Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Aarhus Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Aarhus

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,280 per month in Lisbon vs $2,395 in Aarhus, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,294 per month in Lisbon vs $3,803 in Aarhus, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,307 per month in Lisbon vs $5,211 in Aarhus, rent included.

Lisbon is about 5% cheaper than Aarhus, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Lisbon and Aarhus sit above the global median – Lisbon by 71%, Aarhus by 80%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Aarhus
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75 €13.74
$23.29 DKK 152
-32.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5 €55.3
$117 DKK 763
-45.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.45 €9.11
$14.17 DKK 92.4
-26.25%
Cappuccino
$2.91 €2.54
$6.87 DKK 44.75
-57.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.00
$4.75 DKK 30.93
-51.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.31
$3.18 DKK 20.73
-52.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.56 €3.11
$9.35 DKK 60.9
-61.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 €3.46
$7.84 DKK 51.1
-49.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Aarhus
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.94
$1.99 DKK 12.98
-45.73%
White Bread (500g)
$1.76 €1.54
$3.30 DKK 21.51
-46.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 €1.48
$2.47 DKK 16.12
-31.17%
Eggs
$3.25 €2.83
$5.04 DKK 32.86
-35.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.25 €11.55
$13.76 DKK 89.7
-3.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 €6.72
$10.71 DKK 69.8
-28.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.77 €13.75
$16.08 DKK 105
-1.93%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 €1.99
$3.02 DKK 19.69
-24.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 €1.44
$3.21 DKK 20.91
-48.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.02 €1.76
$3.61 DKK 23.56
-44.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.47 €2.16
$5.93 DKK 38.66
-58.35%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 €1.56
$2.37 DKK 15.46
-24.47%
Onion (1kg)
$2.07 €1.80
$1.81 DKK 11.79
14.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 €1.72
$2.32 DKK 15.13
-15.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 €0.73
$0.78 DKK 5.10
6.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55 €5.71
$9.91 DKK 64.6
-33.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.57 €4.85
$10.44 DKK 68.1
-46.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.16
$1.91 DKK 12.46
-30.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 €2.62
$2.05 DKK 13.34
46.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Aarhus
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.27 €1.98
$3.67 DKK 23.94
-38.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.35 €40.41
$64.0 DKK 417
-27.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.23 €3.69
$7.60 DKK 49.53
-44.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 €0.74
$1.73 DKK 11.29
-50.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.83 €16.41
$61.4 DKK 400
-69.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.02 €1.76
$2.12 DKK 13.80
-4.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K €30.5K
$48.3K DKK 314.5K
-27.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K €34.6K
$49.0K DKK 319.6K
-19.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Aarhus
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €129
$210 DKK 1,367
-29.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.89
$19.67 DKK 128
4.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52 €34.46
$42.57 DKK 277
-7.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Aarhus
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.17 €42.00
$47.95 DKK 312
0.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39 €16.03
$35.26 DKK 230
-47.84%
Cinema Ticket
$9.10 €7.93
$18.98 DKK 124
-52.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Aarhus
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$615 €536
$746 DKK 4,864
-17.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K €14.2K
$5,850 DKK 38.1K
178.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Aarhus
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 €88.6
$104 DKK 676
-2.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09 €36.69
$35.20 DKK 229
19.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.3 €80.5
$121 DKK 785
-23.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 €106
$195 DKK 1,273
-37.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Aarhus
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,612 €1,405
$1,458 DKK 9,500
10.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,254 €1,093
$1,010 DKK 6,582
24.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,069 €2,676
$2,098 DKK 13.7K
46.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,037 €1,776
$1,802 DKK 11.7K
13.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,751 €6,757
$7,681 DKK 50.1K
0.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,286 €3,737
$5,334 DKK 34.8K
-19.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Aarhus
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,602 €1,396
$4,384 DKK 28.6K
-63.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
4.38
-13.01%

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

Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026

Last update for Aarhus: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,612 in Lisbon versus $1,458 in Aarhus. 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 174% higher in Aarhus, 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 $63.0 in Lisbon versus $117 in Aarhus. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $267 vs $368 – 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
Lisbon vs Aarhus: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Lisbon and in Aarhus compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,280 in Lisbon, $2,395 in Aarhus – roughly 5% apart. Aarhus costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Aarhus?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,420 per month in Lisbon and $3,593 in Aarhus. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Lisbon and Aarhus?
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.
How do commuting costs compare in Lisbon and in Aarhus?
Public transport costs about 38% less in Lisbon. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lisbon and Aarhus?
Kindergarten costs $615 per month in Lisbon and $746 in Aarhus. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,280 in Lisbon and $2,395 in Aarhus. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Aarhus?
It depends on your priorities. Aarhus has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,280 in Lisbon to $2,395 in Aarhus. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Lisbon or Aarhus 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 – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Lisbon and Aarhus?
If budget matters most, go with Lisbon. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Aarhus makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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