Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Johnson City, TN and Lisbon

For one person, living is cheaper in Johnson City, TN: $2,138 a month against $2,210 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $860 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Lisbon outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Johnson City, TN, United States
Lisbon, Portugal
Johnson City, TN
🇺🇸 United States
$2,138
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,210
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Johnson City, TN 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 Johnson City, TN and in Lisbon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,138 per month in Johnson City, TN vs $2,210 in Lisbon, rent included.

  • Johnson City, TN $2,138
  • Lisbon $2,210

A couple spends around $3,133 per month in Johnson City, TN vs $3,275 in Lisbon, rent included.

  • Johnson City, TN $3,133
  • Lisbon $3,275

A family of three spends $4,129 per month in Johnson City, TN vs $4,341 in Lisbon, rent included.

  • Johnson City, TN $4,129
  • Lisbon $4,341

Johnson City, TN is about 3% cheaper than Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Johnson City, TN and Lisbon sit above the global median – Johnson City, TN by 57%, Lisbon by 62%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Johnson City, TN
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.78 $13.78
$16.65 €14.95
-17.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9 $53.9
$61.7 €55.5
-12.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.88 $9.88
$11.36 €10.20
-13.03%
Cappuccino
$5.14 $5.14
$2.97 €2.67
73.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 $2.88
$2.29 €2.06
25.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 $2.03
$1.74 €1.56
16.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.93 $4.93
$3.40 €3.06
45.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.04 $6.04
$3.31 €2.97
82.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Johnson City, TN
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.98 $0.98
$1.16 €1.04
-15.52%
White Bread (500g)
$3.75 $3.75
$1.91 €1.72
96.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.97 $3.97
$1.51 €1.36
162.91%
Eggs
$3.11 $3.11
$4.02 €3.61
-22.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.53 $7.53
$12.94 €11.62
-41.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.67 $13.67
$7.77 €6.98
75.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.09 $13.09
$17.76 €15.95
-26.30%
Apples (1kg)
$7.59 $7.59
$2.30 €2.07
230.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 $1.73
$1.73 €1.56
-
Oranges (1kg)
$4.10 $4.10
$1.86 €1.67
120.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.65 $3.65
$2.59 €2.33
40.93%
Potato (1kg)
$3.40 $3.40
$1.82 €1.64
86.81%
Onion (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$1.97 €1.77
120.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.20 $2.20
$1.47 €1.32
49.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.36 $2.36
$0.72 €0.65
227.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.01 $9.01
$6.58 €5.91
36.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.14 $13.14
$5.61 €5.04
134.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 $1.61
$1.36 €1.22
18.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.42 $4.42
$2.14 €1.92
106.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Johnson City, TN
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.97 $0.97
$2.33 €2.10
-58.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.13 $25.13
$44.68 €40.14
-43.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.58 $5.58
$3.85 €3.46
44.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.44 $1.44
$1.07 €0.96
34.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.19 $15.19
$16.46 €14.79
-7.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 $0.83
$2.20 €1.98
-62.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.0K $30.0K
$34.2K €30.7K
-12.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7K $24.7K
$38.7K €34.8K
-36.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Johnson City, TN
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 $172
$161 €145
6.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.9 $51.9
$18.41 €16.54
181.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.5 $62.5
$32.74 €29.41
90.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Johnson City, TN
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.20 $47.20
$44.55 €40.02
5.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.14 $20.14
$19.10 €17.16
5.45%
Cinema Ticket
$11.88 $11.88
$9.60 €8.62
23.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Johnson City, TN
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,185 $1,185
$668 €600
77.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.6K $14.6K
$17.6K €15.8K
-17.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Johnson City, TN
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.41 $37.41
$102 €91.6
-63.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.80 $30.80
$44.46 €39.94
-30.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.4 $87.4
$98.5 €88.5
-11.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.4 $94.4
$124 €111
-23.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Johnson City, TN
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,178 $1,178
$1,608 €1,445
-26.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$980 $980
$1,190 €1,069
-17.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,992 $1,992
$2,812 €2,526
-29.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,616 $1,616
$2,013 €1,808
-19.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,444 $2,444
$7,839 €7,042
-68.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,033 $2,033
$4,576 €4,110
-55.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Johnson City, TN
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,584 $3,584
$1,575 €1,415
127.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.49
3.85
68.57%

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

Last update for Johnson City, TN: October 26, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Johnson City, TN
$980
Lisbon
$1.2K 21.4% $210
Groceries & Markets
Johnson City, TN
$388
Lisbon
$272 29.8% $116
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Johnson City, TN
$287
Lisbon
$212 25.9% $74
Eating Out
Johnson City, TN
$258
Lisbon
$243 6% $15
Clothing & Footwear
Johnson City, TN
$113
Lisbon
$166 47.4% $53
Sport & Entertainment
Johnson City, TN
$71
Lisbon
$64 10.2% $7.2
Getting Around
Johnson City, TN
$42
Lisbon
$63 51.2% $21

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,178 in Johnson City, TN versus $1,608 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 in Johnson City, TN are about 2.3 times higher, 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 $54 in Johnson City, TN versus $62 in Lisbon. Groceries tell a different story – $388 in Johnson City, TN vs $272 in Lisbon – so Lisbon wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Johnson City, TN
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🕒 Local time
17:34 5:34 PM
21:34 9:34 PM
4 h ahead of Johnson City, TN
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
66,027
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 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 0.898 EUR (1 EUR = 1.11 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Johnson City, TN Lisbon 6,280 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Johnson City, TN
  • 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
Johnson City, TN vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Johnson City, TN cheaper than Lisbon?
Yes – Lisbon is pricier by about 3%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,207 per month in Johnson City, TN and $3,315 in Lisbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Johnson City, TN, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,178 there versus $1,608 in Lisbon.
Is eating out cheaper in Johnson City, TN or in Lisbon?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $54 in Johnson City, TN and $62 in Lisbon. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Johnson City, TN and in Lisbon?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,138 in Johnson City, TN and $2,210 in Lisbon. That makes Johnson City, TN about 3% cheaper.
Is $2,500 enough for either Johnson City, TN or Lisbon?
$2,500 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $2,138 in Johnson City, TN and $2,210 in Lisbon, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is it better to live in Johnson City, TN or in Lisbon?
It depends on your priorities. Lisbon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,138 in Johnson City, TN to $2,210 in Lisbon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is safer, Johnson City, TN or Lisbon?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

Johnson City, TN vs other spots: cost of living compared

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