Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bismarck, ND and Lisbon

For one person, living is cheaper in Lisbon: $2,210 a month against $2,339 in Bismarck, ND, rent and utilities included – about $1,500 less a year. The total is higher in Bismarck, ND despite lower rent and utilities.

Bismarck, ND, United States
Lisbon, Portugal
Bismarck, ND
🇺🇸 United States
$2,339
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,210
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,339 in Bismarck, ND versus $2,210 in Lisbon.

  • Bismarck, ND $2,339
  • Lisbon $2,210

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,375 in Bismarck, ND versus $3,275 in Lisbon.

  • Bismarck, ND $3,375
  • Lisbon $3,275

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Bismarck, ND versus $4,341 in Lisbon.

  • Bismarck, ND $4,411
  • Lisbon $4,341

Living in Bismarck, ND is roughly 6% more expensive than in Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bismarck, ND 72% above, Lisbon 62% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bismarck, ND
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.30 $30.30
$16.65 €14.87
81.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.0 $69.0
$61.7 €55.2
11.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$17.63 $17.63
$11.36 €10.14
55.19%
Cappuccino
$6.23 $6.23
$2.97 €2.65
109.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.29 €2.04
10.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 $1.80
$1.74 €1.56
3.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.59 $5.59
$3.40 €3.04
64.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.04 $7.04
$3.31 €2.96
112.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bismarck, ND
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.16 €1.03
-10.34%
White Bread (500g)
$2.67 $2.67
$1.91 €1.71
39.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.10 $2.10
$1.51 €1.35
39.07%
Eggs
$2.64 $2.64
$4.02 €3.59
-34.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.89 $7.89
$12.94 €11.56
-39.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.31 $13.31
$7.77 €6.94
71.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.89 $15.89
$17.76 €15.86
-10.53%
Apples (1kg)
$3.38 $3.38
$2.30 €2.06
46.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.73 €1.55
-1.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.99 $2.99
$1.86 €1.66
60.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.36 $4.36
$2.59 €2.31
68.34%
Potato (1kg)
$1.89 $1.89
$1.82 €1.63
3.85%
Onion (1kg)
$2.66 $2.66
$1.97 €1.76
35.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.27 $2.27
$1.47 €1.31
54.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.76 $2.76
$0.72 €0.65
283.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.74 $8.74
$6.58 €5.88
32.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.33 $20.33
$5.61 €5.01
262.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 $1.83
$1.36 €1.22
34.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.95 $3.95
$2.14 €1.91
84.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Bismarck, ND
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.47 $1.47
$2.33 €2.08
-36.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.83 $35.83
$44.68 €39.91
-19.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.85 €3.44
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.07 €0.96
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$16.46 €14.70
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 $0.90
$2.20 €1.97
-59.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.9K $26.9K
$34.2K €30.5K
-21.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.7K $22.7K
$38.7K €34.6K
-41.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bismarck, ND
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$207 $207
$161 €144
28.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$72.0 $72.0
$18.41 €16.44
290.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$82.5 $82.5
$32.74 €29.24
152.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bismarck, ND
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.48 $33.48
$44.55 €39.79
-24.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.10 €17.06
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.17 $12.17
$9.60 €8.57
26.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bismarck, ND
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 $797
$668 €596
19.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$17.6K €15.7K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bismarck, ND
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.5 $65.5
$102 €91.1
-35.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$44.46 €39.72
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.7 $96.7
$98.5 €88.0
-1.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.4 $79.4
$124 €110
-35.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bismarck, ND
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,015 $1,015
$1,608 €1,437
-36.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$974 $974
$1,190 €1,063
-18.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,504 $1,504
$2,812 €2,512
-46.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,485 $1,485
$2,013 €1,798
-26.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,358 $2,358
$7,839 €7,002
-69.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,992 $1,992
$4,576 €4,087
-56.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bismarck, ND
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,412 $4,412
$1,575 €1,407
180.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.84
3.85
77.66%

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

Last update for Bismarck, ND: October 25, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bismarck, ND
$974
Lisbon
$1.2K 22.2% $217
Eating Out
Bismarck, ND
$429
Lisbon
$243 43.5% $187
Groceries & Markets
Bismarck, ND
$366
Lisbon
$272 25.6% $94
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bismarck, ND
$362
Lisbon
$212 41.3% $149
Clothing & Footwear
Bismarck, ND
$109 *
Lisbon
$166 52.6% $57
Sport & Entertainment
Bismarck, ND
$58
Lisbon
$64 10.3% $5.9
Getting Around
Bismarck, ND
$42 *
Lisbon
$63 51.6% $22

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,015 in Bismarck, ND and $1,608 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bismarck, ND pays about 2.8 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $69 in Bismarck, ND vs $62 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $366 vs $272 per month, with Lisbon cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Bismarck, ND
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🕒 Local time
21:07 9:07 PM
03:07 3:07 AM
6 h ahead of Bismarck, ND
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
58,333
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 3, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 0.893 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bismarck, ND Lisbon 7,100 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Bismarck, ND
  • 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
Bismarck, ND vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Bismarck, ND and in Lisbon?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $2,339 in Bismarck, ND and $2,210 in Lisbon, so Lisbon is about 5% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Bismarck, ND or Lisbon?
Average pay in Bismarck, ND is about 2.8 times higher, 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 Bismarck, ND and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,015 in Bismarck, ND versus $1,608 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 34% higher in Bismarck, ND. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Lisbon – a meal for two runs $62 versus $69 in Bismarck, ND. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How far does $3,000 go in Bismarck, ND compared to Lisbon?
Either city works on $3,000 a month, though Lisbon gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Bismarck, ND 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 Bismarck, ND or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Bismarck, ND and Lisbon are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
How do I decide between Bismarck, ND and Lisbon?
It comes down to priorities – Lisbon wins on affordability, Bismarck, ND on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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