Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Arlington, VA Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Arlington, VA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,316 per month in Lisbon vs $3,527 in Arlington, VA, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,361 per month in Lisbon vs $5,438 in Arlington, VA, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,405 per month in Lisbon vs $7,348 in Arlington, VA, rent included.

Lisbon is about 34% cheaper than Arlington, VA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Lisbon and Arlington, VA sit above the global median – Lisbon by 69%, Arlington, VA by 157%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.30 €14.87

$23.93 $23.93

-27.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.3 €54.4

$100.0 $100.0

-36.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.39 €9.79

$11.04 $11.04

3.17%

Cappuccino

$3.19 €2.74

$5.89 $5.89

-45.84%

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

$2.45 €2.10

$3.01 $3.01

-18.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 €1.52

$2.52 $2.52

-30.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.59 €3.09

$7.89 $7.89

-54.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 €2.92

$8.79 $8.79

-61.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 €1.06

$1.21 $1.21

2.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.98 €1.71

$4.55 $4.55

-56.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 €1.31

$5.29 $5.29

-71.27%

Eggs

$4.04 €3.47

$5.28 $5.28

-23.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.54 €11.64

$21.35 $21.35

-36.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.39 €7.21

$15.57 $15.57

-46.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.25 €15.69

$23.09 $23.09

-20.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 €1.97

$5.55 $5.55

-58.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 €1.50

$1.87 $1.87

-6.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.86 €1.60

$4.56 $4.56

-59.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.63 €2.26

$5.88 $5.88

-55.27%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 €1.65

$3.20 $3.20

-40.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.09 €1.80

$3.73 $3.73

-43.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.44 €1.24

$2.28 $2.28

-36.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 €0.72

$2.45 $2.45

-65.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.78 €5.83

$10.65 $10.65

-36.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.71 €4.91

$17.06 $17.06

-66.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 €1.18

$2.78 $2.78

-50.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 €1.91

$2.94 $2.94

-24.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.40 €2.06

$2.79 $2.79

-13.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.78 €40.22

$122 $122

-61.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.17 €3.59

$4.08 $4.08

2.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.14 €0.98

$1.23 $1.23

-7.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.68 €15.20

$24.72 $24.72

-28.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.32 €2.00

$0.94 $0.94

146.81%

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

$35.3K €30.4K

$34.6K $34.6K

2.00%

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

$41.4K €35.6K

$24.7K $24.7K

67.99%

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

$170 €146

$161 $161

5.80%

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

$19.34 €16.62

$52.4 $52.4

-63.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.64 €28.92

$61.8 $61.8

-45.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.10 €41.35

$71.1 $71.1

-32.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.90 €17.11

$19.11 $19.11

4.13%

Cinema Ticket

$9.92 €8.53

$16.49 $16.49

-39.84%

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

$717 €617

$1,613 $1,613

-55.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.5K €15.0K

$36.7K $36.7K

-52.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €90.1

$56.0 $56.0

87.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.95 €40.36

$62.6 $62.6

-25.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 €88.9

$104 $104

-0.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 €107

$160 $160

-22.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,677 €1,441

$2,456 $2,456

-31.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,271 €1,093

$1,997 $1,997

-36.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,985 €2,566

$4,777 $4,777

-37.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,992 €1,713

$3,604 $3,604

-44.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,826 €6,728

$6,153 $6,153

27.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,658 €4,004

$4,908 $4,908

-5.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,583 €1,361

$6,734 $6,734

-76.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.79

6.27

-39.55%

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

Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026

Last update for Arlington, VA: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,677 in Lisbon versus $2,456 in Arlington, VA. 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 325% higher in Arlington, VA, 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 $100 in Arlington, VA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $283 vs $507 – 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 Arlington, VA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arlington, VA costs about 52% more than Lisbon, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,474 per month in Lisbon and $5,291 in Arlington, VA. 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.

Groceries cost about 79% more in Arlington, VA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Lisbon and $100 in Arlington, VA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,316 in Lisbon and $3,527 in Arlington, VA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Lisbon costs $2,316 versus $3,527 in Arlington, VA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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, Arlington, VA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.