😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,280 in Lisbon versus $773 in Americana.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,294 in Lisbon versus $1,221 in Americana.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,307 in Lisbon versus $1,669 in Americana.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 195% more expensive than in Americana, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Americana is 42% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Americana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75€13.74
$5.50R$28.15
186.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5€55.3
$21.99R$113
188.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.45€9.11
$7.41R$37.93
41.03%
Cappuccino
$2.91€2.54
$1.87R$9.58
55.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.00
$1.69R$8.66
35.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.31
$1.16R$5.91
29.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.56€3.11
$1.38R$7.04
157.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96€3.46
$2.19R$11.23
80.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Americana
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.94
$1.01R$5.15
6.93%
White Bread(500g)
$1.76€1.54
$1.51R$7.73
16.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70€1.48
$1.19R$6.10
42.86%
Eggs
$3.25€2.83
$1.98R$10.12
64.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.25€11.55
$8.11R$41.49
63.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.70€6.72
$3.54R$18.10
117.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.77€13.75
$7.15R$36.60
120.56%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.99
$2.16R$11.06
5.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66€1.44
$1.32R$6.73
25.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.02€1.76
$1.14R$5.83
77.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47€2.16
$1.37R$7.01
80.29%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.56
$1.14R$5.84
57.02%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07€1.80
$1.09R$5.58
89.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.72
$0.75R$3.84
162.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.73
$0.66R$3.35
25.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55€5.71
$2.05R$10.51
219.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.57€4.85
$8.54R$43.72
-34.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.16
$1.28R$6.53
3.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01€2.62
$1.98R$10.12
52.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Americana
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.98
$0.87R$4.46
160.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.35€40.41
$38.99R$200
18.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.69
$1.10R$5.61
284.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.74
$0.72R$3.67
18.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.83€16.41
$6.54R$33.47
187.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02€1.76
$1.06R$5.43
90.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.5K
$20.4KR$104.3K
71.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K€34.6K
$28.1KR$143.6K
41.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Americana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€129
$49.50R$253
198.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.89
$13.59R$69.6
50.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52€34.46
$20.21R$103
95.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Americana
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.17€42.00
$17.42R$89.2
176.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39€16.03
$21.60R$111
-14.86%
Cinema Ticket
$9.10€7.93
$6.33R$32.37
43.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Americana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$615€536
$269R$1,375
128.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.2K
$6,601R$33.8K
146.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Americana
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€88.6
$49.81R$255
103.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09€36.69
$42.30R$216
-0.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.3€80.5
$100R$514
-8.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€106
$79.5R$407
53.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Americana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,612€1,405
$311R$1,590
418.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254€1,093
$216R$1,103
481.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,069€2,676
$579R$2,961
430.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,037€1,776
$426R$2,181
377.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,751€6,757
$1,603R$8,200
383.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,286€3,737
$1,157R$5,922
270.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Americana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,602€1,396
$753R$3,854
112.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
10.92
-65.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026
Last update for Americana: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Lisbon and $311 in Americana. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 113% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $22.00 in Americana for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $175 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 – living expenses run 195% 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 in Americana?
Average pay runs 113% higher in Lisbon, 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 compared to Americana?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,612 in Lisbon versus $311 in Americana. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Lisbon compared to Americana?
A monthly transit pass in Americana runs roughly 19% 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 in Americana?
Childcare runs $615 in Lisbon versus $269 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 in Americana?
At $773 in Americana versus $2,280 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 – similar infrastructure at $773 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 – expenses run 195% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.