Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Arbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Arbon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,296 per month in Lisbon vs $3,435 in Arbon, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,376 per month in Lisbon vs $5,275 in Arbon, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,457 per month in Lisbon vs $7,115 in Arbon, rent included.

Lisbon is about 33% cheaper than Arbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Lisbon and Arbon sit above the global median – Lisbon by 68%, Arbon by 151%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.59 €15.31

$30.50 CHF 25.07

-42.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.9 €54.7

$145 CHF 119

-56.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.58 €10.08

$19.19 CHF 15.77

-39.66%

Cappuccino

$3.10 €2.70

$6.21 CHF 5.11

-50.08%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 €2.17

$6.05 CHF 4.97

-58.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 €1.52

$5.17 CHF 4.25

-66.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.48 €3.03

$9.26 CHF 7.61

-62.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 €3.00

$6.49 CHF 5.33

-47.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 €1.00

$2.28 CHF 1.87

-49.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.91 €1.66

$3.20 CHF 2.63

-40.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 €1.31

$3.67 CHF 3.01

-59.13%

Eggs

$3.98 €3.47

$7.61 CHF 6.26

-47.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.29 €11.57

$25.40 CHF 20.87

-47.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.01 €6.97

$28.81 CHF 23.68

-72.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.04 €15.70

$43.30 CHF 35.58

-58.34%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 €2.05

$3.49 CHF 2.87

-32.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 €1.52

$2.03 CHF 1.67

-13.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 €1.61

$2.45 CHF 2.01

-24.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.55 €2.22

$5.29 CHF 4.35

-51.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 €1.60

$2.08 CHF 1.71

-11.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.10 €1.83

$2.15 CHF 1.76

-2.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.49 €1.29

$2.36 CHF 1.94

-36.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 €0.71

$1.20 CHF 0.98

-31.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.10 €6.18

$10.89 CHF 8.95

-34.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.91 €5.14

$17.15 CHF 14.10

-65.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 €1.14

$2.27 CHF 1.86

-42.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 €1.86

$2.38 CHF 1.95

-10.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.36 €2.05

$4.47 CHF 3.67

-47.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.62 €40.57

$93.4 CHF 76.7

-50.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.08 €3.55

$6.60 CHF 5.42

-38.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.14 €0.99

$4.79 CHF 3.94

-76.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.09 €14.88

$37.36 CHF 30.70

-54.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.31 €2.01

$2.19 CHF 1.80

5.48%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.1K €29.7K

$36.0K CHF 29.6K

-5.30%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$41.4K €36.0K

$40.5K CHF 33.3K

2.22%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$169 €147

$230 CHF 189

-26.58%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$19.33 €16.83

$39.04 CHF 32.08

-50.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.51 €29.17

$54.1 CHF 44.49

-38.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.84 €42.51

$93.9 CHF 77.2

-48.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.43 €16.92

$51.1 CHF 41.97

-61.95%

Cinema Ticket

$9.57 €8.33

$23.60 CHF 19.39

-59.45%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$696 €606

$2,291 CHF 1,883

-69.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.4K €15.1K

$33.1K CHF 27.2K

-47.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €91.7

$145 CHF 119

-27.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.75 €41.56

$65.1 CHF 53.5

-26.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 €87.5

$150 CHF 123

-32.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 €108

$185 CHF 152

-32.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,662 €1,446

$1,520 CHF 1,249

9.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,246 €1,085

$1,499 CHF 1,232

-16.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,965 €2,580

$2,833 CHF 2,328

4.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,049 €1,783

$2,866 CHF 2,355

-28.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,834 €6,819

$15.7K CHF 12.9K

-50.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,464 €3,886

$10.6K CHF 8,727

-57.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,632 €1,420

$11.5K CHF 9,469

-85.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.78

1.9

98.95%

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

Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026

Last update for Arbon: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,662 in Lisbon versus $1,520 in Arbon. 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 606% higher in Arbon, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Lisbon versus $145 in Arbon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $277 vs $601 – 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 Arbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon, $3,435 in Arbon – roughly 50% apart. Arbon costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,444 per month in Lisbon and $5,152 in Arbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,296 in Lisbon and $3,435 in Arbon. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 100% less in Lisbon. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,296 in Lisbon and $3,435 in Arbon. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Lisbon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,296 in Lisbon to $3,435 in Arbon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Lisbon. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Arbon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.