Cost of Living Comparison Between Blacksburg, VA and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Blacksburg, VA and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,035 per month in Blacksburg, VA vs $2,210 in Lisbon, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,133 per month in Blacksburg, VA vs $3,311 in Lisbon, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,231 per month in Blacksburg, VA vs $4,411 in Lisbon, rent included.

Blacksburg, VA is about 8% cheaper than Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Blacksburg, VA and Lisbon sit above the global median – Blacksburg, VA by 52%, Lisbon by 65%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Blacksburg, VA
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.24 $16.24
$15.91 €13.69
2.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.8 $62.8
$64.8 €55.7
-3.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.63 $8.63
$10.51 €9.04
-17.89%
Cappuccino
$4.89 $4.89
$2.87 €2.47
70.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.24 €1.93
12.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$1.50 €1.29
32.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.13 $6.13
$3.49 €3.00
75.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.14 $8.14
$3.88 €3.34
109.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Blacksburg, VA
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.99 $0.99
$1.14 €0.98
-13.16%
White Bread (500g)
$3.57 $3.57
$1.75 €1.51
104.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.32 $4.32
$1.76 €1.51
145.45%
Eggs
$3.45 $3.45
$3.22 €2.77
7.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.44 $13.44
$13.49 €11.61
-0.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.24 $11.24
$7.91 €6.81
42.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.29 $7.29
$15.87 €13.65
-54.06%
Apples (1kg)
$4.43 $4.43
$2.31 €1.99
91.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.70 €1.46
-2.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.89 $3.89
$2.01 €1.73
93.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.80 $4.80
$2.46 €2.12
95.12%
Potato (1kg)
$2.77 $2.77
$1.84 €1.59
50.54%
Onion (1kg)
$2.21 $2.21
$2.00 €1.72
10.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.06 $2.06
$1.93 €1.66
6.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.02 $2.02
$0.79 €0.68
155.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.35 $7.35
$6.61 €5.68
11.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.07 $15.07
$5.72 €4.92
163.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 $1.79
$1.37 €1.17
30.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46 $4.46
$2.97 €2.56
50.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Blacksburg, VA
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.97 $1.97
$2.37 €2.04
-16.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$45.56 €39.19
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.45 $4.45
$4.29 €3.69
3.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.67 $1.67
$0.82 €0.70
103.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.16 $12.16
$18.30 €15.74
-33.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 $0.79
$2.06 €1.78
-61.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4K $25.4K
$34.3K €29.5K
-25.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2K $24.2K
$39.3K €33.8K
-38.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Blacksburg, VA
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$147 $147
$148 €127
-0.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.97 $31.97
$20.52 €17.65
55.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$97.7 $97.7
$39.61 €34.08
146.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Blacksburg, VA
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.33 $40.33
$47.85 €41.16
-15.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.86 $9.86
$18.92 €16.28
-47.89%
Cinema Ticket
$13.17 $13.17
$9.18 €7.90
43.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Blacksburg, VA
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$861 $861
$614 €528
40.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26.0K $26.0K
$16.0K €13.8K
61.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Blacksburg, VA
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.94 $30.94
$105 €90.0
-70.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.77 $29.77
$42.06 €36.18
-29.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$62.6 $62.6
$94.0 €80.8
-33.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.9 $75.9
$120 €103
-36.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Blacksburg, VA
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,338 $1,338
$1,628 €1,400
-17.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$949 $949
$1,255 €1,080
-24.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,131 $2,131
$3,030 €2,607
-29.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,973 $1,973
$2,020 €1,738
-2.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,075 $2,075
$7,800 €6,709
-73.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,110 $2,110
$4,273 €3,675
-50.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Blacksburg, VA
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,151 $4,151
$1,603 €1,379
158.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.3
3.81
65.35%

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

Last update for Blacksburg, VA: May 31, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,338 in Blacksburg, VA versus $1,628 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 159% higher in Blacksburg, VA, 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 $63.0 in Blacksburg, VA versus $65.0 in Lisbon. Groceries tell a different story – $360 in Blacksburg, VA vs $269 in Lisbon – so Lisbon wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Blacksburg, VA vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Blacksburg, VA and Lisbon compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,035 in Blacksburg, VA, $2,210 in Lisbon – roughly 9% apart. Lisbon costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Blacksburg, VA compared to Lisbon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,053 per month in Blacksburg, VA and $3,315 in Lisbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Blacksburg, VA and Lisbon?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Blacksburg, VA, 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: Blacksburg, VA or Lisbon?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,035 in Blacksburg, VA and $2,210 in Lisbon. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Blacksburg, VA and Lisbon?
Kindergarten costs $861 per month in Blacksburg, VA and $614 in Lisbon. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Blacksburg, VA, where all-in costs run around $2,035, than in Lisbon at $2,210. In Blacksburg, VA it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Blacksburg, VA and Lisbon?
It depends on your priorities. Lisbon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,035 in Blacksburg, VA to $2,210 in Lisbon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Blacksburg, VA 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 Blacksburg, VA and Lisbon?
If budget matters most, go with Blacksburg, VA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lisbon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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