Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kauai, Hawaii and Lisbon

For one person, living is cheaper in Lisbon: $2,210 a month against $2,605 in Kauai, Hawaii, rent and utilities included – about $4,700 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Kauai, Hawaii, United States
Lisbon, Portugal
Kauai, Hawaii
🇺🇸 United States
$2,605
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,210
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,605 in Kauai, Hawaii versus $2,210 in Lisbon.

  • Kauai, Hawaii $2,605
  • Lisbon $2,210

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,851 in Kauai, Hawaii versus $3,275 in Lisbon.

  • Kauai, Hawaii $3,851
  • Lisbon $3,275

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,097 in Kauai, Hawaii versus $4,341 in Lisbon.

  • Kauai, Hawaii $5,097
  • Lisbon $4,341

Living in Kauai, Hawaii is roughly 18% more expensive than in Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kauai, Hawaii 91% above, Lisbon 62% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kauai, Hawaii
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.36 $19.36
$16.65 €14.96
16.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.8 $75.8
$61.7 €55.5
22.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.98 $10.98
$11.36 €10.20
-3.35%
Cappuccino
$4.95 $4.95
$2.97 €2.67
66.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.29 €2.06
10.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 $1.95
$1.74 €1.56
12.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.07 $6.07
$3.40 €3.06
78.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.97 $6.97
$3.31 €2.97
110.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kauai, Hawaii
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.99 $0.99
$1.16 €1.04
-14.66%
White Bread (500g)
$3.48 $3.48
$1.91 €1.72
82.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.27 $4.27
$1.51 €1.36
182.78%
Eggs
$4.09 $4.09
$4.02 €3.61
1.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.44 $12.44
$12.94 €11.62
-3.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.49 $11.49
$7.77 €6.99
47.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.60 $15.60
$17.76 €15.96
-12.16%
Apples (1kg)
$4.77 $4.77
$2.30 €2.07
107.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 $1.61
$1.73 €1.56
-6.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.35 $4.35
$1.86 €1.67
133.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.59 $4.59
$2.59 €2.33
77.22%
Potato (1kg)
$2.87 $2.87
$1.82 €1.64
57.69%
Onion (1kg)
$2.89 $2.89
$1.97 €1.77
46.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.00 $2.00
$1.47 €1.32
36.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.17 $2.17
$0.72 €0.65
201.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.47 $9.47
$6.58 €5.92
43.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.83 $13.83
$5.61 €5.04
146.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.36 €1.22
30.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 $3.44
$2.14 €1.92
60.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Kauai, Hawaii
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.06 $2.06
$2.33 €2.10
-11.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$55.5 $55.5
$44.68 €40.14
24.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.54 $3.54
$3.85 €3.46
-8.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 $1.57
$1.07 €0.96
46.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.13 $29.13
$16.46 €14.79
76.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$2.20 €1.98
-61.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K $29.3K
$34.2K €30.7K
-14.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$38.7K €34.8K
-33.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kauai, Hawaii
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$185 $185
$161 €145
14.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.9 $53.9
$18.41 €16.54
192.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.1 $68.1
$32.74 €29.41
107.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kauai, Hawaii
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.26 $43.26
$44.55 €40.03
-2.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.10 €17.16
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.53 $13.53
$9.60 €8.62
40.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kauai, Hawaii
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,282 $1,282
$668 €600
92.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.1K $23.1K
$17.6K €15.8K
31.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kauai, Hawaii
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.1 $50.1
$102 €91.7
-50.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.37 $39.37
$44.46 €39.95
-11.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.0 $85.0
$98.5 €88.5
-13.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 $112
$124 €111
-9.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kauai, Hawaii
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,605 $1,605
$1,608 €1,445
-0.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,329 $1,329
$1,190 €1,069
11.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,647 $2,647
$2,812 €2,527
-5.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,266 $2,266
$2,013 €1,809
12.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,817 $2,817
$7,839 €7,043
-64.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,482 $2,482
$4,576 €4,111
-45.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kauai, Hawaii
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,575 €1,415
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
3.85
69.09%

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

Last update for Kauai, Hawaii: October 25, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Kauai, Hawaii
$1.3K
Lisbon
$1.2K 10.4% $138
Groceries & Markets
Kauai, Hawaii
$385
Lisbon
$272 29.3% $113
Eating Out
Kauai, Hawaii
$309
Lisbon
$243 21.6% $67
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kauai, Hawaii
$307
Lisbon
$212 30.7% $94
Clothing & Footwear
Kauai, Hawaii
$129
Lisbon
$166 28.5% $37
Getting Around
Kauai, Hawaii
$75
Lisbon
$63 15.9% $12
Sport & Entertainment
Kauai, Hawaii
$70
Lisbon
$64 9.4% $6.6

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,605 in Kauai, Hawaii and $1,608 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $76 in Kauai, Hawaii vs $62 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $385 vs $272 per month, with Lisbon cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Kauai, Hawaii
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🕒 Local time
22:55 10:55 PM
08:55 8:55 AM
10 h ahead of Kauai, Hawaii
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
73,610
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 = 0.899 EUR).

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

On the map
Between locations
  • Kauai, Hawaii Lisbon 12,580 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Kauai, Hawaii
  • 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
Kauai, Hawaii vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kauai, Hawaii or Lisbon?
Lisbon wins on cost – living expenses run 15% lower than in Kauai, Hawaii. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Lisbon the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Kauai, Hawaii and in Lisbon?
You’d need roughly $3,907 in Kauai, Hawaii and $3,315 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Kauai, Hawaii compared to Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,605 in Kauai, Hawaii versus $1,608 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Kauai, Hawaii compared to Lisbon?
A monthly transit pass in Lisbon runs roughly 19% less than in Kauai, Hawaii. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you’re watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Kauai, Hawaii and in Lisbon?
Childcare runs $1,282 in Kauai, Hawaii versus $668 in Lisbon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Kauai, Hawaii or in Lisbon?
Either city works on $3,000 a month, though Lisbon gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Kauai, Hawaii or 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.
How safe is Kauai, Hawaii compared to Lisbon?
Safety-wise, Kauai, Hawaii 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.

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