Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Arlington, TX and Lisbon

For one person, living is cheaper in Lisbon: $2,223 a month against $2,439 in Arlington, TX, rent and utilities included – about $2,600 less a year. The total is higher in Arlington, TX despite lower rent and utilities.

Arlington, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,439
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,223
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,439 in Arlington, TX versus $2,223 in Lisbon.

  • Arlington, TX $2,439
  • Lisbon $2,223

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,647 in Arlington, TX versus $3,271 in Lisbon.

  • Arlington, TX $3,647
  • Lisbon $3,271

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,855 in Arlington, TX versus $4,319 in Lisbon.

  • Arlington, TX $4,855
  • Lisbon $4,319

Living in Arlington, TX is roughly 10% more expensive than in Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Arlington, TX 81% above, Lisbon 65% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arlington, TX
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.39 $20.39
$16.50 €14.67
23.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.3 $55.3
$61.3 €54.5
-9.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.11 $10.11
$11.27 €10.03
-10.29%
Cappuccino
$4.86 $4.86
$3.06 €2.72
58.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56 $2.56
$2.26 €2.01
13.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 $2.29
$1.73 €1.54
32.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.38 $5.38
$3.39 €3.02
58.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.68 $6.68
$3.40 €3.02
96.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arlington, TX
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.78 $0.78
$1.12 €1.00
-30.36%
White Bread (500g)
$3.64 $3.64
$1.86 €1.65
95.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.26 $5.26
$1.53 €1.36
243.79%
Eggs
$2.67 $2.67
$3.96 €3.53
-32.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.60 $10.60
$12.76 €11.35
-16.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.10 $13.10
$7.90 €7.02
65.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.02 $18.02
$16.97 €15.09
6.19%
Apples (1kg)
$4.44 $4.44
$2.27 €2.02
95.59%
Banana (1kg)
$2.66 $2.66
$1.75 €1.55
52.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.12 $5.12
$1.85 €1.64
176.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.02 $4.02
$2.57 €2.28
56.42%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.86 €1.65
36.02%
Onion (1kg)
$2.98 $2.98
$2.02 €1.80
47.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.90 $1.90
$1.44 €1.28
31.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.06 $2.06
$0.82 €0.73
151.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.52 $9.52
$6.56 €5.83
45.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.03 $12.03
$5.62 €5.00
114.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01 $2.01
$1.28 €1.14
57.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.36 $3.36
$2.07 €1.84
62.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Arlington, TX
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$6.09 $6.09
$2.35 €2.09
159.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.51 $40.51
$44.18 €39.30
-8.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.93 $2.93
$3.99 €3.55
-26.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.70 $1.70
$1.09 €0.97
55.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.81 $23.81
$16.64 €14.81
43.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$2.28 €2.03
-58.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.8K $35.8K
$33.7K €30.0K
6.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$39.3K €35.0K
-34.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arlington, TX
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$211 $211
$167 €149
25.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$66.4 $66.4
$18.80 €16.72
252.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.1 $64.1
$33.09 €29.43
93.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arlington, TX
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.87 $40.87
$46.01 €40.93
-11.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.19 €17.07
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.74 $14.74
$9.84 €8.75
49.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arlington, TX
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,332 $1,332
$677 €602
96.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.4K $28.4K
$16.9K €15.1K
67.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arlington, TX
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.6 $61.6
$101 €90.1
-39.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.0 $51.0
$45.76 €40.70
11.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.9 $84.9
$100.0 €88.9
-15.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 $102
$123 €109
-17.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arlington, TX
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,536 $1,536
$1,614 €1,436
-4.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,112 $1,112
$1,197 €1,065
-7.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,533 $2,533
$2,862 €2,545
-11.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,031 $2,031
$1,990 €1,770
2.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,173 $2,173
$7,577 €6,740
-71.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,217 $2,217
$4,307 €3,831
-48.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arlington, TX
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,699 $3,699
$1,588 €1,412
132.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
3.85
69.09%

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

Last update for Arlington, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Arlington, TX
$1.1K
Lisbon
$1.2K 7.6% $85
Groceries & Markets
Arlington, TX
$393
Lisbon
$269 31.4% $123
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arlington, TX
$341
Lisbon
$219 35.7% $122
Eating Out
Arlington, TX
$311
Lisbon
$242 22.2% $69
Clothing & Footwear
Arlington, TX
$135
Lisbon
$166 23.7% $32
Getting Around
Arlington, TX
$76
Lisbon
$63 17.4% $13
Sport & Entertainment
Arlington, TX
$70
Lisbon
$66 6.6% $4.7

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,536 in Arlington, TX and $1,614 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Arlington, TX pays 133% 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: $55.0 in Arlington, TX vs $61.0 in Lisbon. Groceries flip the comparison at $393 vs $269, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Arlington, TX
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🕒 Local time
12:16 12:16 PM
18:16 6:16 PM
6 h ahead of Arlington, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
365,438
545,923 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

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

On the map
Between locations
  • Arlington, TX Lisbon 7,650 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Arlington, TX
  • 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
Arlington, TX vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Arlington, TX or Lisbon?
Lisbon wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Arlington, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lisbon the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Arlington, TX or in Lisbon?
Average pay runs 133% higher in Arlington, TX, 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 Arlington, TX compared to Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,536 in Arlington, TX versus $1,614 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Arlington, TX compared to Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $2,439 per month in Arlington, TX versus $2,223 in Lisbon – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Arlington, TX compared to Lisbon?
A monthly transit pass in Lisbon runs roughly 9% less than in Arlington, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Arlington, TX or in Lisbon?
At $2,223 in Lisbon versus $2,439 in Arlington, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Arlington, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Arlington, TX or Lisbon?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lisbon delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,223 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lisbon hard to pass up.
How safe is Arlington, TX compared to Lisbon?
Safety-wise, Arlington, TX 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 Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Arlington, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Arlington, TX vs other spots: cost of living compared

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