Cost of Living Comparison Between Grand Forks, ND and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Grand Forks, ND and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,316 in Grand Forks, ND versus $2,227 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,437 in Grand Forks, ND versus $3,305 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,557 in Grand Forks, ND versus $4,384 in Lisbon.

Living in Grand Forks, ND is roughly 4% more expensive than Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Grand Forks, ND 73% above, Lisbon 66% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Grand Forks, ND
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.89 $21.89
$16.17 €13.84
35.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.0 $84.0
$64.6 €55.3
30.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.33 $9.33
$10.38 €8.88
-10.12%
Cappuccino
$4.96 $4.96
$2.77 €2.37
79.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 $2.77
$2.25 €1.92
23.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05 $3.05
$1.57 €1.35
94.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.06 $5.06
$3.49 €2.99
44.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.94 $6.94
$4.00 €3.43
73.50%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Grand Forks, ND
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 $1.13
$1.08 €0.93
4.63%
White Bread (500g)
$3.62 $3.62
$1.74 €1.49
108.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.52 $4.52
$1.74 €1.49
159.77%
Eggs
$3.61 $3.61
$3.18 €2.72
13.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.11 $24.11
$13.43 €11.50
79.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.69 $11.69
$7.99 €6.84
46.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.68 $15.68
$16.09 €13.77
-2.55%
Apples (1kg)
$4.78 $4.78
$2.28 €1.95
109.65%
Banana (1kg)
$2.06 $2.06
$1.72 €1.48
19.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.28 $4.28
$1.94 €1.66
120.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.27 $3.27
$2.54 €2.18
28.74%
Potato (1kg)
$2.26 $2.26
$1.83 €1.57
23.50%
Onion (1kg)
$2.85 $2.85
$2.04 €1.75
39.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.24 $2.24
$1.98 €1.69
13.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$0.85 €0.73
132.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.85 $9.85
$6.85 €5.87
43.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$35.64 $35.64
$5.78 €4.94
516.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.37 €1.18
29.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.10 $6.10
$2.90 €2.48
110.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Grand Forks, ND
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.52 $1.52
$2.28 €1.95
-33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.40 $41.40
$46.84 €40.10
-11.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.85 $5.85
$4.08 €3.49
43.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.61 $1.61
$0.82 €0.70
96.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.01 $29.01
$18.27 €15.64
58.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 $0.82
$2.01 €1.72
-59.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K $29.3K
$35.3K €30.2K
-16.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$38.5K €32.9K
-33.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Grand Forks, ND
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$282 $282
$145 €124
94.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$103 $103
$20.96 €17.94
389.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.8 $75.8
$40.05 €34.29
89.14%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Grand Forks, ND
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$59.7 $59.7
$48.79 €41.76
22.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.69 €16.00
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.82 $14.82
$9.06 €7.76
63.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Grand Forks, ND
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,288 $1,288
$607 €519
112.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.8K $23.8K
$16.3K €14.0K
45.55%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Grand Forks, ND
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.7 $51.7
$105 €89.6
-50.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.70 $40.70
$40.95 €35.06
-0.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.7 $87.7
$93.6 €80.1
-6.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 $113
$119 €101
-4.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Grand Forks, ND
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,015 $1,015
$1,604 €1,373
-36.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$804 $804
$1,236 €1,058
-34.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,693 $1,693
$3,046 €2,607
-44.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,324 $1,324
$2,057 €1,761
-35.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,520 $1,520
$7,709 €6,599
-80.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,491 $1,491
$4,266 €3,652
-65.06%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Grand Forks, ND
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,892 $4,892
$1,584 €1,356
208.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
3.81
69.29%

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

Last update for Grand Forks, ND: April 28, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,015 in Grand Forks, ND and $1,604 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Grand Forks, ND pays 209% 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: $84.0 in Grand Forks, ND vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $465 vs $271 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
Grand Forks, ND vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Grand Forks, ND or Lisbon?
Lisbon wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Grand Forks, ND. 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 Grand Forks, ND or Lisbon?
Grand Forks, ND pays 209% 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 Grand Forks, ND vs Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,015 in Grand Forks, ND versus $1,604 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Grand Forks, ND vs Lisbon?
A monthly transit pass in Lisbon runs roughly 13% less than in Grand Forks, ND. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Grand Forks, ND and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $1,288 in Grand Forks, ND versus $607 in Lisbon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Grand Forks, ND or Lisbon?
At $2,227 in Lisbon versus $2,316 in Grand Forks, ND, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Grand Forks, ND. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Grand Forks, ND or Lisbon?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lisbon delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,227 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lisbon hard to pass up.
How safe is Grand Forks, ND compared to Lisbon?
Safety-wise, Grand Forks, ND 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 4% less than in Grand Forks, ND. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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