Cost of Living Comparison Between Bremen and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Bremen and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,991 in Bremen versus $2,210 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,065 in Bremen versus $3,311 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,138 in Bremen versus $4,411 in Lisbon.

Living in Bremen costs roughly 10% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bremen 49% above, Lisbon 65% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bremen
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.38 €14.96
$15.91 €13.70
9.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.2 €58.7
$64.8 €55.8
5.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.72 €10.09
$10.51 €9.05
11.51%
Cappuccino
$4.29 €3.69
$2.87 €2.47
49.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19 €2.74
$2.24 €1.93
42.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 €2.43
$1.50 €1.30
88.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.67 €4.88
$3.49 €3.01
62.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.50 €3.88
$3.88 €3.34
15.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bremen
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.25 €1.08
$1.14 €0.98
9.65%
White Bread (500g)
$2.21 €1.90
$1.75 €1.51
26.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.35 €2.89
$1.76 €1.51
90.34%
Eggs
$3.81 €3.28
$3.22 €2.77
18.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.86 €12.80
$13.49 €11.62
10.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.21 €12.24
$7.91 €6.81
79.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.92 €18.02
$15.87 €13.67
31.82%
Apples (1kg)
$3.32 €2.86
$2.31 €1.99
43.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 €1.56
$1.70 €1.46
6.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.34 €2.01
$2.01 €1.73
16.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.00 €4.31
$2.46 €2.12
103.25%
Potato (1kg)
$1.55 €1.33
$1.84 €1.59
-15.76%
Onion (1kg)
$1.62 €1.40
$2.00 €1.72
-19.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.06 €1.77
$1.93 €1.66
6.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 €1.02
$0.79 €0.68
49.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.91 €8.53
$6.61 €5.69
49.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.91 €5.09
$5.72 €4.93
3.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.03 €0.88
$1.37 €1.18
-24.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 €1.39
$2.97 €2.56
-45.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Bremen
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.50 €3.01
$2.37 €2.04
47.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.1 €56.9
$45.56 €39.23
45.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.43 €4.68
$4.29 €3.69
26.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.29 €1.97
$0.82 €0.70
179.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$43.90 €37.80
$18.30 €15.76
139.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.03 €1.75
$2.06 €1.78
-1.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.2K €26.9K
$34.3K €29.5K
-8.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.4K €33.1K
$39.3K €33.8K
-2.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bremen
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$296 €255
$148 €127
100.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.20 €29.45
$20.52 €17.67
66.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.6 €43.59
$39.61 €34.11
27.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bremen
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.73 €34.21
$47.85 €41.20
-16.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.69 €22.12
$18.92 €16.29
35.78%
Cinema Ticket
$13.82 €11.90
$9.18 €7.91
50.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bremen
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$495 €427
$614 €529
-19.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.9K €12.0K
$16.0K €13.8K
-13.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bremen
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$125 €108
$105 €90.1
19.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.3 €54.5
$42.06 €36.22
50.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.0 €75.8
$94.0 €80.9
-6.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$151 €130
$120 €103
25.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bremen
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$906 €780
$1,628 €1,402
-44.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$605 €521
$1,255 €1,081
-51.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,536 €1,322
$3,030 €2,609
-49.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,210 €1,042
$2,020 €1,740
-40.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,240 €4,512
$7,800 €6,716
-32.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,358 €3,753
$4,273 €3,679
2.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bremen
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,329 €2,867
$1,603 €1,381
107.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.97
3.81
4.20%

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

Last update for Bremen: May 30, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $906 in Bremen and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bremen pays 108% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $68.0 in Bremen vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $354 vs $269 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
Bremen vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Bremen and Lisbon?
Bremen and Lisbon differ by about 11% in total monthly costs ($1,991 vs $2,210 including rent). Bremen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Where can you earn more: Bremen or Lisbon?
Bremen pays 108% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Bremen and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $906 in Bremen versus $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Bremen or Lisbon?
Dining out is cheaper in Bremen – a meal for two runs $68.0 versus $65.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Bremen vs Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $1,991 per month in Bremen versus $2,210 in Lisbon – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Bremen or Lisbon?
At $1,991 in Bremen versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Bremen but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Bremen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Bremen or Lisbon more family-friendly?
For families, Bremen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lisbon, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Bremen or Lisbon?
Safety-wise, Bremen 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Bremen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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