Cost of Living Comparison Between Arbon and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Arbon and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,362 per month in Arbon vs $2,210 in Lisbon, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,166 per month in Arbon vs $3,311 in Lisbon, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,970 per month in Arbon vs $4,411 in Lisbon, rent included.

Arbon costs about 52% more than Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Arbon and Lisbon sit above the global median – Arbon by 151%, Lisbon by 65%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arbon
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.71 CHF 24.21
$15.91 €13.69
93.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$140 CHF 110
$64.8 €55.7
116.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$17.11 CHF 13.49
$10.51 €9.04
62.80%
Cappuccino
$6.33 CHF 4.99
$2.87 €2.47
120.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.27 CHF 4.15
$2.24 €1.93
135.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.33 CHF 3.41
$1.50 €1.29
188.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.71 CHF 6.08
$3.49 €3.00
120.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.51 CHF 5.92
$3.88 €3.34
93.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arbon
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.17 CHF 1.71
$1.14 €0.98
90.35%
White Bread (500g)
$2.66 CHF 2.10
$1.75 €1.51
52.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.64 CHF 2.87
$1.76 €1.51
106.82%
Eggs
$7.87 CHF 6.20
$3.22 €2.77
144.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$27.41 CHF 21.61
$13.49 €11.61
103.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$31.88 CHF 25.14
$7.91 €6.81
303.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$40.41 CHF 31.86
$15.87 €13.65
154.63%
Apples (1kg)
$3.14 CHF 2.47
$2.31 €1.99
35.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 CHF 1.45
$1.70 €1.46
8.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 CHF 2.01
$2.01 €1.73
26.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.51 CHF 5.14
$2.46 €2.12
164.63%
Potato (1kg)
$2.50 CHF 1.97
$1.84 €1.59
35.87%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 CHF 1.80
$2.00 €1.72
14.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.55 CHF 2.01
$1.93 €1.66
32.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 CHF 0.90
$0.79 €0.68
45.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.80 CHF 8.51
$6.61 €5.68
63.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.87 CHF 9.36
$5.72 €4.92
107.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.25 CHF 1.77
$1.37 €1.17
64.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 CHF 1.81
$2.97 €2.56
-22.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Arbon
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.90 CHF 3.07
$2.37 €2.04
64.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$100 CHF 79.2
$45.56 €39.19
120.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.74 CHF 5.32
$4.29 €3.69
57.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.26 CHF 3.36
$0.82 €0.70
419.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$80.5 CHF 63.5
$18.30 €15.74
339.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.11 CHF 1.66
$2.06 €1.78
2.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.5K CHF 31.9K
$34.3K €29.5K
18.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.1K CHF 34.0K
$39.3K €33.8K
9.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arbon
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$248 CHF 196
$148 €127
68.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.2 CHF 46.67
$20.52 €17.65
188.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.7 CHF 42.31
$39.61 €34.08
35.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arbon
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$87.6 CHF 69.1
$47.85 €41.16
83.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.92 €16.28
-
Cinema Ticket
$22.44 CHF 17.69
$9.18 €7.90
144.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arbon
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,843 CHF 2,242
$614 €528
363.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$43.5K CHF 34.3K
$16.0K €13.8K
170.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arbon
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$140 CHF 111
$105 €90.0
34.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$65.8 CHF 51.9
$42.06 €36.18
56.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$133 CHF 105
$94.0 €80.8
41.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$162 CHF 127
$120 €103
35.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arbon
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,683 CHF 1,327
$1,628 €1,400
3.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 CHF 1,176
$1,255 €1,080
18.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,865 CHF 2,259
$3,030 €2,607
-5.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,423 CHF 1,910
$2,020 €1,738
19.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.2K CHF 11.2K
$7,800 €6,709
82.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$11.6K CHF 9,140
$4,273 €3,675
171.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arbon
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$11.4K CHF 8,986
$1,603 €1,379
610.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.5
3.81
-34.38%

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

Last update for Arbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,683 in Arbon versus $1,628 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 611% 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 $140 in Arbon versus $65.0 in Lisbon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $602 vs $269 – making Lisbon the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Lisbon compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $3,362 in Arbon, $2,210 in Lisbon – roughly 52% apart. Arbon costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Arbon compared to Lisbon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,043 per month in Arbon and $3,315 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 $3,362 in Arbon and $2,210 in Lisbon. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Arbon and Lisbon?
Public transport costs about 120% less in Lisbon. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,362 in Arbon and $2,210 in Lisbon. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
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 $2,210 in Lisbon to $3,362 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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