😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,585 in Brea, CA versus $2,316 in Lisbon.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,052 in Brea, CA versus $3,361 in Lisbon.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,519 in Brea, CA versus $4,405 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Brea, CA is roughly 55% more expensive than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Brea, CA161% above, Lisbon69% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brea, CA
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.19$25.19
$17.30€14.89
45.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102$102
$63.3€54.4
60.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.65$11.65
$11.39€9.80
2.28%
Cappuccino
$5.75$5.75
$3.19€2.75
80.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78$2.78
$2.45€2.10
13.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01$2.01
$1.76€1.52
14.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.19$8.19
$3.59€3.09
128.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.10$9.10
$3.39€2.92
168.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brea, CA
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.20$1.20
$1.24€1.06
-3.23%
White Bread(500g)
$4.53$4.53
$1.98€1.71
128.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.27$4.27
$1.52€1.31
180.92%
Eggs
$5.07$5.07
$4.04€3.48
25.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.65$12.65
$13.54€11.65
-6.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.42$14.42
$8.39€7.22
71.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.12$14.12
$18.25€15.70
-22.63%
Apples(1kg)
$5.52$5.52
$2.29€1.97
141.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74$1.74
$1.74€1.50
-
Oranges(1kg)
$4.19$4.19
$1.86€1.60
125.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.46$6.46
$2.63€2.26
145.63%
Potato(1kg)
$3.63$3.63
$1.92€1.65
89.06%
Onion(1kg)
$3.56$3.56
$2.09€1.80
70.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.28$2.28
$1.44€1.24
58.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.23$2.23
$0.84€0.72
165.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.83$11.83
$6.78€5.83
74.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.14$15.14
$5.71€4.91
165.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76$1.76
$1.38€1.18
27.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16$3.16
$2.22€1.91
42.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Brea, CA
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$2.40€2.06
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$46.78€40.25
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.87$2.87
$4.17€3.59
-31.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.82$1.82
$1.14€0.98
59.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.70$35.70
$17.68€15.21
101.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.46$1.46
$2.32€2.00
-37.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.1K$37.1K
$35.3K€30.4K
4.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K$25.9K
$41.4K€35.7K
-37.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brea, CA
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$218$218
$170€147
28.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$70.2$70.2
$19.34€16.64
262.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.7$68.7
$33.64€28.95
104.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brea, CA
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.36$30.36
$48.10€41.39
-36.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.31$20.31
$19.90€17.12
2.06%
Cinema Ticket
$14.12$14.12
$9.92€8.54
42.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brea, CA
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,426$1,426
$717€617
98.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$37.7K$37.7K
$17.5K€15.0K
115.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brea, CA
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.2$73.2
$105€90.2
-30.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.31$41.31
$46.95€40.40
-12.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.5$79.5
$103€89.0
-23.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133$133
$124€107
6.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brea, CA
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,161$2,161
$1,677€1,443
28.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,187$2,187
$1,271€1,094
72.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,570$2,570
$2,985€2,568
-13.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,271$3,271
$1,992€1,715
64.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,806$5,806
$7,826€6,734
-25.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,853$5,853
$4,658€4,008
25.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brea, CA
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$9,825$9,825
$1,583€1,362
520.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.08
3.79
60.42%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Brea, CA: August 30, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,161 in Brea, CA and $1,677 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Brea, CA pays 521% 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: $102 in Brea, CA vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $433 vs $283 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
Brea, CA vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Brea, CA or Lisbon?
Lisbon wins on cost – living expenses run 55% lower than in Brea, CA. 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 Brea, CA or in Lisbon?
Average pay runs 521% higher in Brea, CA, 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 Brea, CA compared to Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,161 in Brea, CA versus $1,677 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Brea, CA and in Lisbon?
Childcare runs $1,426 in Brea, CA versus $717 in Lisbon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Brea, CA and in Lisbon?
Dining out is cheaper in Lisbon – a meal for two runs $63.0 versus $102 in Brea, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Brea, CA 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, Brea, CA or Lisbon?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lisbon delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,316 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lisbon hard to pass up.
How safe is Brea, CA compared to Lisbon?
Safety-wise, Brea, CA 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 55% less than in Brea, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.