😐A single person spends $3,775 per month in Bellinzona vs $2,227 in Lisbon, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $5,826 per month in Bellinzona vs $3,305 in Lisbon, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $7,877 per month in Bellinzona vs $4,384 in Lisbon, rent included.
😐Bellinzona costs about 70% more than Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Bellinzona and Lisbon sit above the global median – Bellinzona by 182%, Lisbon by 66%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bellinzona
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.89CHF 24.43
$16.17€13.84
91.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$110CHF 86.8
$64.6€55.3
69.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$18.53CHF 14.66
$10.38€8.88
78.52%
Cappuccino
$4.30CHF 3.40
$2.77€2.37
55.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.81CHF 3.80
$2.25€1.92
113.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.15CHF 3.28
$1.57€1.35
164.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.50CHF 5.93
$3.49€2.99
114.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.23CHF 4.93
$4.00€3.43
55.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bellinzona
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.19CHF 1.73
$1.08€0.93
102.78%
White Bread(500g)
$3.93CHF 3.11
$1.74€1.49
125.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.26CHF 4.16
$1.74€1.49
202.30%
Eggs
$7.93CHF 6.27
$3.18€2.72
149.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$29.38CHF 23.24
$13.43€11.50
118.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$36.33CHF 28.74
$7.99€6.84
354.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$47.16CHF 37.30
$16.09€13.77
193.10%
Apples(1kg)
$3.70CHF 2.92
$2.28€1.95
62.28%
Banana(1kg)
$2.09CHF 1.65
$1.72€1.48
21.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.82CHF 2.23
$1.94€1.66
45.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$7.41CHF 5.86
$2.54€2.18
191.73%
Potato(1kg)
$2.23CHF 1.76
$1.83€1.57
21.86%
Onion(1kg)
$2.51CHF 1.98
$2.04€1.75
23.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.61CHF 2.07
$1.98€1.69
31.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.67CHF 1.32
$0.85€0.73
96.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.96CHF 8.67
$6.85€5.87
60.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.21CHF 15.19
$5.78€4.94
232.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.09CHF 3.23
$1.37€1.18
198.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.28CHF 3.38
$2.90€2.48
47.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Bellinzona
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$6.24CHF 4.93
$2.28€1.95
173.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$96.8CHF 76.6
$46.84€40.10
106.73%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.88CHF 5.44
$4.08€3.49
68.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.56CHF 3.61
$0.82€0.70
456.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.6CHF 48.74
$18.27€15.64
237.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.13CHF 1.68
$2.01€1.72
5.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.7KCHF 31.4K
$35.3K€30.2K
12.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.2KCHF 30.2K
$38.5K€32.9K
-0.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bellinzona
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$290CHF 229
$145€124
99.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$67.3CHF 53.3
$20.96€17.94
221.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.1CHF 45.96
$40.05€34.29
45.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bellinzona
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$111CHF 87.8
$48.79€41.76
127.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$64.0CHF 50.6
$18.69€16.00
242.16%
Cinema Ticket
$23.58CHF 18.65
$9.06€7.76
160.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bellinzona
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,835CHF 1,451
$607€519
202.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$35.1KCHF 27.7K
$16.3K€14.0K
114.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bellinzona
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$126CHF 99.4
$105€89.6
20.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.91CHF 38.69
$40.95€35.06
19.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$157CHF 124
$93.6€80.1
67.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$189CHF 150
$119€101
59.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bellinzona
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,871CHF 1,480
$1,604€1,373
16.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,720CHF 1,361
$1,236€1,058
39.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,821CHF 2,232
$3,046€2,607
-7.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,964CHF 2,345
$2,057€1,761
44.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$17.4KCHF 13.7K
$7,709€6,599
125.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$12.1KCHF 9,573
$4,266€3,652
183.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bellinzona
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,421CHF 5,079
$1,584€1,356
305.31%
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 Bellinzona: April 27, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,871 in Bellinzona versus $1,604 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 305% higher in Bellinzona, 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 $110 in Bellinzona versus $65.0 in Lisbon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $714 vs $271 – 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
Bellinzona vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Bellinzona and Lisbon compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $3,775 in Bellinzona, $2,227 in Lisbon – roughly 70% apart. Bellinzona costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Bellinzona compared to Lisbon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,663 per month in Bellinzona and $3,341 in Lisbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Bellinzona 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: Bellinzona or Lisbon?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,775 in Bellinzona and $2,227 in Lisbon. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Bellinzona and Lisbon?
Public transport costs about 107% 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 $2,227, than in Bellinzona at $3,775. In Lisbon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bellinzona it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Bellinzona and Lisbon?
It depends on your priorities. Lisbon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,227 in Lisbon to $3,775 in Bellinzona. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Bellinzona 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 Bellinzona and Lisbon?
If budget matters most, go with Lisbon. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bellinzona makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Bellinzona vs other spots: cost of living compared