๐A single person spends $2,579 per month in Laurel, MS vs $2,243 in Lisbon, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $3,667 per month in Laurel, MS vs $3,315 in Lisbon, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $4,755 per month in Laurel, MS vs $4,387 in Lisbon, rent included.
๐Laurel, MS costs about 15% more than Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both Laurel, MS and Lisbon sit above the global median โ Laurel, MS by 92%, Lisbon by 67%.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Laurel, MS
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.02$18.02
$15.73โฌ13.42
14.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.9$59.9
$63.2โฌ53.9
-5.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.93$9.93
$10.32โฌ8.80
-3.78%
Cappuccino
$5.43$5.43
$2.81โฌ2.40
93.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15$2.15
$2.33โฌ1.99
-7.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31$2.31
$1.51โฌ1.29
52.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.12$6.12
$3.37โฌ2.87
81.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.42$7.42
$3.91โฌ3.34
89.77%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Laurel, MS
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.11$1.11
$1.08โฌ0.92
2.78%
White Bread(500g)
$3.08$3.08
$1.75โฌ1.49
76.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.16$4.16
$1.75โฌ1.50
137.71%
Eggs
$4.09$4.09
$3.10โฌ2.64
31.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.98$10.98
$13.28โฌ11.33
-17.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.21$11.21
$7.85โฌ6.70
42.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.11$14.11
$16.05โฌ13.69
-12.09%
Apples(1kg)
$3.91$3.91
$2.39โฌ2.04
63.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.41$1.41
$1.72โฌ1.47
-18.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$7.13$7.13
$1.97โฌ1.68
261.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.95$2.95
$2.55โฌ2.17
15.69%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13$1.13
$1.79โฌ1.53
-36.87%
Onion(1kg)
$4.96$4.96
$1.97โฌ1.68
151.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.66$2.66
$1.96โฌ1.67
35.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.69$2.69
$0.84โฌ0.71
220.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.91$6.91
$6.82โฌ5.82
1.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.96$11.96
$5.85โฌ4.99
104.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26$2.26
$1.38โฌ1.18
63.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49$3.49
$2.92โฌ2.49
19.52%
๐ Getting Around
Laurel, MS
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.05$2.05
$2.29โฌ1.95
-10.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$46.88โฌ39.99
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.94$3.94
$4.12โฌ3.51
-4.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.57$1.57
$0.81โฌ0.69
93.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$31.21$31.21
$18.94โฌ16.16
64.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.79$0.79
$2.09โฌ1.78
-62.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.1K$31.1K
$35.1Kโฌ30.0K
-11.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K$26.6K
$39.7Kโฌ33.9K
-33.12%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Laurel, MS
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$212$212
$150โฌ128
41.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.70$49.70
$20.49โฌ17.48
142.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.4$55.4
$39.15โฌ33.40
41.61%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Laurel, MS
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.12$43.12
$49.65โฌ42.35
-13.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.47โฌ15.76
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.73$13.73
$9.20โฌ7.84
49.24%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Laurel, MS
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,226$1,226
$624โฌ533
96.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.5K$18.5K
$15.9Kโฌ13.6K
16.47%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Laurel, MS
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.3$63.3
$102โฌ87.2
-38.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.69$27.69
$40.88โฌ34.87
-32.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105$105
$95.7โฌ81.6
9.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.2$96.2
$121โฌ103
-20.60%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Laurel, MS
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,618$1,618
$1,653โฌ1,410
-2.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,372$1,372
$1,233โฌ1,051
11.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,631$2,631
$3,043โฌ2,596
-13.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,255$2,255
$2,059โฌ1,756
9.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,341$2,341
$7,879โฌ6,720
-70.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,367$2,367
$4,303โฌ3,671
-45.01%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Laurel, MS
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,566โฌ1,336
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.49
3.81
70.34%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Laurel, MS: April 20, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $1,618 in Laurel, MS versus $1,653 in Lisbon. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $60 in Laurel, MS versus $63 in Lisbon. Groceries tell a different story โ $376 in Laurel, MS vs $270 in Lisbon โ so Lisbon 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
Laurel, MS vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Laurel, MS and Lisbon compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,579 in Laurel, MS, $2,243 in Lisbon โ roughly 15% apart. Laurel, MS costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Laurel, MS compared to Lisbon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,868 per month in Laurel, MS and $3,365 in Lisbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Laurel, MS 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 has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in Laurel, MS and $63.0 in Lisbon. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafรฉ pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 39% more in Laurel, MS, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
$3,000 is a stretch for both โ monthly costs hit $2,579 in Laurel, MS and $2,243 in Lisbon. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
How does quality of life compare between Laurel, MS and Lisbon?
It depends on your priorities. Lisbon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,243 in Lisbon to $2,579 in Laurel, MS. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Laurel, MS 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 โ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Laurel, MS and Lisbon?
If budget matters most, go with Lisbon. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Laurel, MS makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Laurel, MS vs other spots: cost of living compared