๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,258 in Lisbon versus $2,232 in Alexandria, MN.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,328 in Lisbon versus $3,457 in Alexandria, MN.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,397 in Lisbon versus $4,682 in Alexandria, MN.
๐Living in Lisbon is roughly 1% more expensive than Alexandria, MN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon68% above, Alexandria, MN66% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Lisbon
Alexandria, MN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.82โฌ13.46
$15.27$15.27
3.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.4โฌ54.8
$59.1$59.1
9.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.37โฌ8.82
$10.05$10.05
3.18%
Cappuccino
$2.89โฌ2.46
$5.29$5.29
-45.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23โฌ1.90
$1.95$1.95
14.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55โฌ1.32
$1.97$1.97
-21.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.38โฌ2.88
$5.40$5.40
-37.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90โฌ3.32
$7.20$7.20
-45.83%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Alexandria, MN
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.12โฌ0.96
$1.02$1.02
9.80%
White Bread(500g)
$1.80โฌ1.53
$3.33$3.33
-45.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75โฌ1.49
$3.96$3.96
-55.81%
Eggs
$3.17โฌ2.70
$3.21$3.21
-1.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.50โฌ11.49
$9.20$9.20
46.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.79โฌ6.63
$11.50$11.50
-32.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.65โฌ13.32
$14.28$14.28
9.59%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28โฌ1.94
$5.00$5.00
-54.40%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71โฌ1.46
$1.17$1.17
46.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93โฌ1.65
$5.90$5.90
-67.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.52โฌ2.15
$5.12$5.12
-50.78%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79โฌ1.52
$3.94$3.94
-54.57%
Onion(1kg)
$2.05โฌ1.74
$3.78$3.78
-45.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.94โฌ1.65
$2.04$2.04
-4.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81โฌ0.69
$1.95$1.95
-58.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.65โฌ5.66
$10.47$10.47
-36.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.79โฌ4.92
$16.20$16.20
-64.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33โฌ1.14
$1.78$1.78
-25.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91โฌ2.47
$4.37$4.37
-33.41%
๐ Getting Around
Lisbon
Alexandria, MN
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.35โฌ2.00
$1.96$1.96
19.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.70โฌ38.89
$126$126
-63.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.20โฌ3.58
$4.86$4.86
-13.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81โฌ0.69
$1.43$1.43
-43.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.70โฌ15.91
$29.07$29.07
-35.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09โฌ1.78
$0.87$0.87
140.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6Kโฌ29.5K
$35.1K$35.1K
-1.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7Kโฌ33.7K
$25.4K$25.4K
56.39%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Alexandria, MN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146โฌ124
$220$220
-33.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.84โฌ17.73
$47.87$47.87
-56.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.78โฌ33.85
$72.6$72.6
-45.17%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Alexandria, MN
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.58โฌ41.35
$75.9$75.9
-35.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.85โฌ16.04
$50.6$50.6
-62.75%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07โฌ7.72
$9.93$9.93
-8.66%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Alexandria, MN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$618โฌ526
$994$994
-37.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.2Kโฌ13.8K
$30.2K$30.2K
-46.47%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Alexandria, MN
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105โฌ89.0
$24.56$24.56
325.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.54โฌ34.50
$24.94$24.94
62.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.8โฌ79.8
$50.3$50.3
86.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123โฌ104
$60.9$60.9
101.41%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Alexandria, MN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604โฌ1,365
$1,064$1,064
50.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,260โฌ1,073
$917$917
37.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,065โฌ2,608
$2,124$2,124
44.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,008โฌ1,709
$1,850$1,850
8.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,702โฌ6,555
$2,776$2,776
177.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,367โฌ3,716
$2,741$2,741
59.28%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Alexandria, MN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,638โฌ1,394
$3,354$3,354
-51.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
6.43
-40.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 13, 2026
Last update for Alexandria, MN: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $1,064 in Alexandria, MN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐAlexandria, MN pays 105% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
๐Dining out: $64 in Lisbon vs $59 in Alexandria, MN. Groceries flip the comparison at $268 vs $382, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.
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 Alexandria, MN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Alexandria, MN?
Alexandria, MN wins on cost โ living expenses run 1% lower than in Lisbon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Alexandria, MN the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lisbon or Alexandria, MN?
On paper, Alexandria, MN earns 105% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lisbon vs Alexandria, MN?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $1,064 in Alexandria, MN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Lisbon and Alexandria, MN?
Childcare runs $618 in Lisbon versus $994 in Alexandria, MN. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Lisbon or Alexandria, MN?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 43% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Lisbon or Alexandria, MN?
At $2,232 in Alexandria, MN versus $2,258 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Alexandria, MN but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Alexandria, MN the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Alexandria, MN?
Both work as nomad bases, but Alexandria, MN delivers better value โ similar infrastructure at $2,232 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Alexandria, MN hard to pass up.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Alexandria, MN?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Alexandria, MN are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Alexandria, MN gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 1% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.