Cost of Living Comparison Between Emmen and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Emmen and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,291 per month in Emmen vs $2,291 in Lisbon, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,371 per month in Emmen vs $3,322 in Lisbon, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,451 per month in Emmen vs $4,354 in Lisbon, rent included.

Emmen and Lisbon have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Emmen and Lisbon sit above the global median – Emmen by 71%, Lisbon by 71%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Emmen
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.80 €18.22
$16.19 €14.18
28.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$88.0 €77.1
$63.3 €55.5
38.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.78 €12.07
$10.32 €9.04
33.53%
Cappuccino
$3.24 €2.83
$2.83 €2.48
14.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14 €2.75
$2.29 €2.01
37.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 €2.51
$1.58 €1.38
81.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.30 €4.64
$3.40 €2.98
55.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94 €3.45
$4.03 €3.53
-2.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Emmen
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 €0.99
$1.09 €0.96
3.67%
White Bread (500g)
$2.19 €1.92
$1.75 €1.53
25.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.35 €2.94
$1.76 €1.54
90.34%
Eggs
$4.75 €4.16
$3.17 €2.77
49.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.10 €8.85
$13.19 €11.56
-23.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.56 €13.63
$7.97 €6.98
95.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.51 €15.34
$15.53 €13.60
12.75%
Apples (1kg)
$1.88 €1.65
$2.37 €2.07
-20.68%
Banana (1kg)
$2.59 €2.27
$1.71 €1.49
51.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 €1.64
$2.01 €1.76
-6.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.25 €2.85
$2.43 €2.13
33.74%
Potato (1kg)
$2.11 €1.85
$1.76 €1.54
19.89%
Onion (1kg)
$1.87 €1.64
$2.03 €1.78
-7.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 €1.00
$1.92 €1.68
-40.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 €0.51
$0.85 €0.74
-31.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.97 €9.61
$6.58 €5.76
66.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.68 €5.85
$5.58 €4.89
19.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 €1.01
$1.33 €1.17
-12.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70 €2.37
$2.97 €2.60
-9.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Emmen
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.68 €3.23
$2.28 €1.99
61.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$92.4 €80.9
$45.79 €40.10
101.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.76 €6.80
$4.23 €3.70
83.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.67 €2.34
$0.81 €0.71
229.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.05 €20.19
$18.44 €16.15
25.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.20 €1.93
$2.08 €1.82
5.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.2K €30.9K
$34.7K €30.4K
1.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K €31.4K
$39.2K €34.3K
-8.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Emmen
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$118 €103
$148 €130
-20.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.45 €21.42
$20.46 €17.92
19.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.0 €48.17
$39.56 €34.64
39.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Emmen
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.12 €36.01
$47.99 €42.03
-14.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.43 €20.52
$18.60 €16.29
25.97%
Cinema Ticket
$13.64 €11.94
$9.22 €8.08
47.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Emmen
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,514 €2,201
$616 €540
308.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.6K €9,316
$16.4K €14.4K
-35.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Emmen
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.4 €67.8
$103 €90.0
-24.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.24 €33.49
$41.74 €36.55
-8.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.1 €85.1
$94.8 €83.0
2.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 €88.6
$122 €107
-17.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Emmen
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,439 €1,260
$1,633 €1,430
-11.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,174 €1,028
$1,232 €1,079
-4.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,739 €1,523
$3,098 €2,713
-43.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,730 €1,515
$2,031 €1,779
-14.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,831 €6,858
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$4,389 €3,844
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Emmen
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,845 €2,492
$1,607 €1,408
77.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.36
3.81
14.44%

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

Last update for Emmen: July 13, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,439 in Emmen versus $1,633 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 77% higher in Emmen. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Emmen versus $63.0 in Lisbon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $321 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
Emmen vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What salary covers living expenses in Emmen compared to Lisbon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,436 per month in Emmen and $3,437 in Lisbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Emmen and Lisbon?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Emmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Emmen and $63.0 in Lisbon. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Emmen and in Lisbon?
Public transport costs about 102% less in Emmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Emmen, where all-in costs run around $2,291, than in Lisbon at $2,291. In Emmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Emmen and Lisbon?
It depends on your priorities. Lisbon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,291 in Emmen to $2,291 in Lisbon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Emmen or Lisbon safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Emmen and Lisbon?
If budget matters most, go with Emmen. 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.

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