Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Ancona Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Ancona

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,227 per month in Lisbon vs $1,708 in Ancona, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,305 per month in Lisbon vs $2,580 in Ancona, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,384 per month in Lisbon vs $3,451 in Ancona, rent included.

Lisbon costs about 30% more than Ancona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Lisbon and Ancona sit above the global median – Lisbon by 66%, Ancona by 28%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Ancona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17 €13.84
$19.31 €16.53
-16.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6 €55.3
$81.3 €69.6
-20.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 €8.88
$11.41 €9.77
-9.03%
Cappuccino
$2.77 €2.37
$2.07 €1.77
33.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 €1.92
$2.69 €2.30
-16.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 €1.35
$1.43 €1.22
9.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €2.99
$5.91 €5.06
-40.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00 €3.43
$5.96 €5.10
-32.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Ancona
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.93
$1.18 €1.01
-8.47%
White Bread (500g)
$1.74 €1.49
$2.45 €2.10
-28.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 €1.49
$2.20 €1.88
-20.91%
Eggs
$3.18 €2.72
$2.89 €2.48
10.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.43 €11.50
$15.69 €13.43
-14.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.99 €6.84
$11.21 €9.59
-28.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.09 €13.77
$21.74 €18.61
-25.99%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 €1.95
$2.41 €2.06
-5.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 €1.48
$1.56 €1.33
10.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 €1.66
$2.56 €2.20
-24.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.54 €2.18
$3.06 €2.62
-16.99%
Potato (1kg)
$1.83 €1.57
$1.61 €1.38
13.66%
Onion (1kg)
$2.04 €1.75
$1.73 €1.48
17.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.98 €1.69
$1.51 €1.29
31.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.73
$0.52 €0.44
63.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85 €5.87
$7.11 €6.09
-3.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.78 €4.94
$5.90 €5.05
-2.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.18
$1.61 €1.38
-14.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 €2.48
$2.19 €1.87
32.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Ancona
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €1.95
$1.70 €1.45
34.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.84 €40.10
$39.84 €34.10
17.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.08 €3.49
$5.65 €4.84
-27.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$1.57 €1.35
-47.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.27 €15.64
$29.40 €25.17
-37.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.01 €1.72
$2.02 €1.73
-0.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K €30.2K
$27.6K €23.6K
27.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K €32.9K
$27.3K €23.4K
40.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Ancona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$145 €124
$284 €243
-48.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96 €17.94
$14.71 €12.59
42.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05 €34.29
$37.18 €31.83
7.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Ancona
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.79 €41.76
$66.1 €56.6
-26.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69 €16.00
$20.07 €17.18
-6.88%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06 €7.76
$11.64 €9.96
-22.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Ancona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$607 €519
$296 €253
104.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K €14.0K
$7,953 €6,808
105.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Ancona
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €89.6
$89.2 €76.4
17.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95 €35.06
$32.69 €27.98
25.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.6 €80.1
$91.4 €78.2
2.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €101
$119 €102
-0.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Ancona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,604 €1,373
$600 €514
167.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,236 €1,058
$477 €408
159.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,046 €2,607
$941 €806
223.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,057 €1,761
$709 €607
190.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,709 €6,599
$3,283 €2,810
134.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,266 €3,652
$2,061 €1,765
106.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Ancona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,584 €1,356
$1,795 €1,536
-11.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
3.9
-2.31%

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

Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026

Last update for Ancona: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,604 in Lisbon versus $600 in Ancona. 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 13% higher in Ancona, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Lisbon versus $81.0 in Ancona. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $271 vs $317 – 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 Ancona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ancona cheaper than Lisbon?
Yes – Lisbon is pricier by about 30%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,341 per month in Lisbon and $2,563 in Ancona. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ancona, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 18% less in Ancona. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $607 per month in Lisbon and $296 in Ancona. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Lisbon or Ancona?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Ancona, where all-in costs run around $1,708, than in Lisbon at $2,227. In Ancona it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Lisbon or Ancona more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ancona – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Ancona?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ancona. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lisbon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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