πA single person spends $3,007 per month in Dartford vs $2,210 in Lisbon, rent included.
πA couple spends around $4,457 per month in Dartford vs $3,311 in Lisbon, rent included.
πA family of three spends $5,907 per month in Dartford vs $4,411 in Lisbon, rent included.
πDartford costs about 36% more than Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πBoth Dartford and Lisbon sit above the global median β Dartford by 124%, Lisbon by 65%.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Dartford
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.23Β£20.24
$15.91β¬13.69
71.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$108Β£80.5
$64.8β¬55.7
67.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.91Β£8.11
$10.51β¬9.04
3.81%
Cappuccino
$5.07Β£3.77
$2.87β¬2.47
76.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86Β£2.13
$2.24β¬1.93
27.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88Β£1.40
$1.50β¬1.29
25.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.12Β£6.04
$3.49β¬3.00
132.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.87Β£5.11
$3.88β¬3.34
77.06%
π Groceries & Markets
Dartford
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62Β£1.20
$1.14β¬0.98
42.11%
White Bread(500g)
$1.32Β£0.98
$1.75β¬1.51
-24.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.55Β£1.90
$1.76β¬1.51
44.89%
Eggs
$3.65Β£2.71
$3.22β¬2.77
13.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.10Β£7.51
$13.49β¬11.61
-25.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.83Β£6.57
$7.91β¬6.81
11.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.50Β£10.77
$15.87β¬13.65
-8.63%
Apples(1kg)
$3.35Β£2.49
$2.31β¬1.99
45.02%
Banana(1kg)
$1.99Β£1.48
$1.70β¬1.46
17.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.86Β£2.13
$2.01β¬1.73
42.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.48Β£2.58
$2.46β¬2.12
41.46%
Potato(1kg)
$1.49Β£1.11
$1.84β¬1.59
-19.02%
Onion(1kg)
$1.43Β£1.07
$2.00β¬1.72
-28.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.93Β£0.69
$1.93β¬1.66
-51.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.53Β£1.13
$0.79β¬0.68
93.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$23.16Β£17.22
$6.61β¬5.68
250.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.63Β£10.13
$5.72β¬4.92
138.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.23Β£1.66
$1.37β¬1.17
62.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37Β£2.51
$2.97β¬2.56
13.47%
π Getting Around
Dartford
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.22Β£2.39
$2.37β¬2.04
35.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$87.8Β£65.2
$45.56β¬39.19
92.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.35Β£3.98
$4.29β¬3.69
24.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.70Β£1.26
$0.82β¬0.70
107.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.15Β£11.26
$18.30β¬15.74
-17.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89Β£1.41
$2.06β¬1.78
-8.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.1KΒ£28.3K
$34.3Kβ¬29.5K
11.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3KΒ£29.2K
$39.3Kβ¬33.8K
0.07%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dartford
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$228Β£169
$148β¬127
54.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.12Β£14.95
$20.52β¬17.65
-1.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.13Β£32.06
$39.61β¬34.08
8.89%
π Sport & Entertainment
Dartford
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.78Β£33.28
$47.85β¬41.16
-6.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.92β¬16.28
-
Cinema Ticket
$20.14Β£14.97
$9.18β¬7.90
119.39%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Dartford
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,905Β£1,416
$614β¬528
210.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$25.5KΒ£18.9K
$16.0Kβ¬13.8K
58.58%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Dartford
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.2Β£61.8
$105β¬90.0
-20.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.06Β£35.73
$42.06β¬36.18
14.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$109Β£80.9
$94.0β¬80.8
15.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.4Β£73.2
$120β¬103
-17.74%
π Accommodation & Living
Dartford
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,286Β£1,699
$1,628β¬1,400
40.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,651Β£1,227
$1,255β¬1,080
31.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,009Β£2,237
$3,030β¬2,607
-0.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,708Β£2,013
$2,020β¬1,738
34.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,433Β£4,038
$7,800β¬6,709
-30.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,424Β£3,288
$4,273β¬3,675
3.54%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Dartford
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,596Β£2,673
$1,603β¬1,379
124.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.05
3.81
32.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dartford: May 30, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $2,286 in Dartford 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.
π°Salaries run about 124% higher in Dartford, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $108 in Dartford versus $65.0 in Lisbon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $304 vs $269 β making Lisbon the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Dartford vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lisbon cheaper than Dartford?
Yes β Dartford is pricier by about 36%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $4,511 per month in Dartford and $3,315 in Lisbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Lisbon, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Dartford vs Lisbon?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,007 in Dartford and $2,210 in Lisbon. The difference isn't just one category β it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $3,000 enough to cover costs in Dartford or Lisbon?
$3,000 is a stretch for both β monthly costs hit $3,007 in Dartford and $2,210 in Lisbon. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Dartford or Lisbon more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Lisbon β lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Dartford 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 β central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Lisbon. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dartford makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.