πA single person spends $2,286 per month in Kingston vs $2,258 in Lisbon, rent included.
πA couple spends around $3,230 per month in Kingston vs $3,328 in Lisbon, rent included.
πA family of three spends $4,173 per month in Kingston vs $4,397 in Lisbon, rent included.
πKingston costs about 1% more than Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth Kingston and Lisbon sit above the global median β Kingston by 70%, Lisbon by 68%.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Kingston
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.72CA$22.91
$15.82β¬13.46
5.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.2CA$102
$64.4β¬54.8
15.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.28CA$15.46
$10.37β¬8.82
8.78%
Cappuccino
$3.69CA$5.06
$2.89β¬2.46
27.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90CA$2.60
$2.23β¬1.90
-14.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44CA$1.97
$1.55β¬1.32
-7.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.04CA$8.28
$3.38β¬2.88
78.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.45CA$8.83
$3.90β¬3.32
65.38%
π Groceries & Markets
Kingston
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.58CA$3.53
$1.12β¬0.96
130.36%
White Bread(500g)
$2.54CA$3.47
$1.80β¬1.53
41.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.17CA$5.71
$1.75β¬1.49
138.29%
Eggs
$2.91CA$3.99
$3.17β¬2.70
-8.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.68CA$14.63
$13.50β¬11.49
-20.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.42CA$15.64
$7.79β¬6.63
46.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.41CA$15.63
$15.65β¬13.32
-27.09%
Apples(1kg)
$3.56CA$4.87
$2.28β¬1.94
56.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.32CA$1.80
$1.71β¬1.46
-22.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.01CA$5.50
$1.93β¬1.65
107.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.86CA$6.66
$2.52β¬2.15
92.86%
Potato(1kg)
$3.54CA$4.85
$1.79β¬1.52
97.77%
Onion(1kg)
$2.41CA$3.30
$2.05β¬1.74
17.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.97CA$4.07
$1.94β¬1.65
53.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.62CA$2.22
$0.81β¬0.69
100.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.87CA$19.00
$6.65β¬5.66
108.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.45CA$17.06
$5.79β¬4.92
115.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.29CA$3.13
$1.33β¬1.14
72.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30CA$4.53
$2.91β¬2.47
13.40%
π Getting Around
Kingston
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.52CA$3.46
$2.35β¬2.00
7.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$58.0CA$79.5
$45.70β¬38.89
27.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.27CA$4.48
$4.20β¬3.58
-22.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.57CA$2.16
$0.81β¬0.69
93.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$32.56CA$44.60
$18.70β¬15.91
74.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.08CA$1.49
$2.09β¬1.78
-48.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6KCA$33.7K
$34.6Kβ¬29.5K
-28.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.4KCA$29.3K
$39.7Kβ¬33.7K
-46.14%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kingston
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$130CA$178
$146β¬124
-11.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.36CA$60.8
$20.84β¬17.73
112.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$78.7CA$108
$39.78β¬33.85
97.91%
π Sport & Entertainment
Kingston
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.36CA$44.33
$48.58β¬41.35
-33.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.29CA$12.73
$18.85β¬16.04
-50.72%
Cinema Ticket
$11.18CA$15.32
$9.07β¬7.72
23.26%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Kingston
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$446CA$611
$618β¬526
-27.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.7KCA$16.0K
$16.2Kβ¬13.8K
-27.70%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Kingston
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.10CA$63.2
$105β¬89.0
-55.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.95CA$49.25
$40.54β¬34.50
-11.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.1CA$130
$93.8β¬79.8
1.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.3CA$126
$123β¬104
-24.73%
π Accommodation & Living
Kingston
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,289CA$1,766
$1,604β¬1,365
-19.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,189CA$1,630
$1,260β¬1,073
-5.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,130CA$2,918
$3,065β¬2,608
-30.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,679CA$2,301
$2,008β¬1,709
-16.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,450CA$4,726
$7,702β¬6,555
-55.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,513CA$3,443
$4,367β¬3,716
-42.44%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Kingston
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,086CA$4,228
$1,638β¬1,394
88.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.69
3.81
75.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kingston: April 12, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $1,289 in Kingston 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.
π°Salaries run about 88% higher in Kingston, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $74 in Kingston versus $64 in Lisbon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $359 vs $268 β making Lisbon the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Kingston vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Kingston and Lisbon compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,286 in Kingston, $2,258 in Lisbon β roughly 1% apart. Kingston costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Kingston compared to Lisbon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,429 per month in Kingston and $3,387 in Lisbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Kingston and Lisbon?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Lisbon, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Kingston or Lisbon?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,286 in Kingston and $2,258 in Lisbon. The difference isn't just one category β it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Kingston and Lisbon?
Public transport costs about 27% less in Lisbon. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Lisbon, where all-in costs run around $2,258, than in Kingston at $2,286. In Lisbon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kingston it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Kingston and Lisbon?
It depends on your priorities. Lisbon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,258 in Lisbon to $2,286 in Kingston. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Kingston or Lisbon safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison β central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Kingston and Lisbon?
If budget matters most, go with Lisbon. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kingston makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.