😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,553 in Joliet, IL versus $2,296 in Lisbon.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,718 in Joliet, IL versus $3,376 in Lisbon.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,882 in Joliet, IL versus $4,457 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Joliet, IL is roughly 11% more expensive than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Joliet, IL87% above, Lisbon68% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Joliet, IL
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.08$19.08
$17.59€15.32
8.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.1$76.1
$62.9€54.8
21.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.10$11.10
$11.58€10.09
-4.15%
Cappuccino
$5.03$5.03
$3.10€2.70
62.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56$2.56
$2.49€2.17
2.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01$2.01
$1.74€1.52
15.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.02$6.02
$3.48€3.03
72.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.83$6.83
$3.44€3.00
98.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Joliet, IL
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.01$1.01
$1.15€1.00
-12.17%
White Bread(500g)
$3.54$3.54
$1.91€1.66
85.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.26$4.26
$1.50€1.31
184.00%
Eggs
$4.24$4.24
$3.98€3.47
6.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.19$12.19
$13.29€11.58
-8.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.35$11.35
$8.01€6.98
41.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.68$15.68
$18.04€15.71
-13.08%
Apples(1kg)
$4.98$4.98
$2.35€2.05
111.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59$1.59
$1.75€1.52
-9.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.21$4.21
$1.85€1.62
127.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.76$4.76
$2.55€2.22
86.67%
Potato(1kg)
$2.81$2.81
$1.84€1.61
52.72%
Onion(1kg)
$2.74$2.74
$2.10€1.83
30.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.08$2.08
$1.49€1.29
39.60%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.08$2.08
$0.82€0.71
153.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.35$9.35
$7.10€6.18
31.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.73$13.73
$5.91€5.14
132.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84$1.84
$1.31€1.15
40.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45$3.45
$2.13€1.86
61.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Joliet, IL
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.98$1.98
$2.36€2.05
-16.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$46.62€40.60
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.53$3.53
$4.08€3.55
-13.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.58$1.58
$1.14€0.99
38.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.01$29.01
$17.09€14.89
69.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84$0.84
$2.31€2.01
-63.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.0K$30.0K
$34.1K€29.7K
-11.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K$25.2K
$41.4K€36.0K
-39.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Joliet, IL
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$184$184
$169€147
9.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.5$53.5
$19.33€16.84
176.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.9$66.9
$33.51€29.19
99.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Joliet, IL
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.35$42.35
$48.84€42.54
-13.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.43€16.93
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.66$13.66
$9.57€8.33
42.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Joliet, IL
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,288$1,288
$696€606
85.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.1K$23.1K
$17.4K€15.1K
33.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Joliet, IL
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.4$50.4
$105€91.7
-52.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.60$39.60
$47.75€41.59
-17.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.4$86.4
$101€87.6
-14.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110$110
$124€108
-11.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Joliet, IL
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,583$1,583
$1,662€1,447
-4.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,341$1,341
$1,246€1,085
7.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,611$2,611
$2,965€2,582
-11.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,205$2,205
$2,049€1,784
7.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,756$2,756
$7,834€6,823
-64.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,438$2,438
$4,464€3,888
-45.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Joliet, IL
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,632€1,421
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.51
3.78
72.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Joliet, IL: September 12, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,583 in Joliet, IL and $1,662 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $76.0 in Joliet, IL vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $386 vs $277 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
Joliet, IL vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Joliet, IL and in Lisbon?
Joliet, IL and Lisbon differ by about 11% in total monthly costs ($2,553 vs $2,296 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Joliet, IL compared to Lisbon?
You'd need roughly $3,829 in Joliet, IL and $3,444 in Lisbon to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Joliet, IL and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,583 in Joliet, IL versus $1,662 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 Joliet, IL and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $1,288 in Joliet, IL versus $696 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 $76.0 in Joliet, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Lisbon is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Joliet, IL 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 Joliet, IL or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Joliet, IL 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: Joliet, IL or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Joliet, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Joliet, IL vs other spots: cost of living compared