🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,963 in Bensheim versus $2,227 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,054 in Bensheim versus $3,305 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,146 in Bensheim versus $4,384 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Bensheim costs roughly 12% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bensheim47% above, Lisbon66% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bensheim
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.94€11.94
$16.17€13.84
-13.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.3€73.0
$64.6€55.3
32.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.06€10.32
$10.38€8.88
16.18%
Cappuccino
$3.79€3.24
$2.77€2.37
36.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13€2.68
$2.25€1.92
39.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92€2.50
$1.57€1.35
85.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.10€4.36
$3.49€2.99
46.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.95
$4.00€3.43
15.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bensheim
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.09
$1.08€0.93
17.59%
White Bread(500g)
$2.30€1.97
$1.74€1.49
32.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.18€2.72
$1.74€1.49
82.76%
Eggs
$3.97€3.40
$3.18€2.72
24.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.68€12.57
$13.43€11.50
9.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.89€11.89
$7.99€6.84
73.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.05€17.16
$16.09€13.77
24.61%
Apples(1kg)
$3.09€2.64
$2.28€1.95
35.53%
Banana(1kg)
$1.86€1.59
$1.72€1.48
8.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20€1.88
$1.94€1.66
13.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.24€4.49
$2.54€2.18
106.30%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55€1.33
$1.83€1.57
-15.30%
Onion(1kg)
$1.46€1.25
$2.04€1.75
-28.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.87€1.60
$1.98€1.69
-5.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11€0.95
$0.85€0.73
30.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.55€8.18
$6.85€5.87
39.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.02€5.16
$5.78€4.94
4.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04€0.89
$1.37€1.18
-24.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70€1.45
$2.90€2.48
-41.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Bensheim
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.54€3.03
$2.28€1.95
55.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$62.6€53.6
$46.84€40.10
33.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.62€4.81
$4.08€3.49
37.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19€1.87
$0.82€0.70
167.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.15€30.08
$18.27€15.64
92.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.03€1.74
$2.01€1.72
1.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.8K€27.2K
$35.3K€30.2K
-9.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.7K€32.2K
$38.5K€32.9K
-2.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bensheim
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$347€297
$145€124
138.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.12€21.51
$20.96€17.94
19.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.1€43.77
$40.05€34.29
27.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bensheim
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.19€33.54
$48.79€41.76
-19.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.27€19.92
$18.69€16.00
24.51%
Cinema Ticket
$14.62€12.51
$9.06€7.76
61.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bensheim
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$524€448
$607€519
-13.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,406€5,483
$16.3K€14.0K
-60.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bensheim
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.2€63.5
$105€89.6
-29.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.09€31.75
$40.95€35.06
-9.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€89.4
$93.6€80.1
11.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127€109
$119€101
7.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bensheim
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$849€726
$1,604€1,373
-47.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653€559
$1,236€1,058
-47.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,558€1,334
$3,046€2,607
-48.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,249€1,069
$2,057€1,761
-39.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,110€4,374
$7,709€6,599
-33.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,558€3,046
$4,266€3,652
-16.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bensheim
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,773€4,086
$1,584€1,356
201.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.47
3.81
-8.92%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bensheim: April 25, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $849 in Bensheim and $1,604 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bensheim pays 201% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $85.0 in Bensheim vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $349 vs $271 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
Bensheim vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Bensheim and Lisbon?
Bensheim and Lisbon differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($1,963 vs $2,227 including rent). Bensheim is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Bensheim or Lisbon?
Bensheim pays 201% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Bensheim and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $849 in Bensheim versus $1,604 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Bensheim and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $524 in Bensheim versus $607 in Lisbon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 29% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,963 in Bensheim versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Bensheim but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Bensheim the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Bensheim and Lisbon?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Bensheim or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Bensheim 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.
Where should expats move: Bensheim or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Bensheim gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.