Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Glendale, CA and Lisbon

For one person, living is cheaper in Lisbon: $2,223 a month against $3,628 in Glendale, CA, rent and utilities included – about $16,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Glendale, CA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,628
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,223
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Glendale, CA and in Lisbon

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Glendale, CA and in Lisbon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,628 in Glendale, CA versus $2,223 in Lisbon.

  • Glendale, CA $3,628
  • Lisbon $2,223

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,588 in Glendale, CA versus $3,271 in Lisbon.

  • Glendale, CA $4,588
  • Lisbon $3,271

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,548 in Glendale, CA versus $4,319 in Lisbon.

  • Glendale, CA $5,548
  • Lisbon $4,319

Living in Glendale, CA is roughly 63% more expensive than in Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Glendale, CA 169% above, Lisbon 65% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Glendale, CA
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.16 $25.16
$16.50 €14.67
52.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.6 $76.6
$61.3 €54.5
25.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.22 $15.22
$11.27 €10.03
35.05%
Cappuccino
$5.88 $5.88
$3.06 €2.72
92.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13 $3.13
$2.26 €2.01
38.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 $2.45
$1.73 €1.54
41.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.09 $7.09
$3.39 €3.02
109.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.86 $9.86
$3.40 €3.02
190.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Glendale, CA
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 $1.41
$1.12 €1.00
25.89%
White Bread (500g)
$4.79 $4.79
$1.86 €1.65
157.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.68 $4.68
$1.53 €1.36
205.88%
Eggs
$5.79 $5.79
$3.96 €3.53
46.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.32 $11.32
$12.76 €11.35
-11.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.58 $8.58
$7.90 €7.02
8.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.38 $19.38
$16.97 €15.09
14.20%
Apples (1kg)
$4.74 $4.74
$2.27 €2.02
108.81%
Banana (1kg)
$2.32 $2.32
$1.75 €1.55
32.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.06 $4.06
$1.85 €1.64
119.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.41 $5.41
$2.57 €2.28
110.51%
Potato (1kg)
$3.39 $3.39
$1.86 €1.65
82.26%
Onion (1kg)
$2.82 $2.82
$2.02 €1.80
39.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.92 $1.92
$1.44 €1.28
33.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.44 $2.44
$0.82 €0.73
197.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.91 $11.91
$6.56 €5.83
81.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.91 $14.91
$5.62 €5.00
165.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.28 €1.14
97.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 $2.81
$2.07 €1.84
35.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Glendale, CA
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.02 $2.02
$2.35 €2.09
-14.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$91.5 $91.5
$44.18 €39.30
107.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 $3.03
$3.99 €3.55
-24.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.80 $1.80
$1.09 €0.97
65.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$31.99 $31.99
$16.64 €14.81
92.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.56 $1.56
$2.28 €2.03
-31.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K $36.4K
$33.7K €30.0K
8.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K $25.4K
$39.3K €35.0K
-35.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Glendale, CA
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$221 $221
$167 €149
32.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$78.0 $78.0
$18.80 €16.72
315.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.1 $74.1
$33.09 €29.43
123.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Glendale, CA
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.95 $39.95
$46.01 €40.93
-13.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.19 €17.07
-
Cinema Ticket
$20.13 $20.13
$9.84 €8.75
104.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Glendale, CA
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,174 $1,174
$677 €602
73.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$32.0K $32.0K
$16.9K €15.1K
89.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Glendale, CA
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.6 $61.6
$101 €90.1
-39.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.74 $48.74
$45.76 €40.70
6.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$121 $121
$100.0 €88.9
21.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$199 $199
$123 €109
62.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Glendale, CA
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,579 $1,579
$1,614 €1,436
-2.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,053 $2,053
$1,197 €1,065
71.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,521 $2,521
$2,862 €2,545
-11.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,129 $2,129
$1,990 €1,770
6.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,395 $2,395
$7,577 €6,740
-68.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,760 $2,760
$4,307 €3,831
-35.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Glendale, CA
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,110 $5,110
$1,588 €1,412
221.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.53
3.85
69.61%

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

Last update for Glendale, CA: October 13, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Glendale, CA
$2.1K
Lisbon
$1.2K 41.7% $856
Groceries & Markets
Glendale, CA
$421
Lisbon
$269 36% $151
Eating Out
Glendale, CA
$395
Lisbon
$242 38.7% $153
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Glendale, CA
$373
Lisbon
$219 41.2% $154
Clothing & Footwear
Glendale, CA
$194
Lisbon
$166 14.2% $27
Getting Around
Glendale, CA
$112
Lisbon
$63 43.6% $49
Sport & Entertainment
Glendale, CA
$80
Lisbon
$66 18.1% $15

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,579 in Glendale, CA and $1,614 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Glendale, CA pays 222% 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: $77.0 in Glendale, CA vs $61.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $421 vs $269 per month, with Lisbon cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Glendale, CA
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🕒 Local time
09:40 9:40 AM
17:40 5:40 PM
8 h ahead of Glendale, CA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
200,831
545,923 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.889 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Glendale, CA Lisbon 9,120 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Glendale, CA
  • Lisbon

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Glendale, CA vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lisbon cheaper than Glendale, CA?
Lisbon is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 63% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Glendale, CA or Lisbon?
Average pay runs 222% higher in Glendale, CA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Glendale, CA and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,579 in Glendale, CA versus $1,614 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Lisbon runs roughly 107% less than in Glendale, CA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $1,174 in Glendale, CA versus $677 in Lisbon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Glendale, CA or in Lisbon?
At $2,223 in Lisbon versus $3,628 in Glendale, CA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Glendale, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Glendale, CA or Lisbon more family-friendly?
For families, Lisbon is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Glendale, CA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Glendale, CA or Lisbon?
Safety-wise, Glendale, CA 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 63% less than in Glendale, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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