Cost of Living Comparison Between Denver, CO and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Denver, CO and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,152 in Denver, CO versus $2,210 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,688 in Denver, CO versus $3,311 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,224 in Denver, CO versus $4,411 in Lisbon.

Living in Denver, CO is roughly 43% more expensive than Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Denver, CO 135% above, Lisbon 65% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Denver, CO
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.15 $20.15
$15.91 €13.70
26.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.4 $86.4
$64.8 €55.8
33.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.08 $12.08
$10.51 €9.05
14.94%
Cappuccino
$5.30 $5.30
$2.87 €2.47
84.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 $2.98
$2.24 €1.93
33.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 $2.24
$1.50 €1.30
49.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.22 $7.22
$3.49 €3.01
106.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.12 $8.12
$3.88 €3.34
109.28%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Denver, CO
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.14 €0.98
-9.65%
White Bread (500g)
$4.12 $4.12
$1.75 €1.51
135.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.70 $5.70
$1.76 €1.51
223.86%
Eggs
$5.55 $5.55
$3.22 €2.77
72.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.20 $14.20
$13.49 €11.62
5.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.28 $13.28
$7.91 €6.81
67.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.08 $17.08
$15.87 €13.67
7.62%
Apples (1kg)
$5.58 $5.58
$2.31 €1.99
141.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.91 $1.91
$1.70 €1.46
12.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.15 $5.15
$2.01 €1.73
156.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.31 $5.31
$2.46 €2.12
115.85%
Potato (1kg)
$2.79 $2.79
$1.84 €1.59
51.63%
Onion (1kg)
$2.59 $2.59
$2.00 €1.72
29.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.02 $2.02
$1.93 €1.66
4.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.20 $2.20
$0.79 €0.68
178.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.41 $10.41
$6.61 €5.69
57.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.94 $19.94
$5.72 €4.93
248.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40 $2.40
$1.37 €1.18
75.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 $3.73
$2.97 €2.56
25.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Denver, CO
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.84 $2.84
$2.37 €2.04
19.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$86.3 $86.3
$45.56 €39.23
89.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.45 $3.45
$4.29 €3.69
-19.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.72 $1.72
$0.82 €0.70
109.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.63 $23.63
$18.30 €15.76
29.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$2.06 €1.78
-56.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.1K $31.1K
$34.3K €29.5K
-9.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.6K $27.6K
$39.3K €33.8K
-29.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Denver, CO
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 $176
$148 €127
19.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$71.7 $71.7
$20.52 €17.67
249.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.6 $67.6
$39.61 €34.11
70.54%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Denver, CO
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$63.7 $63.7
$47.85 €41.20
33.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.21 $38.21
$18.92 €16.29
101.96%
Cinema Ticket
$15.28 $15.28
$9.18 €7.91
66.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Denver, CO
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,561 $1,561
$614 €529
154.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.2K $16.2K
$16.0K €13.8K
1.17%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Denver, CO
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.8 $59.8
$105 €90.1
-42.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.46 $46.46
$42.06 €36.22
10.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.9 $96.9
$94.0 €80.9
3.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 $117
$120 €103
-2.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Denver, CO
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,165 $2,165
$1,628 €1,402
32.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,725 $1,725
$1,255 €1,081
37.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,567 $3,567
$3,030 €2,609
17.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,955 $2,955
$2,020 €1,740
46.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,626 $5,626
$7,800 €6,716
-27.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,773 $3,773
$4,273 €3,679
-11.69%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Denver, CO
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,401 $4,401
$1,603 €1,381
174.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.37
3.81
67.19%

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

Last update for Denver, CO: May 31, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,165 in Denver, CO and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Denver, CO pays 174% 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: $86.0 in Denver, CO vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $451 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
Denver, CO vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Denver, CO or Lisbon?
Lisbon wins on cost – living expenses run 43% lower than in Denver, CO. 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 Denver, CO or Lisbon?
Denver, CO pays 174% more on average, 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 Denver, CO vs Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,165 in Denver, CO versus $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Denver, CO or Lisbon?
Supermarket bills run roughly 67% higher in Denver, CO. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Denver, CO vs Lisbon?
Dining out is cheaper in Lisbon – a meal for two runs $65.0 versus $86.0 in Denver, CO. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Denver, CO or 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.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Denver, CO or Lisbon?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lisbon delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,210 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lisbon hard to pass up.
How safe is Denver, CO compared to Lisbon?
Safety-wise, Denver, CO 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 43% less than in Denver, CO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Denver, CO vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities