Cost of Living Comparison Between Erlangen and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Erlangen and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,103 per month in Erlangen vs $2,210 in Lisbon, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,195 per month in Erlangen vs $3,311 in Lisbon, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,287 per month in Erlangen vs $4,411 in Lisbon, rent included.

Erlangen is about 5% cheaper than Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Erlangen and Lisbon sit above the global median – Erlangen by 57%, Lisbon by 65%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Erlangen
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.42 €13.26
$15.91 €13.69
-3.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.7 €49.62
$64.8 €55.7
-10.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.76 €11.83
$10.51 €9.04
30.92%
Cappuccino
$4.12 €3.54
$2.87 €2.47
43.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59 €3.09
$2.24 €1.93
60.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 €2.68
$1.50 €1.29
107.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.80 €4.13
$3.49 €3.00
37.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.39 €3.77
$3.88 €3.34
13.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Erlangen
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.30 €1.12
$1.14 €0.98
14.04%
White Bread (500g)
$2.18 €1.88
$1.75 €1.51
24.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.24 €2.79
$1.76 €1.51
84.09%
Eggs
$3.94 €3.39
$3.22 €2.77
22.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.71 €12.65
$13.49 €11.61
9.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.48 €13.32
$7.91 €6.81
95.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.35 €18.37
$15.87 €13.65
34.53%
Apples (1kg)
$3.02 €2.60
$2.31 €1.99
30.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.76 €1.52
$1.70 €1.46
3.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.31 €1.98
$2.01 €1.73
14.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.96 €4.27
$2.46 €2.12
101.63%
Potato (1kg)
$1.54 €1.33
$1.84 €1.59
-16.30%
Onion (1kg)
$1.62 €1.40
$2.00 €1.72
-19.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.01 €1.73
$1.93 €1.66
4.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.22 €1.05
$0.79 €0.68
54.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.97 €8.58
$6.61 €5.68
50.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.97 €6.85
$5.72 €4.92
39.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 €0.93
$1.37 €1.17
-21.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 €1.46
$2.97 €2.56
-42.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Erlangen
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.15 €2.71
$2.37 €2.04
32.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.3 €48.44
$45.56 €39.19
23.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.13 €3.55
$4.29 €3.69
-3.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.99 €1.71
$0.82 €0.70
142.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$36.87 €31.71
$18.30 €15.74
101.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.95 €1.68
$2.06 €1.78
-5.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4K €27.0K
$34.3K €29.5K
-8.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.2K €32.8K
$39.3K €33.8K
-2.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Erlangen
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$323 €278
$148 €127
118.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.58 €24.58
$20.52 €17.65
39.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.84 €42.88
$39.61 €34.08
25.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Erlangen
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.88 €33.45
$47.85 €41.16
-18.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.98 €19.77
$18.92 €16.28
21.46%
Cinema Ticket
$13.70 €11.78
$9.18 €7.90
49.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Erlangen
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$341 €293
$614 €528
-44.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.9K €16.3K
$16.0K €13.8K
18.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Erlangen
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$110 €94.8
$105 €90.0
5.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.36 €39.88
$42.06 €36.18
10.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$122 €105
$94.0 €80.8
30.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 €101
$120 €103
-1.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Erlangen
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$894 €769
$1,628 €1,400
-45.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$743 €639
$1,255 €1,080
-40.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,665 €1,432
$3,030 €2,607
-45.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,392 €1,198
$2,020 €1,738
-31.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,474 €5,569
$7,800 €6,709
-17.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,144 €3,565
$4,273 €3,675
-3.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Erlangen
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,406 €3,790
$1,603 €1,379
174.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.98
3.81
4.46%

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

Last update for Erlangen: June 2, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $894 in Erlangen 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.

Salaries run about 175% higher in Erlangen, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $58.0 in Erlangen versus $65.0 in Lisbon. Groceries tell a different story – $364 in Erlangen vs $269 in Lisbon – so Lisbon wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Erlangen vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do Erlangen and Lisbon compare in cost of living?
Lisbon costs about 5% more than Erlangen, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
What salary covers living expenses in Erlangen compared to Lisbon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,155 per month in Erlangen and $3,315 in Lisbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Erlangen and Lisbon?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Erlangen, 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 $58.0 in Erlangen and $65.0 in Lisbon. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Erlangen or Lisbon?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,103 in Erlangen and $2,210 in Lisbon. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Erlangen, where all-in costs run around $2,103, than in Lisbon at $2,210. In Erlangen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Erlangen and Lisbon?
It depends on your priorities. Lisbon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,103 in Erlangen to $2,210 in Lisbon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Erlangen 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 Erlangen and Lisbon?
If budget matters most, go with Erlangen. 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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