Cost of Living Comparison Between Leon and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Leon and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $774 per month in Leon vs $2,296 in Lisbon, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,365 per month in Leon vs $3,376 in Lisbon, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,956 per month in Leon vs $4,457 in Lisbon, rent included.

Leon is about 66% cheaper than Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Leon sits 43% below the global median, while Lisbon is 68% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Leon
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.83 NIO 360
$17.59 €15.32
-44.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.74 NIO 1,382
$62.9 €54.8
-39.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.41 NIO 272
$11.58 €10.09
-36.01%
Cappuccino
$2.52 NIO 92.2
$3.10 €2.70
-18.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 NIO 30.53
$2.49 €2.17
-66.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67 NIO 24.45
$1.74 €1.52
-61.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.44 NIO 52.8
$3.48 €3.03
-58.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 NIO 75.2
$3.44 €3.00
-40.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Leon
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.29 NIO 47.34
$1.15 €1.00
12.17%
White Bread (500g)
$2.33 NIO 85.4
$1.91 €1.66
21.99%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 NIO 62.2
$1.50 €1.31
13.33%
Eggs
$2.32 NIO 84.9
$3.98 €3.47
-41.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.57 NIO 424
$13.29 €11.58
-12.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.48 NIO 237
$8.01 €6.98
-19.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.10 NIO 260
$18.04 €15.72
-60.64%
Apples (1kg)
$3.68 NIO 135
$2.35 €2.05
56.60%
Banana (1kg)
$0.59 NIO 21.44
$1.75 €1.52
-66.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.75 NIO 64.1
$1.85 €1.62
-5.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.22 NIO 81.3
$2.55 €2.22
-12.94%
Potato (1kg)
$3.93 NIO 144
$1.84 €1.61
113.59%
Onion (1kg)
$2.14 NIO 78.5
$2.10 €1.83
1.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.05 NIO 38.35
$1.49 €1.29
-29.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 NIO 39.39
$0.82 €0.71
31.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.58 NIO 94.6
$7.10 €6.18
-63.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.80 NIO 542
$5.91 €5.15
150.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.46 NIO 53.4
$1.31 €1.15
11.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 NIO 84.7
$2.13 €1.86
8.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Leon
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.36 €2.05
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$46.62 €40.61
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.60 NIO 58.6
$4.08 €3.55
-60.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 NIO 58.4
$1.14 €0.99
39.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.64 NIO 243
$17.09 €14.89
-61.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 NIO 49.90
$2.31 €2.01
-41.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.2K NIO 849.2K
$34.1K €29.7K
-32.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K NIO 957.7K
$41.4K €36.0K
-36.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Leon
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$121 NIO 4,431
$169 €147
-28.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.26 NIO 632
$19.33 €16.84
-10.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.18 NIO 1,325
$33.51 €29.20
7.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Leon
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$48.84 €42.55
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.43 €16.93
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.69 NIO 318
$9.57 €8.34
-9.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Leon
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$232 NIO 8,508
$696 €606
-66.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,981 NIO 219.1K
$17.4K €15.1K
-65.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Leon
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.9 NIO 2,597
$105 €91.7
-32.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$74.3 NIO 2,721
$47.75 €41.60
55.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$134 NIO 4,895
$101 €87.6
32.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 NIO 4,020
$124 €108
-11.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Leon
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$398 NIO 14.6K
$1,662 €1,448
-76.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,246 €1,086
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,965 €2,583
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$285 NIO 10.4K
$2,049 €1,785
-86.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,834 €6,825
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$4,464 €3,889
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Leon
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,632 €1,421
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.25
3.78
171.16%

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

Last update for Leon: September 15, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $398 in Leon versus $1,662 in Lisbon. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Leon versus $63.0 in Lisbon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $255 vs $277 – making Leon 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
Leon vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lisbon cheaper than Leon?
Yes – Lisbon is pricier by about 197%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,161 per month in Leon and $3,444 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 Leon, 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 Leon and in Lisbon?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $774 in Leon and $2,296 in Lisbon. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $232 per month in Leon and $696 in Lisbon. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Leon or in Lisbon?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Leon, where all-in costs run around $774, than in Lisbon at $2,296. In Leon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Leon or Lisbon more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Leon – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Leon 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 Leon. 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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