Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and AltonCost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Alton
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂A single person spends $2,263 per month in Lisbon vs $2,493 in Alton, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $3,315 per month in Lisbon vs $3,816 in Alton, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $4,368 per month in Lisbon vs $5,140 in Alton, rent included.
🙂Lisbon is about 9% cheaper than Alton, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Lisbon and Alton sit above the global median – Lisbon by 68%, Alton by 85%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Alton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94€13.73
$27.01£20.08
-40.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4€54.6
$111£82.3
-42.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.95
$10.94£8.13
-5.12%
Cappuccino
$2.79€2.40
$5.06£3.76
-44.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34€2.01
$2.76£2.05
-15.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$1.86£1.38
-15.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43€2.95
$9.01£6.70
-61.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.37
$8.18£6.08
-52.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Alton
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.72£1.28
-37.21%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.52
$2.24£1.66
-20.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71€1.47
$2.50£1.86
-31.60%
Eggs
$3.15€2.71
$3.57£2.66
-11.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.68€11.79
$11.38£8.46
20.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.90
$8.62£6.41
-7.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.52€13.37
$14.58£10.84
6.45%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.98
$3.45£2.56
-33.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.41
$1.95£1.45
-15.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.67
$3.14£2.33
-38.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.51€2.17
$3.58£2.66
-29.89%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.54
$1.71£1.27
4.68%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.80£1.34
11.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.69
$1.37£1.02
43.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$1.98£1.47
-57.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79€5.85
$22.68£16.86
-70.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.67€4.89
$10.70£7.96
-47.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$2.41£1.79
-42.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.60
$2.78£2.07
8.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Alton
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.95
$3.28£2.44
-30.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.44€39.15
$86.8£64.6
-47.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.70
$5.56£4.13
-22.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$1.89£1.41
-55.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.28€15.75
$40.25£29.93
-54.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99€1.71
$1.94£1.44
2.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.2K
$37.9K£28.2K
-7.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K€34.1K
$39.8K£29.6K
-0.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Alton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146€126
$320£238
-54.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45€17.62
$20.15£14.98
1.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98€33.58
$43.64£32.45
-10.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Alton
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.98€42.21
$46.02£34.22
6.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83€16.22
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.52€8.21
$20.06£14.92
-52.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Alton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$608€524
$2,523£1,876
-75.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.2K
$28.5K£21.2K
-41.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Alton
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€89.5
$118£87.9
-12.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12€36.29
$48.32£35.92
-12.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.2€79.5
$131£97.7
-29.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$157£117
-23.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Alton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621€1,397
$1,240£922
30.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,268€1,092
$1,009£750
25.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,048€2,626
$2,073£1,542
47.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,009€1,731
$1,685£1,252
19.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,663€6,602
$5,658£4,206
35.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,329€3,730
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Alton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,585€1,366
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
5.05
-24.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026
Last update for Alton: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,621 in Lisbon versus $1,240 in Alton. 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 $63.0 in Lisbon versus $111 in Alton. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $269 vs $321 – 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 Alton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Lisbon and Alton compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon, $2,493 in Alton – roughly 10% apart. Alton costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Alton?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,394 per month in Lisbon and $3,739 in Alton. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Lisbon and Alton?
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 Alton?
Public transport costs about 91% 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 Alton?
Kindergarten costs $608 per month in Lisbon and $2,523 in Alton. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Lisbon, where all-in costs run around $2,263, than in Alton at $2,493. In Lisbon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Alton it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Alton?
It depends on your priorities. Lisbon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,263 in Lisbon to $2,493 in Alton. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Lisbon or Alton 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 Alton?
If budget matters most, go with Lisbon. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Alton makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.