Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuressaare and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuressaare and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,468 per month in Kuressaare vs $2,210 in Lisbon, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,166 per month in Kuressaare vs $3,311 in Lisbon, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,865 per month in Kuressaare vs $4,411 in Lisbon, rent included.

Kuressaare is about 34% cheaper than Lisbon, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Kuressaare and Lisbon sit above the global median – Kuressaare by 10%, Lisbon by 65%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kuressaare
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.09 €12.12
$15.91 €13.69
-11.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.6 €59.0
$64.8 €55.7
5.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.45 €8.13
$10.51 €9.04
-10.09%
Cappuccino
$3.79 €3.26
$2.87 €2.47
32.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 €2.12
$2.24 €1.93
10.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 €2.37
$1.50 €1.29
83.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.18 €4.45
$3.49 €3.00
48.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88 €5.06
$3.88 €3.34
51.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kuressaare
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 €1.10
$1.14 €0.98
11.40%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 €1.27
$1.75 €1.51
-16.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.39 €2.06
$1.76 €1.51
35.80%
Eggs
$2.84 €2.45
$3.22 €2.77
-11.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.29 €10.57
$13.49 €11.61
-8.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.78 €7.55
$7.91 €6.81
11.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.33 €9.75
$15.87 €13.65
-28.61%
Apples (1kg)
$1.89 €1.62
$2.31 €1.99
-18.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 €1.41
$1.70 €1.46
-3.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.37 €2.04
$2.01 €1.73
17.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.40 €2.06
$2.46 €2.12
-2.44%
Potato (1kg)
$1.00 €0.86
$1.84 €1.59
-45.65%
Onion (1kg)
$1.14 €0.98
$2.00 €1.72
-43.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.05 €1.77
$1.93 €1.66
6.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05 €0.90
$0.79 €0.68
32.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55 €5.64
$6.61 €5.68
-0.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.54 €9.06
$5.72 €4.92
84.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 €1.67
$1.37 €1.17
42.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 €1.87
$2.97 €2.56
-26.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Kuressaare
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.25 €1.94
$2.37 €2.04
-5.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.10 €25.03
$45.56 €39.19
-36.13%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.35 €2.88
$4.29 €3.69
-21.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.75 €0.64
$0.82 €0.70
-8.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.39 €17.54
$18.30 €15.74
11.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.95 €1.68
$2.06 €1.78
-5.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0K €25.0K
$34.3K €29.5K
-15.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.8K €26.5K
$39.3K €33.8K
-21.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kuressaare
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$273 €235
$148 €127
84.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.49 €9.89
$20.52 €17.65
-44.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.47 €30.51
$39.61 €34.08
-10.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kuressaare
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.19 €29.41
$47.85 €41.16
-28.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.92 €16.28
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.58 €9.96
$9.18 €7.90
26.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kuressaare
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$117 €101
$614 €528
-80.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,078 €6,948
$16.0K €13.8K
-49.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kuressaare
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$119 €102
$105 €90.0
13.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.46 €33.94
$42.06 €36.18
-6.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 €86.6
$94.0 €80.8
7.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 €93.5
$120 €103
-9.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kuressaare
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$531 €457
$1,628 €1,400
-67.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$352 €303
$1,255 €1,080
-71.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$686 €590
$3,030 €2,607
-77.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$518 €445
$2,020 €1,738
-74.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,236 €3,644
$7,800 €6,709
-45.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,582 €2,221
$4,273 €3,675
-39.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kuressaare
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,354 €1,165
$1,603 €1,379
-15.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.3
3.81
12.86%

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

Last update for Kuressaare: June 1, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $531 in Kuressaare versus $1,628 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 18% higher in Lisbon, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Kuressaare versus $65.0 in Lisbon. Groceries tell a different story – $265 in Kuressaare vs $269 in Lisbon – so Kuressaare 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
Kuressaare vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lisbon cheaper than Kuressaare?
Yes – Lisbon is pricier by about 51%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,201 per month in Kuressaare 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 Kuressaare, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Kuressaare vs Lisbon?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,468 in Kuressaare and $2,210 in Lisbon. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 57% less in Kuressaare. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Kuressaare or Lisbon?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kuressaare, where all-in costs run around $1,468, than in Lisbon at $2,210. In Kuressaare it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Kuressaare or Lisbon more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kuressaare – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Kuressaare or Lisbon?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Kuressaare. 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.

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