😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,310 in Columbus, GA versus $2,296 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,037 in Columbus, GA versus $3,376 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,763 in Columbus, GA versus $4,457 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Columbus, GA is roughly 1% more expensive than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Columbus, GA69% above, Lisbon68% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Columbus, GA
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.38$22.38
$17.59€15.33
27.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.3$80.3
$62.9€54.8
27.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.98$9.98
$11.58€10.10
-13.82%
Cappuccino
$5.02$5.02
$3.10€2.70
61.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74$2.74
$2.49€2.17
10.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05$2.05
$1.74€1.52
17.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.15$5.15
$3.48€3.03
47.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.87$6.87
$3.44€3.00
99.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Columbus, GA
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.91$0.91
$1.15€1.00
-20.87%
White Bread(500g)
$3.07$3.07
$1.91€1.66
60.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97$1.97
$1.50€1.31
31.33%
Eggs
$2.93$2.93
$3.98€3.47
-26.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.07$6.07
$13.29€11.59
-54.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.21$10.21
$8.01€6.98
27.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.31$9.31
$18.04€15.73
-48.39%
Apples(1kg)
$3.45$3.45
$2.35€2.05
46.81%
Banana(1kg)
$1.36$1.36
$1.75€1.53
-22.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.80$2.80
$1.85€1.62
51.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.58$3.58
$2.55€2.22
40.39%
Potato(1kg)
$1.66$1.66
$1.84€1.61
-9.78%
Onion(1kg)
$1.87$1.87
$2.10€1.83
-10.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.69$1.69
$1.49€1.30
13.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.70$1.70
$0.82€0.71
107.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.88$6.88
$7.10€6.19
-3.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.97$14.97
$5.91€5.15
153.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77$1.77
$1.31€1.15
35.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.26$1.26
$2.13€1.86
-40.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Columbus, GA
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.33$1.33
$2.36€2.05
-43.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$52.3$52.3
$46.62€40.63
12.27%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.97$1.97
$4.08€3.55
-51.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.28$1.28
$1.14€0.99
12.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.25$21.25
$17.09€14.90
24.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.89$0.89
$2.31€2.01
-61.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.6K$36.6K
$34.1K€29.7K
7.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K$25.7K
$41.4K€36.1K
-37.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Columbus, GA
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170$170
$169€147
0.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.83$46.83
$19.33€16.85
142.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.0$65.0
$33.51€29.21
93.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Columbus, GA
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.68$25.68
$48.84€42.57
-47.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.45$7.45
$19.43€16.94
-61.66%
Cinema Ticket
$12.56$12.56
$9.57€8.34
31.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Columbus, GA
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$987$987
$696€607
41.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.8K$13.8K
$17.4K€15.1K
-20.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Columbus, GA
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.07$45.07
$105€91.8
-57.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.15$30.15
$47.75€41.62
-36.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.9$90.9
$101€87.6
-9.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106$106
$124€108
-15.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Columbus, GA
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,229$1,229
$1,662€1,449
-26.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209$1,209
$1,246€1,086
-2.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,378$1,378
$2,965€2,584
-53.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,233$1,233
$2,049€1,786
-39.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,995$5,995
$7,834€6,829
-23.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,224$6,224
$4,464€3,892
39.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Columbus, GA
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,645$3,645
$1,632€1,422
123.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.1
3.78
61.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Columbus, GA: September 13, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,229 in Columbus, GA and $1,662 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Columbus, GA pays 123% 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: $80.0 in Columbus, GA vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $277 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
Columbus, GA vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Columbus, GA or Lisbon?
Lisbon wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Columbus, GA. 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 Columbus, GA or in Lisbon?
Average pay runs 123% higher in Columbus, GA, 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 Columbus, GA compared to Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,229 in Columbus, GA versus $1,662 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Columbus, GA compared to Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $2,310 per month in Columbus, GA versus $2,296 in Lisbon – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Columbus, GA compared to Lisbon?
A monthly transit pass in Lisbon runs roughly 12% less than in Columbus, GA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Columbus, GA or in Lisbon?
At $2,296 in Lisbon versus $2,310 in Columbus, GA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Columbus, GA. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Columbus, GA or Lisbon?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lisbon delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,296 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lisbon hard to pass up.
How safe is Columbus, GA compared to Lisbon?
Safety-wise, Columbus, GA 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 1% less than in Columbus, GA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Columbus, GA vs other spots: cost of living compared