😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,547 in Jacksonville, NC versus $2,280 in Lisbon.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,324 in Jacksonville, NC versus $3,294 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,102 in Jacksonville, NC versus $4,307 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Jacksonville, NC is roughly 12% more expensive than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Jacksonville, NC91% above, Lisbon71% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jacksonville, NC
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.05$18.05
$15.75€13.74
14.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.6$54.6
$63.5€55.3
-13.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.17$10.17
$10.45€9.11
-2.68%
Cappuccino
$4.71$4.71
$2.91€2.54
61.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55$2.55
$2.29€2.00
11.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81$1.81
$1.50€1.31
20.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.14$5.14
$3.56€3.11
44.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.58$6.58
$3.96€3.46
66.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jacksonville, NC
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.93$0.93
$1.08€0.94
-13.89%
White Bread(500g)
$2.23$2.23
$1.76€1.54
26.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.30$4.30
$1.70€1.48
152.94%
Eggs
$4.41$4.41
$3.25€2.83
35.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.89$11.89
$13.25€11.55
-10.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.26$14.26
$7.70€6.72
85.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.99$27.99
$15.77€13.75
77.49%
Apples(1kg)
$2.23$2.23
$2.28€1.99
-2.19%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50$1.50
$1.66€1.44
-9.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.78$4.78
$2.02€1.76
136.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.55$3.55
$2.47€2.16
43.72%
Potato(1kg)
$7.76$7.76
$1.79€1.56
333.52%
Onion(1kg)
$3.74$3.74
$2.07€1.80
80.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.47$3.47
$1.97€1.72
76.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.92$1.92
$0.83€0.73
131.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.55$10.55
$6.55€5.71
61.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.02$14.02
$5.57€4.85
151.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72$1.72
$1.33€1.16
29.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79$6.79
$3.01€2.62
125.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Jacksonville, NC
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.94$1.94
$2.27€1.98
-14.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$46.35€40.41
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.54$2.54
$4.23€3.69
-39.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.27$2.27
$0.85€0.74
167.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.69$29.69
$18.83€16.41
57.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.79$0.79
$2.02€1.76
-60.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3K$28.3K
$35.0K€30.5K
-19.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.4K$27.4K
$39.6K€34.6K
-30.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jacksonville, NC
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$172$172
$148€129
16.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$56.2$56.2
$20.52€17.89
173.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$79.5$79.5
$39.52€34.46
101.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jacksonville, NC
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.66$37.66
$48.17€42.00
-21.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.39€16.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.01$14.01
$9.10€7.93
53.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jacksonville, NC
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$899$899
$615€536
46.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.1K$23.1K
$16.3K€14.2K
41.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jacksonville, NC
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.28$30.28
$102€88.6
-70.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.60$39.60
$42.09€36.69
-5.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$81.5$81.5
$92.3€80.5
-11.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.5$75.5
$122€106
-38.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jacksonville, NC
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,179$1,179
$1,612€1,405
-26.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,327$1,327
$1,254€1,093
5.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,612$1,612
$3,069€2,676
-47.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,506$1,506
$2,037€1,776
-26.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,964$1,964
$7,751€6,757
-74.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,823$6,823
$4,286€3,737
59.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jacksonville, NC
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,205$2,205
$1,602€1,396
37.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.33
3.81
66.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Jacksonville, NC: July 27, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,179 in Jacksonville, NC and $1,612 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Jacksonville, NC pays 38% 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: $55.0 in Jacksonville, NC vs $63.0 in Lisbon. Groceries flip the comparison at $432 vs $267, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.
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
Jacksonville, NC vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Jacksonville, NC and in Lisbon?
Jacksonville, NC and Lisbon differ by about 12% in total monthly costs ($2,547 vs $2,280 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Jacksonville, NC or Lisbon?
Average pay runs 38% higher in Jacksonville, NC, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Jacksonville, NC and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,179 in Jacksonville, NC versus $1,612 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Jacksonville, NC and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $899 in Jacksonville, NC versus $615 in Lisbon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Lisbon – a meal for two runs $63.0 versus $55.0 in Jacksonville, NC. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,280 in Lisbon versus $2,547 in Jacksonville, NC, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Jacksonville, NC. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Jacksonville, NC and Lisbon?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Jacksonville, NC or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Jacksonville, NC 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.
Where should expats move: Jacksonville, NC or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Jacksonville, NC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Jacksonville, NC vs other spots: cost of living compared