Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Arbon and Lisbon

For one person, living is cheaper in Lisbon: $2,223 a month against $3,464 in Arbon, rent and utilities included – about $14,900 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Arbon
🇨🇭 Switzerland
$3,464
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,223
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $3,464 per month in Arbon vs $2,223 in Lisbon, rent included.

  • Arbon $3,464
  • Lisbon $2,223

A couple spends around $5,192 per month in Arbon vs $3,271 in Lisbon, rent included.

  • Arbon $5,192
  • Lisbon $3,271

A family of three spends $6,920 per month in Arbon vs $4,319 in Lisbon, rent included.

  • Arbon $6,920
  • Lisbon $4,319

Arbon costs about 56% more than Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Arbon and Lisbon sit above the global median – Arbon by 157%, Lisbon by 65%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arbon
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.53 CHF 24.33
$16.50 €14.67
78.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$144 CHF 118
$61.3 €54.5
134.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$18.95 CHF 15.61
$11.27 €10.03
68.15%
Cappuccino
$6.11 CHF 5.03
$3.06 €2.72
99.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74 CHF 4.73
$2.26 €2.01
153.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.09 CHF 4.19
$1.73 €1.54
194.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.00 CHF 7.42
$3.39 €3.02
165.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.17 CHF 5.08
$3.40 €3.02
81.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arbon
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.16 CHF 1.78
$1.12 €1.00
92.86%
White Bread (500g)
$3.15 CHF 2.60
$1.86 €1.65
69.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.79 CHF 3.12
$1.53 €1.36
147.71%
Eggs
$7.88 CHF 6.49
$3.96 €3.53
98.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$25.14 CHF 20.71
$12.76 €11.35
97.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$28.42 CHF 23.41
$7.90 €7.02
259.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$41.09 CHF 33.84
$16.97 €15.09
142.13%
Apples (1kg)
$3.42 CHF 2.82
$2.27 €2.02
50.66%
Banana (1kg)
$2.00 CHF 1.65
$1.75 €1.55
14.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.39 CHF 1.97
$1.85 €1.64
29.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.28 CHF 4.35
$2.57 €2.28
105.45%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 CHF 1.68
$1.86 €1.65
9.68%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 CHF 1.80
$2.02 €1.80
8.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.28 CHF 1.88
$1.44 €1.28
58.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.22 CHF 1.01
$0.82 €0.73
48.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.64 CHF 8.77
$6.56 €5.83
62.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.47 CHF 13.57
$5.62 €5.00
193.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.12 CHF 1.75
$1.28 €1.14
65.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 CHF 1.85
$2.07 €1.84
8.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Arbon
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.81 CHF 3.96
$2.35 €2.09
104.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$96.0 CHF 79.1
$44.18 €39.30
117.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.50 CHF 5.35
$3.99 €3.55
62.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.73 CHF 3.89
$1.09 €0.97
333.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$36.17 CHF 29.79
$16.64 €14.81
117.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.29 CHF 1.89
$2.28 €2.03
0.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K CHF 28.4K
$33.7K €30.0K
2.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K CHF 32.4K
$39.3K €35.0K
-0.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arbon
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$275 CHF 227
$167 €149
64.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.11 CHF 31.39
$18.80 €16.72
102.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.4 CHF 44.78
$33.09 €29.43
64.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arbon
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$90.0 CHF 74.1
$46.01 €40.93
95.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$39.06 CHF 32.17
$19.19 €17.07
103.54%
Cinema Ticket
$23.43 CHF 19.29
$9.84 €8.75
138.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arbon
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,250 CHF 1,853
$677 €602
232.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.3K CHF 25.8K
$16.9K €15.1K
85.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arbon
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$143 CHF 118
$101 €90.1
41.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$65.1 CHF 53.6
$45.76 €40.70
42.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$143 CHF 118
$100.0 €88.9
43.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$177 CHF 146
$123 €109
44.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arbon
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,561 CHF 1,286
$1,614 €1,436
-3.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,521 CHF 1,253
$1,197 €1,065
27.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,904 CHF 2,392
$2,862 €2,545
1.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,322 CHF 1,912
$1,990 €1,770
16.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$13.9K CHF 11.5K
$7,577 €6,740
83.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$13.6K CHF 11.2K
$4,307 €3,831
216.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arbon
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$11.1K CHF 9,124
$1,588 €1,412
597.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
1.9
3.85
-50.65%

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

Last update for Arbon: October 10, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Arbon
$1.5K
Lisbon
$1.2K 21.3% $324
Groceries & Markets
Arbon
$588
Lisbon
$269 54.2% $319
Eating Out
Arbon
$467
Lisbon
$242 48.1% $225
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arbon
$368
Lisbon
$219 40.4% $148
Clothing & Footwear
Arbon
$238
Lisbon
$166 30.1% $72
Getting Around
Arbon
$145
Lisbon
$63 56.7% $82
Sport & Entertainment
Arbon
$137
Lisbon
$66 52% $71

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,561 in Arbon versus $1,614 in Lisbon. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 598% higher in Arbon, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $144 in Arbon versus $61.0 in Lisbon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $588 vs $269 – making Lisbon the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇭 Arbon
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🕒 Local time
11:28 11:28 AM
10:28 10:28 AM
1 h behind Arbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
15,853
545,923 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to CHF – Swiss Franc Converter

Swiss Franc exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.824 CHF (1 CHF = 1.21 USD). 1 EUR = 0.926 CHF (1 CHF = 1.08 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Arbon Lisbon 1,790 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Arbon
  • 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
Arbon vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Arbon and in Lisbon compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $3,464 in Arbon, $2,223 in Lisbon – roughly 56% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Arbon compared to Lisbon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,197 per month in Arbon and $3,335 in Lisbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Arbon and Lisbon?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Lisbon, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Arbon or Lisbon?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,464 in Arbon and $2,223 in Lisbon. That's a gap of about 56%.
How do commuting costs compare in Arbon and in Lisbon?
Public transport costs about 117% less in Lisbon. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Lisbon, where all-in costs run around $2,223, than in Arbon at $3,464. In Lisbon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Arbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Arbon and Lisbon?
It depends on your priorities. Lisbon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,223 in Lisbon to $3,464 in Arbon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Arbon or Lisbon safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Arbon and Lisbon?
If budget matters most, go with Lisbon. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Arbon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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