Cost of Living Comparison Between Canterbury and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Canterbury and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Canterbury vs $2,296 in Lisbon, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,543 per month in Canterbury vs $3,376 in Lisbon, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,155 per month in Canterbury vs $4,457 in Lisbon, rent included.

Canterbury is about 59% cheaper than Lisbon, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Canterbury sits 32% below the global median, while Lisbon is 68% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.42 NZ$25.22

$17.59 €15.33

-18.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.0 NZ$110

$62.9 €54.8

0.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.72 NZ$20.48

$11.58 €10.10

1.21%

Cappuccino

$3.23 NZ$5.65

$3.10 €2.70

4.19%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 NZ$3.81

$2.49 €2.17

-12.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 NZ$3.69

$1.74 €1.52

21.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.15 NZ$7.25

$3.48 €3.03

19.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.41 NZ$11.21

$3.44 €3.00

86.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 NZ$3.91

$1.15 €1.00

94.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.98 NZ$3.45

$1.91 €1.66

3.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.74 NZ$3.04

$1.50 €1.31

16.00%

Eggs

$5.60 NZ$9.80

$3.98 €3.47

40.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.52 NZ$14.89

$13.29 €11.59

-35.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.94 NZ$15.63

$8.01 €6.98

11.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.81 NZ$29.39

$18.04 €15.73

-6.82%

Apples (1kg)

$3.06 NZ$5.36

$2.35 €2.05

30.21%

Banana (1kg)

$2.29 NZ$4.00

$1.75 €1.53

30.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.37 NZ$5.90

$1.85 €1.62

82.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.13 NZ$8.96

$2.55 €2.22

101.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.94 NZ$3.39

$1.84 €1.61

5.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.82 NZ$3.18

$2.10 €1.83

-13.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.34 NZ$4.10

$1.49 €1.30

57.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 NZ$1.06

$0.82 €0.71

-25.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$21.38 NZ$37.38

$7.10 €6.19

201.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.32 NZ$16.29

$5.91 €5.15

57.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.34 NZ$5.83

$1.31 €1.15

154.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.26 NZ$2.21

$2.13 €1.86

-40.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.36 €2.05

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.62 €40.63

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.71 NZ$9.99

$4.08 €3.55

39.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.14 €0.99

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.46 NZ$49.76

$17.09 €14.90

66.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.63 NZ$2.85

$2.31 €2.01

-29.44%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.5K NZ$44.5K

$34.1K €29.7K

-25.37%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.4K NZ$46.2K

$41.4K €36.1K

-36.11%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$114 NZ$200

$169 €147

-32.19%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$28.91 NZ$50.5

$19.33 €16.85

49.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.6 NZ$92.0

$33.51 €29.21

57.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.84 €42.57

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.43 €16.94

Cinema Ticket

$10.63 NZ$18.58

$9.57 €8.34

11.08%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$611 NZ$1,068

$696 €607

-12.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.4K €15.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 NZ$105

$105 €91.8

-43.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.74 NZ$39.75

$47.75 €41.62

-52.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.0 NZ$162

$101 €87.6

-7.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 NZ$246

$124 €108

13.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$909 NZ$1,588

$1,662 €1,449

-45.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,246 €1,086

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,965 €2,584

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,049 €1,786

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,834 €6,829

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,464 €3,892

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,772 NZ$4,846

$1,632 €1,422

69.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.78

5.82%

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

Last update for Canterbury: September 14, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $909 in Canterbury versus $1,662 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 70% higher in Canterbury, 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 Canterbury versus $63.0 in Lisbon. Groceries tell a different story – $324 in Canterbury vs $277 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

Canterbury vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $932 in Canterbury, $2,296 in Lisbon – roughly 146% apart. Lisbon costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Canterbury and $3,444 in Lisbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Canterbury, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Canterbury and $63.0 in Lisbon. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 17% cheaper in Lisbon – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Canterbury, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Lisbon at $2,296. In Canterbury it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Lisbon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $932 in Canterbury to $2,296 in Lisbon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Canterbury. 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.