😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,321 in Hamilton versus $2,316 in Lisbon.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,399 in Hamilton versus $3,361 in Lisbon.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,477 in Hamilton versus $4,405 in Lisbon.
🌍Monthly costs are close between Hamilton and Lisbon; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hamilton69% above, Lisbon69% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamilton
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.38CA$25.54
$17.30€14.92
6.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1CA$94.7
$63.3€54.6
7.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.51CA$17.38
$11.39€9.83
9.83%
Cappuccino
$3.56CA$4.94
$3.19€2.75
11.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20CA$3.06
$2.45€2.11
-10.20%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74CA$2.42
$1.76€1.52
-1.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.18CA$7.20
$3.59€3.10
44.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.50CA$9.04
$3.39€2.93
91.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamilton
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.05CA$2.85
$1.24€1.07
65.32%
White Bread(500g)
$2.22CA$3.09
$1.98€1.71
12.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.84CA$3.94
$1.52€1.31
86.84%
Eggs
$3.44CA$4.78
$4.04€3.49
-14.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.57CA$10.52
$13.54€11.68
-44.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.40CA$14.46
$8.39€7.23
23.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.04CA$19.52
$18.25€15.74
-23.07%
Apples(1kg)
$3.91CA$5.44
$2.29€1.97
70.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.28CA$1.78
$1.74€1.50
-26.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.27CA$5.93
$1.86€1.60
129.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.92CA$5.45
$2.63€2.27
49.05%
Potato(1kg)
$2.64CA$3.66
$1.92€1.65
37.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.75CA$2.43
$2.09€1.81
-16.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.34CA$3.26
$1.44€1.24
62.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.46CA$2.03
$0.84€0.73
73.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.22CA$19.76
$6.78€5.85
109.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.06CA$18.15
$5.71€4.93
128.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.38CA$3.31
$1.38€1.19
72.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19CA$5.82
$2.22€1.91
88.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamilton
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.74CA$3.81
$2.40€2.07
14.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$87.7CA$122
$46.78€40.35
87.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.50CA$4.86
$4.17€3.60
-16.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.33CA$1.85
$1.14€0.98
16.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.47CA$32.62
$17.68€15.25
32.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.19CA$1.65
$2.32€2.00
-48.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.9KCA$40.2K
$35.3K€30.5K
-18.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1KCA$27.9K
$41.4K€35.7K
-51.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamilton
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151CA$209
$170€147
-11.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.12CA$55.8
$19.34€16.68
107.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.2CA$71.1
$33.64€29.01
52.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamilton
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.62CA$52.3
$48.10€41.48
-21.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.56CA$29.96
$19.90€17.16
8.34%
Cinema Ticket
$10.27CA$14.27
$9.92€8.56
3.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamilton
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$615CA$855
$717€619
-14.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.6KCA$23.1K
$17.5K€15.1K
-4.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamilton
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.2CA$69.8
$105€90.4
-52.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.50CA$47.94
$46.95€40.49
-26.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.9CA$128
$103€89.2
-11.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121CA$168
$124€107
-2.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamilton
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,320CA$1,834
$1,677€1,446
-21.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211CA$1,683
$1,271€1,096
-4.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,063CA$2,867
$2,985€2,574
-30.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,928CA$2,680
$1,992€1,718
-3.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,814CA$3,910
$7,826€6,750
-64.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,808CA$3,902
$4,658€4,017
-39.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamilton
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,912CA$4,047
$1,583€1,365
84.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.6
3.79
21.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hamilton: August 29, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,320 in Hamilton and $1,677 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Hamilton pays 84% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Hamilton vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $333 vs $283 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
Hamilton vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Where can you earn more: Hamilton or Lisbon?
Average pay runs 84% higher in Hamilton, 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 Hamilton and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,320 in Hamilton versus $1,677 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 87% less than in Hamilton. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do food prices compare in Hamilton and in Lisbon?
Supermarket bills run roughly 18% higher in Hamilton. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Hamilton or in Lisbon?
At $2,316 in Lisbon versus $2,321 in Hamilton, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Hamilton. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Hamilton or Lisbon more family-friendly?
For families, Lisbon is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Hamilton, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Hamilton or Lisbon?
Safety-wise, Hamilton 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 the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Lisbon wins on affordability, Hamilton on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.