😐A single person spends $2,291 per month in Ely, Cambridgeshire vs $2,258 in Lisbon, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,398 per month in Ely, Cambridgeshire vs $3,328 in Lisbon, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,506 per month in Ely, Cambridgeshire vs $4,397 in Lisbon, rent included.
😐Ely, Cambridgeshire costs about 1% more than Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Ely, Cambridgeshire and Lisbon sit above the global median – Ely, Cambridgeshire by 70%, Lisbon by 68%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ely, Cambridgeshire
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.14£14.18
$15.82€13.46
20.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.6£66.4
$64.4€54.8
39.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.76£9.45
$10.37€8.82
23.05%
Cappuccino
$5.61£4.16
$2.89€2.46
94.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53£1.87
$2.23€1.90
13.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85£1.37
$1.55€1.32
19.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.18£3.84
$3.38€2.88
53.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37£3.24
$3.90€3.32
12.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ely, Cambridgeshire
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.59£1.18
$1.12€0.96
41.96%
White Bread(500g)
$1.60£1.18
$1.80€1.53
-11.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.29£1.70
$1.75€1.49
30.86%
Eggs
$3.94£2.92
$3.17€2.70
24.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.72£7.21
$13.50€11.49
-28.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.85£6.56
$7.79€6.63
13.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.80£10.22
$15.65€13.32
-11.82%
Apples(1kg)
$3.19£2.36
$2.28€1.94
39.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64£1.21
$1.71€1.46
-4.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.78£2.06
$1.93€1.65
44.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.45£2.56
$2.52€2.15
36.90%
Potato(1kg)
$1.71£1.26
$1.79€1.52
-4.47%
Onion(1kg)
$1.49£1.10
$2.05€1.74
-27.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.11£0.82
$1.94€1.65
-42.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50£1.12
$0.81€0.69
85.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$18.73£13.88
$6.65€5.66
181.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.82£8.02
$5.79€4.92
86.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.82£2.09
$1.33€1.14
112.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21£2.38
$2.91€2.47
10.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Ely, Cambridgeshire
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.40£2.52
$2.35€2.00
44.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$90.3£66.9
$45.70€38.89
97.59%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.49£4.07
$4.20€3.58
30.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.54£1.14
$0.81€0.69
90.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.37£17.32
$18.70€15.91
24.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.95£1.44
$2.09€1.78
-6.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.8K£28.0K
$34.6K€29.5K
9.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.8K£31.0K
$39.7K€33.7K
5.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ely, Cambridgeshire
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$297£220
$146€124
103.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.40£12.89
$20.84€17.73
-16.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.68£31.62
$39.78€33.85
7.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ely, Cambridgeshire
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.48£33.70
$48.58€41.35
-6.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.85€16.04
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.44£9.96
$9.07€7.72
48.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ely, Cambridgeshire
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,572£1,165
$618€526
154.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.3K£13.6K
$16.2K€13.8K
13.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ely, Cambridgeshire
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.2£60.9
$105€89.0
-21.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.70£31.64
$40.54€34.50
5.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.8£68.1
$93.8€79.8
-2.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.4£73.6
$123€104
-18.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ely, Cambridgeshire
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,239£918
$1,604€1,365
-22.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$986£731
$1,260€1,073
-21.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,000£1,482
$3,065€2,608
-34.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,675£1,241
$2,008€1,709
-16.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,665£4,939
$7,702€6,555
-13.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,116£4,532
$4,367€3,716
40.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ely, Cambridgeshire
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,954£2,189
$1,638€1,394
80.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.63
3.81
47.77%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ely, Cambridgeshire: April 12, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,239 in Ely, Cambridgeshire versus $1,604 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 80% higher in Ely, Cambridgeshire, 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 $90 in Ely, Cambridgeshire versus $64 in Lisbon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $299 vs $268 – 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
Ely, Cambridgeshire vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lisbon cheaper than Ely, Cambridgeshire?
Yes – Ely, Cambridgeshire is pricier by about 1%, 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 $3,437 per month in Ely, Cambridgeshire and $3,387 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 Ely, Cambridgeshire vs Lisbon?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,291 in Ely, Cambridgeshire and $2,258 in Lisbon. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 98% less in Lisbon. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for Ely, Cambridgeshire or Lisbon?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Lisbon, where all-in costs run around $2,258, than in Ely, Cambridgeshire at $2,291. In Lisbon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ely, Cambridgeshire it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ely, Cambridgeshire 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, Ely, Cambridgeshire 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, Ely, Cambridgeshire makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Ely, Cambridgeshire vs other spots: cost of living compared