Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,706 in Austin, TX versus $2,291 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,169 in Austin, TX versus $3,322 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,633 in Austin, TX versus $4,354 in Lisbon.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 18% more expensive than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Lisbon 71% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.70 $19.70
$16.19 €14.20
21.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.0 $76.0
$63.3 €55.5
20.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.86 $9.86
$10.32 €9.05
-4.46%
Cappuccino
$5.48 $5.48
$2.83 €2.48
93.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 $2.65
$2.29 €2.01
15.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 $2.09
$1.58 €1.38
32.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.09 $6.09
$3.40 €2.98
79.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.15 $8.15
$4.03 €3.53
102.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 $1.10
$1.09 €0.96
0.92%
White Bread (500g)
$3.39 $3.39
$1.75 €1.53
93.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.38 $3.38
$1.76 €1.54
92.05%
Eggs
$4.39 $4.39
$3.17 €2.78
38.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.10 $12.10
$13.19 €11.57
-8.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.84 $10.84
$7.97 €6.99
36.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.68 $14.68
$15.53 €13.62
-5.47%
Apples (1kg)
$4.96 $4.96
$2.37 €2.08
109.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 $1.51
$1.71 €1.50
-11.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.40 $4.40
$2.01 €1.76
118.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.10 $4.10
$2.43 €2.13
68.72%
Potato (1kg)
$2.81 $2.81
$1.76 €1.54
59.66%
Onion (1kg)
$2.87 $2.87
$2.03 €1.78
41.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.95 $1.95
$1.92 €1.68
1.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 $2.18
$0.85 €0.74
156.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.99 $8.99
$6.58 €5.77
36.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.11 $15.11
$5.58 €4.89
170.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33 $2.33
$1.33 €1.17
75.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43 $3.43
$2.97 €2.61
15.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.54 $1.54
$2.28 €2.00
-32.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.15 $44.15
$45.79 €40.15
-3.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.23 €3.71
4.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.83 $1.83
$0.81 €0.71
125.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.65 $34.65
$18.44 €16.17
87.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.78 $0.78
$2.08 €1.82
-62.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0K $26.0K
$34.7K €30.4K
-25.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$39.2K €34.3K
-33.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$175 $175
$148 €130
17.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.7 $59.7
$20.46 €17.94
191.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.5 $65.5
$39.56 €34.68
65.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.3 $61.3
$47.99 €42.08
27.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.89 $9.89
$18.60 €16.31
-46.83%
Cinema Ticket
$14.76 $14.76
$9.22 €8.09
60.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,372 $1,372
$616 €540
122.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.2K $22.2K
$16.4K €14.4K
34.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.5 $56.5
$103 €90.1
-44.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.29 $45.29
$41.74 €36.60
8.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.0 $85.0
$94.8 €83.1
-10.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 $118
$122 €107
-3.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,201 $2,201
$1,633 €1,431
34.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,403 $1,403
$1,232 €1,081
13.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,815 $3,815
$3,098 €2,717
23.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,680 $2,680
$2,031 €1,781
31.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,133 $7,133
$7,831 €6,866
-8.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,078 $3,078
$4,389 €3,849
-29.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,110 $5,110
$1,607 €1,409
217.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
3.81
69.29%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 12, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,201 in Austin, TX and $1,633 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 218% 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: $76.0 in Austin, TX vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $379 vs $267 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
Austin, TX vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Lisbon?
Lisbon wins on cost – living expenses run 18% lower than in Austin, 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 Austin, TX or in Lisbon?
Average pay runs 218% higher in Austin, 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 Austin, TX compared to Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,201 in Austin, TX versus $1,633 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 Austin, TX compared to Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $2,706 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,291 in Lisbon – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Austin, TX compared to Lisbon?
A monthly transit pass in Lisbon runs roughly 4% less than in Austin, 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 Austin, TX or in Lisbon?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Lisbon is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Austin, TX or Lisbon?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lisbon delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,291 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lisbon hard to pass up.
How safe is Austin, TX compared to Lisbon?
Safety-wise, Austin, 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 18% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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