🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,824 in Alice Springs versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,629 in Alice Springs versus $3,311 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,433 in Alice Springs versus $4,411 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Alice Springs costs roughly 17% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Alice Springs36% above, Lisbon65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Alice Springs
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.83A$17.87
$15.91€13.69
-19.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.3A$109
$64.8€55.7
20.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.61A$13.39
$10.51€9.04
-8.56%
Cappuccino
$3.76A$5.23
$2.87€2.47
31.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52A$3.51
$2.24€1.93
12.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59A$3.60
$1.50€1.29
72.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.07A$8.45
$3.49€3.00
73.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.27A$12.92
$3.88€3.34
138.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Alice Springs
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.39A$1.93
$1.14€0.98
21.93%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16A$3.00
$1.75€1.51
23.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.96A$2.73
$1.76€1.51
11.36%
Eggs
$4.71A$6.56
$3.22€2.77
46.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.56A$11.92
$13.49€11.61
-36.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.46A$17.37
$7.91€6.81
57.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.42A$18.70
$15.87€13.65
-15.44%
Apples(1kg)
$3.48A$4.84
$2.31€1.99
50.65%
Banana(1kg)
$4.12A$5.75
$1.70€1.46
142.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.00A$5.58
$2.01€1.73
99.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$7.27A$10.14
$2.46€2.12
195.53%
Potato(1kg)
$3.27A$4.55
$1.84€1.59
77.72%
Onion(1kg)
$2.39A$3.33
$2.00€1.72
19.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.11A$2.93
$1.93€1.66
9.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.69A$2.35
$0.79€0.68
113.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.29A$24.10
$6.61€5.68
161.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.93A$22.20
$5.72€4.92
178.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.13A$4.36
$1.37€1.17
128.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.36A$7.47
$2.97€2.56
80.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Alice Springs
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.62A$2.25
$2.37€2.04
-31.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$64.9A$90.4
$45.56€39.19
42.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.38A$4.72
$4.29€3.69
-21.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.23A$1.71
$0.82€0.70
50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.57A$49.56
$18.30€15.74
94.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31A$1.82
$2.06€1.78
-36.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9KA$41.7K
$34.3K€29.5K
-12.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.9KA$29.2K
$39.3K€33.8K
-46.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alice Springs
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$196A$272
$148€127
32.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.29A$38.02
$20.52€17.65
32.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.5A$91.3
$39.61€34.08
65.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Alice Springs
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$65.2A$90.8
$47.85€41.16
36.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.28A$22.68
$18.92€16.28
-13.95%
Cinema Ticket
$13.21A$18.40
$9.18€7.90
43.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Alice Springs
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,354A$1,887
$614€528
120.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,798A$3,899
$16.0K€13.8K
-82.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Alice Springs
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.5A$101
$105€90.0
-30.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$11.23A$15.65
$42.06€36.18
-73.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$140A$195
$94.0€80.8
48.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106A$148
$120€103
-11.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Alice Springs
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619A$862
$1,628€1,400
-61.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$573A$799
$1,255€1,080
-54.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,481A$2,063
$3,030€2,607
-51.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631A$879
$2,020€1,738
-68.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,661A$6,495
$7,800€6,709
-40.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,928A$6,867
$4,273€3,675
15.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Alice Springs
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,508A$6,282
$1,603€1,379
181.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.34
3.81
66.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Alice Springs: June 2, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Alice Springs and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Alice Springs pays 181% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $78.0 in Alice Springs vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $386 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
Alice Springs vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Alice Springs or Lisbon?
Alice Springs wins on cost – living expenses run 21% lower than in Lisbon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Alice Springs the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Alice Springs or Lisbon?
Alice Springs pays 181% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Alice Springs vs Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Alice Springs versus $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Alice Springs or Lisbon?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 43% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Alice Springs vs Lisbon?
Dining out is cheaper in Alice Springs – a meal for two runs $78.0 versus $65.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Alice Springs or Lisbon?
At $1,824 in Alice Springs versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Alice Springs but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Alice Springs the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Alice Springs or Lisbon?
Both work as nomad bases, but Alice Springs delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,824 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Alice Springs hard to pass up.
How safe is Alice Springs compared to Lisbon?
Safety-wise, Alice Springs 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Alice Springs gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Alice Springs vs other spots: cost of living compared