Cost of Living Comparison Between Jena and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Jena and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,749 per month in Jena vs $2,227 in Lisbon, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,661 per month in Jena vs $3,305 in Lisbon, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,573 per month in Jena vs $4,384 in Lisbon, rent included.

Jena is about 21% cheaper than Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Jena and Lisbon sit above the global median – Jena by 31%, Lisbon by 66%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.66 €9.96

$16.17 €13.81

-27.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.0 €50.4

$64.6 €55.1

-8.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.91 €9.32

$10.38 €8.86

5.11%

Cappuccino

$4.16 €3.55

$2.77 €2.37

50.18%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 €2.69

$2.25 €1.92

40.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 €2.97

$1.57 €1.34

121.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.23 €4.46

$3.49 €2.98

49.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.55 €3.88

$4.00 €3.42

13.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 €1.09

$1.08 €0.93

18.52%

White Bread (500g)

$2.24 €1.91

$1.74 €1.49

28.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.12 €2.67

$1.74 €1.48

79.31%

Eggs

$3.79 €3.24

$3.18 €2.71

19.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.92 €12.74

$13.43 €11.47

11.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.60 €11.62

$7.99 €6.83

70.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.21 €16.41

$16.09 €13.74

19.39%

Apples (1kg)

$3.27 €2.79

$2.28 €1.95

43.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 €1.46

$1.72 €1.47

-1.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 €1.94

$1.94 €1.66

17.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.69 €4.00

$2.54 €2.17

84.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.50 €1.28

$1.83 €1.56

-18.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 €1.26

$2.04 €1.74

-27.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.77 €1.51

$1.98 €1.69

-10.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 €0.92

$0.85 €0.73

27.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.10 €8.63

$6.85 €5.85

47.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.91 €5.05

$5.78 €4.93

2.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 €0.91

$1.37 €1.17

-21.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 €1.33

$2.90 €2.48

-46.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.05 €2.61

$2.28 €1.95

33.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.6 €57.8

$46.84 €40.00

44.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.49 €3.84

$4.08 €3.48

10.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.04 €2.60

$0.82 €0.70

270.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.83 €29.74

$18.27 €15.60

90.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.93 €1.64

$2.01 €1.71

-3.98%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$31.1K €26.6K

$35.3K €30.1K

-11.76%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$37.2K €31.7K

$38.5K €32.9K

-3.46%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$332 €284

$145 €124

128.59%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$31.72 €27.09

$20.96 €17.90

51.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.5 €43.14

$40.05 €34.21

26.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.08 €29.11

$48.79 €41.66

-30.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.19 €19.81

$18.69 €15.97

24.08%

Cinema Ticket

$10.44 €8.91

$9.06 €7.74

15.23%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$345 €295

$607 €518

-43.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.4K €12.3K

$16.3K €13.9K

-11.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.4 €74.6

$105 €89.4

-16.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.10 €19.73

$40.95 €34.97

-43.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$123 €105

$93.6 €79.9

31.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 €101

$119 €101

-0.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$776 €662

$1,604 €1,370

-51.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$466 €398

$1,236 €1,055

-62.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,268 €1,083

$3,046 €2,601

-58.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$888 €759

$2,057 €1,756

-56.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,709 €6,583

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,935 €2,507

$4,266 €3,644

-31.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,403 €2,906

$1,584 €1,353

114.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.98

3.81

4.46%

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

Last update for Jena: April 26, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $776 in Jena versus $1,604 in Lisbon. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 115% higher in Jena, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Jena versus $65.0 in Lisbon. Groceries tell a different story – $340 in Jena vs $271 in Lisbon – so Lisbon wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Jena vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lisbon costs about 27% more than Jena, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,624 per month in Jena and $3,341 in Lisbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Jena, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $345 per month in Jena and $607 in Lisbon. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 26% cheaper in Lisbon – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Jena, where all-in costs run around $1,749, than in Lisbon at $2,227. In Jena it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Jena costs $1,749 versus $2,227 in Lisbon. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Jena. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lisbon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.