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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $706 per month in Leon vs $2,280 in Lisbon, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,136 per month in Leon vs $3,294 in Lisbon, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,566 per month in Leon vs $4,307 in Lisbon, rent included.

Leon is about 69% cheaper than Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Leon sits 47% below the global median, while Lisbon is 71% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Leon
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.78 NIO 175
$15.75 €13.64
-69.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.36 NIO 1,295
$63.5 €55.0
-44.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.03 NIO 258
$10.45 €9.05
-32.73%
Cappuccino
$2.35 NIO 86.1
$2.91 €2.52
-19.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 NIO 29.09
$2.29 €1.98
-65.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 NIO 25.68
$1.50 €1.30
-53.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.32 NIO 48.42
$3.56 €3.09
-62.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 NIO 74.5
$3.96 €3.43
-48.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Leon
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 NIO 45.01
$1.08 €0.94
13.89%
White Bread (500g)
$2.37 NIO 86.9
$1.76 €1.53
34.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 NIO 68.9
$1.70 €1.47
10.59%
Eggs
$2.36 NIO 86.4
$3.25 €2.81
-27.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.23 NIO 411
$13.25 €11.47
-15.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.56 NIO 240
$7.70 €6.67
-14.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.07 NIO 296
$15.77 €13.66
-48.83%
Apples (1kg)
$3.99 NIO 146
$2.28 €1.97
75.00%
Banana (1kg)
$0.88 NIO 32.39
$1.66 €1.43
-46.99%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.77 NIO 64.9
$2.02 €1.75
-12.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 NIO 80.4
$2.47 €2.14
-11.34%
Potato (1kg)
$3.97 NIO 145
$1.79 €1.55
121.79%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 NIO 79.4
$2.07 €1.79
4.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 NIO 38.93
$1.97 €1.71
-46.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.00 NIO 36.64
$0.83 €0.72
20.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.60 NIO 95.1
$6.55 €5.68
-60.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.95 NIO 547
$5.57 €4.82
168.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.40 NIO 51.5
$1.33 €1.15
5.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 NIO 83.1
$3.01 €2.60
-24.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Leon
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.27 €1.97
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$46.35 €40.14
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.52 NIO 55.9
$4.23 €3.66
-64.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.85 €0.73
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.76 NIO 248
$18.83 €16.31
-64.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 NIO 50.1
$2.02 €1.75
-32.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.0K NIO 843.6K
$35.0K €30.3K
-34.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K NIO 952.1K
$39.6K €34.3K
-34.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Leon
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$98.9 NIO 3,622
$148 €128
-33.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.12 NIO 627
$20.52 €17.77
-16.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.53 NIO 1,375
$39.52 €34.23
-5.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Leon
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$48.17 €41.72
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.39 €15.92
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.86 NIO 288
$9.10 €7.88
-13.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Leon
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$125 NIO 4,565
$615 €532
-79.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,114 NIO 223.9K
$16.3K €14.1K
-62.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Leon
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.9 NIO 2,816
$102 €88.0
-24.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$71.5 NIO 2,619
$42.09 €36.45
69.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$133 NIO 4,874
$92.3 €79.9
44.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 NIO 3,918
$122 €106
-12.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Leon
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$394 NIO 14.4K
$1,612 €1,396
-75.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,254 €1,086
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$3,069 €2,658
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,037 €1,764
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,751 €6,712
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$4,286 €3,712
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Leon
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,602 €1,387
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.25
3.81
169.03%

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

Last update for Leon: July 27, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $394 in Leon versus $1,612 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 $35.00 in Leon versus $63.0 in Lisbon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $261 vs $267 – 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 223%, 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 $1,059 per month in Leon and $3,420 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 $706 in Leon and $2,280 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 $125 per month in Leon and $615 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 $706, than in Lisbon at $2,280. 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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