🙂A single person spends $1,678 per month in Darlington vs $2,210 in Lisbon, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,666 per month in Darlington vs $3,311 in Lisbon, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,653 per month in Darlington vs $4,411 in Lisbon, rent included.
🙂Darlington is about 24% cheaper than Lisbon, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Darlington and Lisbon sit above the global median – Darlington by 25%, Lisbon by 65%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Darlington
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.20£13.56
$15.91€13.70
14.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.7£60.9
$64.8€55.8
26.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.77£7.28
$10.51€9.05
-7.04%
Cappuccino
$4.70£3.50
$2.87€2.47
63.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00£1.49
$2.24€1.93
-10.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71£0.53
$1.50€1.29
-52.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.49£4.09
$3.49€3.01
57.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.48£3.34
$3.88€3.34
15.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Darlington
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.30£0.97
$1.14€0.98
14.04%
White Bread(500g)
$1.33£0.99
$1.75€1.51
-24.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.36£1.76
$1.76€1.51
34.09%
Eggs
$3.72£2.77
$3.22€2.77
15.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.43£7.77
$13.49€11.61
-22.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.95£5.92
$7.91€6.81
0.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.66£5.70
$15.87€13.67
-51.73%
Apples(1kg)
$3.58£2.66
$2.31€1.99
54.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.28£0.95
$1.70€1.46
-24.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.05£2.27
$2.01€1.73
51.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.68£2.74
$2.46€2.12
49.59%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13£0.84
$1.84€1.59
-38.59%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34£1.00
$2.00€1.72
-33.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.97£0.72
$1.93€1.66
-49.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83£0.62
$0.79€0.68
5.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$18.67£13.91
$6.61€5.69
182.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.24£6.88
$5.72€4.93
61.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18£0.88
$1.37€1.18
-13.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92£1.43
$2.97€2.56
-35.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Darlington
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.74£2.04
$2.37€2.04
15.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$87.5£65.2
$45.56€39.22
92.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.87£3.63
$4.29€3.69
13.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.58£1.17
$0.82€0.70
92.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.34£12.17
$18.30€15.76
-10.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.95£1.46
$2.06€1.78
-5.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.4K£15.2K
$34.3K€29.5K
-40.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K£23.6K
$39.3K€33.8K
-19.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Darlington
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$269£201
$148€127
82.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.76£11.74
$20.52€17.67
-23.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.60£32.48
$39.61€34.10
10.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Darlington
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.98£20.10
$47.85€41.19
-43.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.80£5.07
$18.92€16.29
-64.06%
Cinema Ticket
$6.81£5.07
$9.18€7.91
-25.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Darlington
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,593£1,187
$614€529
159.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,694£4,987
$16.0K€13.8K
-58.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Darlington
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.1£59.7
$105€90.1
-23.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.85£20.00
$42.06€36.21
-36.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.1£64.9
$94.0€80.9
-7.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.2£53.1
$120€103
-40.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Darlington
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$668£498
$1,628€1,401
-58.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$554£412
$1,255€1,081
-55.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,483£1,105
$3,030€2,609
-51.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,226£914
$2,020€1,739
-39.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$13.8K£10.2K
$7,800€6,715
76.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,273€3,678
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Darlington
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,798£2,084
$1,603€1,380
74.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.6
3.81
46.98%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Darlington: May 31, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $668 in Darlington versus $1,628 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 74% higher in Darlington, 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 $82.0 in Darlington versus $65.0 in Lisbon. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Darlington vs $269 in Lisbon – so Darlington 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
Darlington vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lisbon cheaper than Darlington?
Yes – Lisbon is pricier by about 32%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,517 per month in Darlington and $3,315 in Lisbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Darlington, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 92% less in Darlington. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,593 per month in Darlington and $614 in Lisbon. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Darlington or Lisbon?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Darlington, where all-in costs run around $1,678, than in Lisbon at $2,210. In Darlington it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Darlington or Lisbon more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Darlington – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Darlington or Lisbon?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Darlington. 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.
Darlington vs other spots: cost of living compared