Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Athens, TN and Lisbon

For one person, living is cheaper in Athens, TN: $2,116 a month against $2,206 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $1,100 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Lisbon outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Athens, TN, United States
Lisbon, Portugal
Athens, TN
🇺🇸 United States
$2,116
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,206
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,116 per month in Athens, TN vs $2,206 in Lisbon, rent included.

  • Athens, TN $2,116
  • Lisbon $2,206

A couple spends around $3,286 per month in Athens, TN vs $3,276 in Lisbon, rent included.

  • Athens, TN $3,286
  • Lisbon $3,276

A family of three spends $4,457 per month in Athens, TN vs $4,346 in Lisbon, rent included.

  • Athens, TN $4,457
  • Lisbon $4,346

Athens, TN is about 4% cheaper than Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Athens, TN and Lisbon sit above the global median – Athens, TN by 56%, Lisbon by 63%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Athens, TN
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.07 $30.07
$16.86 €15.04
78.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$108 $108
$61.0 €54.5
76.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.95 $11.95
$10.98 €9.80
8.83%
Cappuccino
$5.70 $5.70
$3.05 €2.72
86.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 $2.94
$2.28 €2.04
28.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 $2.26
$1.68 €1.50
34.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.52 $6.52
$3.44 €3.07
89.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.90 $7.90
$3.91 €3.48
102.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Athens, TN
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$1.15 €1.02
-18.26%
White Bread (500g)
$2.57 $2.57
$1.89 €1.68
35.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.93 $3.93
$1.50 €1.34
162.00%
Eggs
$4.19 $4.19
$4.12 €3.67
1.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.83 $13.83
$13.01 €11.60
6.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.68 $6.68
$8.04 €7.18
-16.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.75 $19.75
$17.89 €15.96
10.40%
Apples (1kg)
$5.82 $5.82
$2.27 €2.03
156.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 $1.49
$1.74 €1.56
-14.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.61 $5.61
$1.82 €1.62
208.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$2.69 €2.40
92.19%
Potato (1kg)
$3.54 $3.54
$1.77 €1.58
100.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.66 $2.66
$1.94 €1.73
37.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.15 $2.15
$1.46 €1.31
47.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 $1.66
$0.76 €0.68
118.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.83 $6.83
$6.66 €5.94
2.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.29 $15.29
$5.64 €5.03
171.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.90 $3.90
$1.29 €1.15
202.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.87 $4.87
$2.14 €1.91
127.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Athens, TN
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.19 $2.19
$2.30 €2.05
-4.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.5 $53.5
$44.02 €39.26
21.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.41 $3.41
$3.98 €3.55
-14.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 $1.53
$0.64 €0.57
139.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.47 $24.47
$18.93 €16.88
29.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$2.28 €2.03
-58.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.1K $36.1K
$33.4K €29.8K
8.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$38.5K €34.3K
-31.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens, TN
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$221 $221
$158 €141
39.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$74.4 $74.4
$17.54 €15.64
324.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.7 $55.7
$31.18 €27.82
78.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Athens, TN
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.88 $37.88
$44.64 €39.82
-15.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.98 €16.93
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.21 $8.21
$9.58 €8.54
-14.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Athens, TN
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,784 $1,784
$674 €601
164.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$34.8K $34.8K
$18.7K €16.7K
85.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Athens, TN
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.6 $52.6
$102 €91.2
-48.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.25 $45.25
$45.90 €40.94
-1.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.9 $95.9
$102 €91.2
-6.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 $108
$122 €109
-11.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Athens, TN
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$861 $861
$1,641 €1,463
-47.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$695 $695
$1,187 €1,059
-41.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,465 $1,465
$2,825 €2,519
-48.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,184 $1,184
$2,018 €1,800
-41.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,813 $2,813
$7,836 €6,989
-64.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,313 $2,313
$4,701 €4,193
-50.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Athens, TN
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$8,189 $8,189
$1,687 €1,505
385.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.67
3.82
74.61%

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

Last update for Athens, TN: November 3, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Athens, TN
$695
Lisbon
$1.2K 70.8% $492
Eating Out
Athens, TN
$414
Lisbon
$245 40.8% $169
Groceries & Markets
Athens, TN
$392
Lisbon
$275 30.1% $118
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens, TN
$351
Lisbon
$207 41% $144
Clothing & Footwear
Athens, TN
$136
Lisbon
$168 23.5% $32
Getting Around
Athens, TN
$73
Lisbon
$60 17.6% $13
Sport & Entertainment
Athens, TN
$54
Lisbon
$64 17.5% $9.5

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $861 in Athens, TN versus $1,641 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 in Athens, TN are about 4.9 times higher, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $108 in Athens, TN versus $61 in Lisbon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $392 vs $275 – making Lisbon the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Athens, TN
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🕒 Local time
21:29 9:29 PM
02:29 2:29 AM
5 h ahead of Athens, TN
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
115,452
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 November 4, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.894 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 0.892 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Athens, TN Lisbon 6,510 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Athens, TN
  • 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
Athens, TN vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Athens, TN or Lisbon?
Lisbon costs about 4% more than Athens, TN, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from clothing. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Athens, TN and in Lisbon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,174 per month in Athens, TN and $3,309 in Lisbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Athens, TN or Lisbon?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Athens, TN, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $861 there versus $1,641 in Lisbon.
How expensive is transport in Athens, TN compared to Lisbon?
Public transport costs about 18% less in Lisbon. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Athens, TN and in Lisbon?
Kindergarten costs $1,784 per month in Athens, TN and $674 in Lisbon. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Athens, TN or in Lisbon?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,116 in Athens, TN and $2,206 in Lisbon. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Athens, TN or Lisbon?
It depends on your priorities. Lisbon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,116 in Athens, TN to $2,206 in Lisbon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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