Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Amherst, NY

For one person, living is cheaper in Lisbon: $2,206 a month against $2,512 in Amherst, NY, rent and utilities included – about $3,700 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Lisbon, Portugal
Amherst, NY, United States
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,206
/mo nomad
Amherst, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$2,512
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Amherst, NY

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lisbon and in Amherst, NY actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,206 per month in Lisbon vs $2,512 in Amherst, NY, rent included.

  • Lisbon $2,206
  • Amherst, NY $2,512

A couple spends around $3,276 per month in Lisbon vs $3,853 in Amherst, NY, rent included.

  • Lisbon $3,276
  • Amherst, NY $3,853

A family of three spends $4,346 per month in Lisbon vs $5,195 in Amherst, NY, rent included.

  • Lisbon $4,346
  • Amherst, NY $5,195

Lisbon is about 12% cheaper than Amherst, NY, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Lisbon and Amherst, NY sit above the global median – Lisbon by 63%, Amherst, NY by 86%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Amherst, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.86 €15.08
$18.08 $18.08
-6.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.0 €54.6
$78.0 $78.0
-21.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.98 €9.82
$12.17 $12.17
-9.78%
Cappuccino
$3.05 €2.73
$5.94 $5.94
-48.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 €2.04
$2.75 $2.75
-17.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 €1.50
$2.06 $2.06
-18.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.44 €3.07
$6.93 $6.93
-50.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 €3.49
$7.58 $7.58
-48.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Amherst, NY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 €1.03
$0.88 $0.88
30.68%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 €1.69
$3.32 $3.32
-43.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 €1.34
$4.32 $4.32
-65.28%
Eggs
$4.12 €3.68
$3.96 $3.96
4.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.01 €11.63
$11.06 $11.06
17.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.04 €7.19
$9.98 $9.98
-19.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.89 €16.00
$15.86 $15.86
12.80%
Apples (1kg)
$2.27 €2.03
$4.91 $4.91
-53.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 €1.56
$1.43 $1.43
21.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.82 €1.63
$4.39 $4.39
-58.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.69 €2.40
$5.26 $5.26
-48.86%
Potato (1kg)
$1.77 €1.58
$2.72 $2.72
-34.93%
Onion (1kg)
$1.94 €1.73
$2.95 $2.95
-34.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.46 €1.31
$2.40 $2.40
-39.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 €0.68
$2.47 $2.47
-69.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.66 €5.95
$15.03 $15.03
-55.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.64 €5.04
$15.05 $15.05
-62.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29 €1.15
$2.00 $2.00
-35.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 €1.91
$4.12 $4.12
-48.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Amherst, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.30 €2.06
$1.95 $1.95
17.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.02 €39.36
$54.1 $54.1
-18.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.98 €3.56
$2.83 $2.83
40.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 €0.57
$2.05 $2.05
-68.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.93 €16.92
$20.01 $20.01
-5.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.28 €2.03
$1.18 $1.18
93.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.4K €29.8K
$30.6K $30.6K
9.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K €34.4K
$25.8K $25.8K
49.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Amherst, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$158 €141
$234 $234
-32.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.54 €15.68
$51.7 $51.7
-66.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.18 €27.89
$66.3 $66.3
-52.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Amherst, NY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.64 €39.92
$40.31 $40.31
10.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.98 €16.97
$19.77 $19.77
-4.00%
Cinema Ticket
$9.58 €8.56
$12.88 $12.88
-25.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Amherst, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$674 €602
$1,263 $1,263
-46.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.7K €16.7K
$18.9K $18.9K
-0.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Amherst, NY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 €91.4
$53.7 $53.7
90.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.90 €41.04
$44.22 $44.22
3.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 €91.4
$96.1 $96.1
6.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 €109
$115 $115
6.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Amherst, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 €1,467
$1,547 $1,547
6.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,187 €1,062
$1,174 $1,174
1.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,825 €2,526
$2,716 $2,716
3.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,018 €1,805
$2,269 $2,269
-11.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,836 €7,007
$2,775 $2,775
182.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,701 €4,204
$2,351 $2,351
100.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Amherst, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,687 €1,508
$4,179 $4,179
-59.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.82
6.52
-41.41%

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

Last update for Lisbon: November 1, 2026

Last update for Amherst, NY: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Amherst, NY
$1.2K 1.1% $14
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$275
Amherst, NY
$384 40% $110
Eating Out
Lisbon
$245
Amherst, NY
$322 31.1% $76
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$207
Amherst, NY
$352 70.1% $145
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$168
Amherst, NY
$139 17.1% $29
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$64
Amherst, NY
$66 3.5% $2.3
Getting Around
Lisbon
$60
Amherst, NY
$75 24.1% $15

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,641 in Lisbon versus $1,547 in Amherst, NY. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Amherst, NY are about 2.5 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61 in Lisbon versus $78 in Amherst, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $275 vs $384 – making Lisbon the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇺🇸 Amherst, NY
🕒 Local time
15:31 3:31 PM
10:31 10:31 AM
5 h behind Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
37,819
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 0.894 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.893 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Amherst, NY 5,710 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Amherst, NY

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Amherst, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Amherst, NY?
Amherst, NY costs about 14% more than Lisbon, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 and in Amherst, NY?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,309 per month in Lisbon and $3,767 in Amherst, NY. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lisbon compared to Amherst, NY?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $1,641 in Lisbon and $1,547 in Amherst, NY. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
How do childcare costs compare in Lisbon and in Amherst, NY?
Kindergarten costs $674 per month in Lisbon and $1,263 in Amherst, NY. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Lisbon or in Amherst, NY?
Groceries cost about 40% more in Amherst, NY, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Lisbon or in Amherst, NY?
$3,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $2,206 in Lisbon and $2,512 in Amherst, NY, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Lisbon or Amherst, NY?
It depends on your priorities. Lisbon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,206 in Lisbon to $2,512 in Amherst, NY. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Should I move to Lisbon or to Amherst, NY?
If budget matters most, go with Lisbon. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Amherst, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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