Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Allentown, PA Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Allentown, PA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,210 per month in Lisbon vs $2,712 in Allentown, PA, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,311 per month in Lisbon vs $3,833 in Allentown, PA, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,411 per month in Lisbon vs $4,954 in Allentown, PA, rent included.

Lisbon is about 19% cheaper than Allentown, PA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Lisbon and Allentown, PA sit above the global median – Lisbon by 65%, Allentown, PA by 102%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Allentown, PA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.69
$20.26 $20.26
-21.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.7
$124 $124
-47.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.04
$9.80 $9.80
7.24%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$5.91 $5.91
-51.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$2.31 $2.31
-3.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$1.70 $1.70
-11.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.00
$4.99 $4.99
-30.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$7.91 $7.91
-50.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Allentown, PA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$1.23 $1.23
-7.32%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$2.18 $2.18
-19.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$2.42 $2.42
-27.27%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$3.19 $3.19
0.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.61
$14.75 $14.75
-8.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$6.49 $6.49
21.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.65
$19.85 $19.85
-20.05%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$7.24 $7.24
-68.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$1.48 $1.48
14.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$2.80 $2.80
-28.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$6.55 $6.55
-62.44%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$2.60 $2.60
-29.23%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$3.24 $3.24
-38.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$2.25 $2.25
-14.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$2.47 $2.47
-68.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.68
$9.84 $9.84
-32.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.92
$14.85 $14.85
-61.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.17
$2.27 $2.27
-39.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$2.71 $2.71
9.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Allentown, PA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$2.28 $2.28
3.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.19
$60.2 $60.2
-24.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$4.85 $4.85
-11.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$2.16 $2.16
-62.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.74
$41.96 $41.96
-56.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$0.91 $0.91
126.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$29.6K $29.6K
15.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$26.8K $26.8K
46.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Allentown, PA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$151 $151
-2.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.65
$48.27 $48.27
-57.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.08
$62.0 $62.0
-36.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Allentown, PA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.16
$31.73 $31.73
50.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.28
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.90
$11.58 $11.58
-20.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Allentown, PA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €528
$848 $848
-27.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$11.2K $11.2K
43.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Allentown, PA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.0
$36.25 $36.25
188.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.18
$48.43 $48.43
-13.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.8
$72.8 $72.8
29.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$59.7 $59.7
100.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Allentown, PA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,400
$1,553 $1,553
4.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,080
$1,480 $1,480
-15.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,607
$2,457 $2,457
23.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,738
$2,073 $2,073
-2.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,709
$2,544 $2,544
206.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,675
$2,183 $2,183
95.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Allentown, PA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,379
$2,947 $2,947
-45.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
6.44
-40.84%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Allentown, PA: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,628 in Lisbon versus $1,553 in Allentown, PA. 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 84% higher in Allentown, PA, 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 $65.0 in Lisbon versus $124 in Allentown, PA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $269 vs $381 – 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 Allentown, PA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Allentown, PA?
Allentown, PA costs about 23% more than Lisbon, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Lisbon vs Allentown, PA?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,315 per month in Lisbon and $4,068 in Allentown, PA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Lisbon or Allentown, PA?
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 expensive is transport in Lisbon vs Allentown, PA?
Public transport costs about 32% less in Lisbon. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Lisbon and Allentown, PA?
Kindergarten costs $614 per month in Lisbon and $848 in Allentown, PA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Lisbon or Allentown, PA?
$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,210 in Lisbon and $2,712 in Allentown, PA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Allentown, PA?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Lisbon costs $2,210 versus $2,712 in Allentown, PA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Allentown, PA?
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.
Should I move to Lisbon or Allentown, PA?
If budget matters most, go with Lisbon. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Allentown, PA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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