๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,243 in Lisbon versus $778 in Americana.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $1,241 in Americana.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,387 in Lisbon versus $1,705 in Americana.
๐Living in Lisbon is roughly 188% more expensive than Americana, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 67% above, Americana is 42% below.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Lisbon
Americana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.73โฌ13.42
$5.43R$26.98
189.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.2โฌ53.9
$21.46R$107
194.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32โฌ8.80
$7.35R$36.54
40.41%
Cappuccino
$2.81โฌ2.40
$1.81R$8.99
55.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33โฌ1.99
$1.70R$8.43
37.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51โฌ1.29
$1.16R$5.77
30.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.37โฌ2.87
$1.32R$6.54
155.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91โฌ3.34
$2.13R$10.60
83.57%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Americana
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08โฌ0.92
$1.02R$5.05
5.88%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75โฌ1.49
$1.52R$7.56
15.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75โฌ1.50
$1.15R$5.71
52.17%
Eggs
$3.10โฌ2.64
$2.04R$10.13
51.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.28โฌ11.33
$8.37R$41.60
58.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.85โฌ6.70
$3.75R$18.63
109.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.05โฌ13.69
$7.04R$35.00
127.98%
Apples(1kg)
$2.39โฌ2.04
$2.14R$10.64
11.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72โฌ1.47
$1.24R$6.17
38.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97โฌ1.68
$1.20R$5.95
64.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55โฌ2.17
$1.33R$6.62
91.73%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79โฌ1.53
$1.19R$5.89
50.42%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97โฌ1.68
$1.11R$5.52
77.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.96โฌ1.67
$0.75R$3.72
161.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84โฌ0.71
$0.61R$3.05
37.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.82โฌ5.82
$2.08R$10.34
227.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.85โฌ4.99
$9.17R$45.55
-36.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38โฌ1.18
$1.25R$6.22
10.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92โฌ2.49
$2.08R$10.35
40.38%
๐ Getting Around
Lisbon
Americana
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.29โฌ1.95
$0.86R$4.30
166.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.88โฌ39.99
$39.02R$194
20.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.12โฌ3.51
$1.07R$5.31
285.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81โฌ0.69
$0.75R$3.71
8.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.94โฌ16.16
$6.21R$30.89
204.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09โฌ1.78
$1.10R$5.45
90.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1Kโฌ30.0K
$20.6KR$102.3K
70.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7Kโฌ33.9K
$27.9KR$138.7K
42.30%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Americana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150โฌ128
$48.59R$242
207.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.49โฌ17.48
$13.63R$67.8
50.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.15โฌ33.40
$20.43R$102
91.63%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Americana
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.65โฌ42.35
$17.01R$84.5
191.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.47โฌ15.76
$21.59R$107
-14.45%
Cinema Ticket
$9.20โฌ7.84
$6.31R$31.38
45.80%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Americana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$624โฌ533
$268R$1,334
132.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9Kโฌ13.6K
$6,552R$32.6K
142.77%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Americana
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102โฌ87.2
$50.0R$249
104.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.88โฌ34.87
$42.67R$212
-4.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.7โฌ81.6
$98.0R$487
-2.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121โฌ103
$79.3R$394
52.71%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Americana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,653โฌ1,410
$321R$1,595
414.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,233โฌ1,051
$215R$1,067
473.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,043โฌ2,596
$591R$2,936
415.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,059โฌ1,756
$434R$2,157
374.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,879โฌ6,720
$1,694R$8,418
365.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,303โฌ3,671
$1,210R$6,015
255.55%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Americana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,566โฌ1,336
$777R$3,862
101.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
10.92
-65.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 21, 2026
Last update for Americana: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,653 in Lisbon and $321 in Americana. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐLisbon pays 102% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $63 in Lisbon vs $21 in Americana for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $270 vs $178 per month, with Americana cheaper across the board.
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 Americana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Americana?
Americana wins on cost โ living expenses run 188% lower than in Lisbon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Americana the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lisbon or Americana?
Lisbon pays 102% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lisbon vs Americana?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,653 in Lisbon versus $321 in Americana. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Lisbon vs Americana?
A monthly transit pass in Americana runs roughly 20% less than in Lisbon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Lisbon and Americana?
Childcare runs $624 in Lisbon versus $268 in Americana. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Lisbon or Americana?
At $778 in Americana versus $2,243 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Americana but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Americana the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Americana?
Both work as nomad bases, but Americana delivers better value โ similar infrastructure at $778 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Americana hard to pass up.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Americana?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Americana 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 Americana gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 188% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.