarschot or Lisbon more family-friendly?
For families, Aarschot is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lisbon, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Aarschot or Lisbon?
Safety-wise, Aarschot 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Aarschot gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.