😐A single person spends $3,179 per month in Davis, CA vs $2,280 in Lisbon, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,650 per month in Davis, CA vs $3,294 in Lisbon, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $6,121 per month in Davis, CA vs $4,307 in Lisbon, rent included.
😐Davis, CA costs about 39% more than Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Davis, CA and Lisbon sit above the global median – Davis, CA by 139%, Lisbon by 71%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Davis, CA
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.89$14.89
$15.75€13.64
-5.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.2$66.2
$63.5€55.0
4.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.03$12.03
$10.45€9.05
15.12%
Cappuccino
$4.75$4.75
$2.91€2.52
63.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40$3.40
$2.29€1.98
48.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35$2.35
$1.50€1.30
56.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.06$8.06
$3.56€3.09
126.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.81$7.81
$3.96€3.43
97.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Davis, CA
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.20$1.20
$1.08€0.94
11.11%
White Bread(500g)
$4.12$4.12
$1.76€1.53
134.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.49$3.49
$1.70€1.47
105.29%
Eggs
$5.36$5.36
$3.25€2.81
64.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.30$12.30
$13.25€11.47
-7.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.48$11.48
$7.70€6.67
49.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$24.76$24.76
$15.77€13.66
57.01%
Apples(1kg)
$4.58$4.58
$2.28€1.97
100.88%
Banana(1kg)
$2.91$2.91
$1.66€1.43
75.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$6.00$6.00
$2.02€1.75
197.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.60$4.60
$2.47€2.14
86.23%
Potato(1kg)
$3.80$3.80
$1.79€1.55
112.29%
Onion(1kg)
$3.50$3.50
$2.07€1.79
69.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.47$2.47
$1.97€1.71
25.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$3.58$3.58
$0.83€0.72
331.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.14$10.14
$6.55€5.68
54.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.29$16.29
$5.57€4.82
192.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85$1.85
$1.33€1.15
39.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.89$7.89
$3.01€2.60
162.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Davis, CA
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.23$1.23
$2.27€1.97
-45.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$46.35€40.14
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.43$3.43
$4.23€3.66
-18.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59$1.59
$0.85€0.73
87.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.69$28.69
$18.83€16.31
52.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22$1.22
$2.02€1.75
-39.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K$27.7K
$35.0K€30.3K
-20.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K$23.6K
$39.6K€34.3K
-40.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Davis, CA
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$239$239
$148€128
61.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.5$52.5
$20.52€17.77
155.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.7$69.7
$39.52€34.23
76.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Davis, CA
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.43$43.43
$48.17€41.72
-9.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.39€15.92
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.81$11.81
$9.10€7.88
29.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Davis, CA
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,495$1,495
$615€532
143.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.8K$23.8K
$16.3K€14.1K
46.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Davis, CA
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.11$49.11
$102€88.0
-51.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.66$37.66
$42.09€36.45
-10.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.0$97.0
$92.3€79.9
5.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$134$134
$122€106
9.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Davis, CA
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,205$2,205
$1,612€1,396
36.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,865$1,865
$1,254€1,086
48.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,395$3,395
$3,069€2,658
10.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,206$3,206
$2,037€1,764
57.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,698$2,698
$7,751€6,712
-65.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,420$2,420
$4,286€3,712
-43.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Davis, CA
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,022$5,022
$1,602€1,387
213.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.36
3.81
66.93%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Davis, CA: July 26, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $2,205 in Davis, CA versus $1,612 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 214% higher in Davis, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $66.0 in Davis, CA versus $63.0 in Lisbon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $473 vs $267 – 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
Davis, CA vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lisbon cheaper than Davis, CA?
Yes – Davis, CA is pricier by about 39%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $4,769 per month in Davis, CA and $3,420 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 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 Davis, CA and in Lisbon?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,179 in Davis, CA and $2,280 in Lisbon. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,495 per month in Davis, CA and $615 in Lisbon. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $3,000 enough to cover costs in Davis, CA or in Lisbon?
$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,179 in Davis, CA and $2,280 in Lisbon. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Davis, CA or Lisbon more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Lisbon – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Davis, CA 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 Lisbon. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Davis, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.