Cost of Living Comparison Between Cham and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Cham and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,528 in Cham versus $2,210 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,360 in Cham versus $3,289 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,192 in Cham versus $4,369 in Lisbon.

Living in Cham is roughly 60% more expensive than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Cham 164% above, Lisbon 65% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cham
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.86 CHF 25.23
$15.71 €13.81
96.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$147 CHF 121
$62.9 €55.3
134.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$19.66 CHF 16.08
$10.53 €9.26
86.70%
Cappuccino
$6.74 CHF 5.51
$2.88 €2.54
134.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.51 CHF 4.51
$2.25 €1.98
144.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.98 CHF 4.07
$1.56 €1.37
219.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$10.05 CHF 8.22
$3.39 €2.98
196.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.68 CHF 6.28
$3.90 €3.43
96.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cham
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.24 CHF 1.83
$1.08 €0.95
107.41%
White Bread (500g)
$3.33 CHF 2.72
$1.73 €1.52
92.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.15 CHF 3.39
$1.76 €1.55
135.80%
Eggs
$7.22 CHF 5.91
$3.16 €2.78
128.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$28.77 CHF 23.52
$13.29 €11.68
116.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$33.10 CHF 27.07
$7.87 €6.92
320.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$44.54 CHF 36.42
$15.84 €13.92
181.19%
Apples (1kg)
$4.02 CHF 3.29
$2.40 €2.11
67.50%
Banana (1kg)
$2.72 CHF 2.22
$1.70 €1.50
60.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.98 CHF 2.44
$2.03 €1.78
46.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.05 CHF 4.13
$2.52 €2.21
100.40%
Potato (1kg)
$2.87 CHF 2.34
$1.86 €1.63
54.30%
Onion (1kg)
$2.30 CHF 1.88
$2.06 €1.81
11.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.57 CHF 2.10
$2.00 €1.76
28.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 CHF 1.24
$0.78 €0.69
94.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.20 CHF 9.16
$6.65 €5.84
68.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.01 CHF 10.64
$5.78 €5.08
125.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.38 CHF 1.94
$1.38 €1.22
72.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 CHF 2.59
$3.02 €2.65
4.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Cham
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.88 CHF 3.17
$2.33 €2.05
66.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$99.1 CHF 81.0
$45.45 €39.96
118.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.77 CHF 6.35
$4.08 €3.58
90.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.15 CHF 3.40
$0.80 €0.70
418.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$86.3 CHF 70.6
$18.65 €16.39
362.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.25 CHF 1.84
$2.00 €1.76
12.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.1K CHF 33.6K
$35.4K €31.1K
16.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.9K CHF 32.6K
$39.1K €34.3K
2.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cham
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$255 CHF 209
$150 €132
70.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.13 CHF 28.73
$20.55 €18.07
70.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.9 CHF 48.16
$39.45 €34.68
49.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cham
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$86.2 CHF 70.5
$48.06 €42.25
79.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.70 €16.44
-
Cinema Ticket
$22.76 CHF 18.61
$9.30 €8.18
144.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cham
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,609 CHF 2,133
$628 €552
315.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$34.0K CHF 27.8K
$16.5K €14.5K
106.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cham
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$132 CHF 108
$102 €89.3
29.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.6 CHF 49.57
$41.55 €36.52
45.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$148 CHF 121
$92.5 €81.3
59.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$204 CHF 167
$123 €108
66.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cham
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,705 CHF 1,394
$1,628 €1,431
4.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,469 CHF 1,201
$1,233 €1,084
19.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,825 CHF 2,310
$3,126 €2,748
-9.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,506 CHF 2,049
$2,058 €1,809
21.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$16.9K CHF 13.8K
$7,762 €6,824
117.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$14.1K CHF 11.5K
$4,386 €3,856
220.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cham
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,621 €1,425
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.09
3.81
-45.14%

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

Last update for Cham: July 20, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,705 in Cham and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $147 in Cham vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $646 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
Cham vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lisbon cheaper than Cham?
Lisbon is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 60% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $5,293 in Cham and $3,315 in Lisbon to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Cham and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,705 in Cham versus $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $2,609 in Cham versus $628 in Lisbon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Cham and in Lisbon?
Supermarket bills run roughly 140% higher in Cham. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $3,000 enough to cover costs in Cham 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.
Is Cham or Lisbon more family-friendly?
For families, Lisbon is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cham, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cham or Lisbon?
Safety-wise, Cham 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 Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 60% less than in Cham. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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