Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Collins, CO and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Collins, CO and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,502 in Fort Collins, CO versus $2,210 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,709 in Fort Collins, CO versus $3,311 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,916 in Fort Collins, CO versus $4,411 in Lisbon.

Living in Fort Collins, CO is roughly 13% more expensive than Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Fort Collins, CO 87% above, Lisbon 65% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fort Collins, CO
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.24 $18.24
$15.91 €13.70
14.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.9 $70.9
$64.8 €55.8
9.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.59 $11.59
$10.51 €9.05
10.28%
Cappuccino
$4.81 $4.81
$2.87 €2.47
67.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.24 €1.93
-8.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 $2.40
$1.50 €1.29
60.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.81 $6.81
$3.49 €3.01
95.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.39 $6.39
$3.88 €3.34
64.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fort Collins, CO
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.01 $1.01
$1.14 €0.98
-11.40%
White Bread (500g)
$3.15 $3.15
$1.75 €1.51
80.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$1.76 €1.51
85.23%
Eggs
$4.26 $4.26
$3.22 €2.77
32.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.83 $10.83
$13.49 €11.61
-19.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.79 $8.79
$7.91 €6.81
11.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.63 $16.63
$15.87 €13.67
4.79%
Apples (1kg)
$3.90 $3.90
$2.31 €1.99
68.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 $1.57
$1.70 €1.46
-7.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$2.01 €1.73
117.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.04 $5.04
$2.46 €2.12
104.88%
Potato (1kg)
$2.27 $2.27
$1.84 €1.59
23.37%
Onion (1kg)
$1.88 $1.88
$2.00 €1.72
-6.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.93 €1.66
25.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 $1.95
$0.79 €0.68
146.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.39 $9.39
$6.61 €5.69
42.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.29 $19.29
$5.72 €4.93
237.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 $2.27
$1.37 €1.18
65.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 $2.66
$2.97 €2.56
-10.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Fort Collins, CO
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.37 €2.04
-15.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$45.56 €39.22
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.57 $2.57
$4.29 €3.69
-40.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.43 $1.43
$0.82 €0.70
74.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.38 $25.38
$18.30 €15.76
38.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.87 $0.87
$2.06 €1.78
-57.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.3K $27.3K
$34.3K €29.5K
-20.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K $25.4K
$39.3K €33.8K
-35.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fort Collins, CO
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 $169
$148 €127
14.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.79 $43.79
$20.52 €17.67
113.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.7 $76.7
$39.61 €34.10
93.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fort Collins, CO
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$59.6 $59.6
$47.85 €41.19
24.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.13 $15.13
$18.92 €16.29
-20.03%
Cinema Ticket
$11.88 $11.88
$9.18 €7.91
29.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fort Collins, CO
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,554 $1,554
$614 €529
153.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.6K $12.6K
$16.0K €13.8K
-21.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fort Collins, CO
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.4 $68.4
$105 €90.1
-34.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$91.5 $91.5
$42.06 €36.21
117.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.1 $80.1
$94.0 €80.9
-14.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 $107
$120 €103
-10.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fort Collins, CO
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,810 $1,810
$1,628 €1,401
11.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,241 $1,241
$1,255 €1,081
-1.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,782 $2,782
$3,030 €2,609
-8.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,262 $2,262
$2,020 €1,739
11.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,982 $2,982
$7,800 €6,715
-61.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,947 $2,947
$4,273 €3,678
-31.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fort Collins, CO
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,422 $4,422
$1,603 €1,380
175.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.59
3.81
72.97%

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

Last update for Fort Collins, CO: May 30, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,810 in Fort Collins, CO and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Fort Collins, CO pays 176% 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: $71.0 in Fort Collins, CO vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $368 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
Fort Collins, CO vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Fort Collins, CO or Lisbon?
Lisbon wins on cost – living expenses run 13% lower than in Fort Collins, 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 Fort Collins, CO or Lisbon?
Fort Collins, CO pays 176% 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 Fort Collins, CO vs Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,810 in Fort Collins, 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 Fort Collins, CO or Lisbon?
Supermarket bills run roughly 37% higher in Fort Collins, CO. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Fort Collins, CO compared to Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $2,502 per month in Fort Collins, CO versus $2,210 in Lisbon – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Fort Collins, 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, Fort Collins, 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 Fort Collins, CO compared to Lisbon?
Safety-wise, Fort Collins, 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 13% less than in Fort Collins, CO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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