Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Ashburton Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Ashburton

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,210 per month in Lisbon vs $1,836 in Ashburton, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,311 per month in Lisbon vs $2,917 in Ashburton, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,411 per month in Lisbon vs $3,997 in Ashburton, rent included.

Lisbon costs about 20% more than Ashburton, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Lisbon and Ashburton sit above the global median – Lisbon by 65%, Ashburton by 37%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Ashburton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.69
$17.08 NZ$28.83
-6.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.7
$73.5 NZ$124
-11.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.04
$9.88 NZ$16.68
6.38%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$3.46 NZ$5.84
-17.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$2.31 NZ$3.90
-3.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$1.97 NZ$3.32
-23.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.00
$7.07 NZ$11.93
-50.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$7.09 NZ$11.96
-45.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Ashburton
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$1.84 NZ$3.10
-38.04%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$1.94 NZ$3.28
-9.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$1.67 NZ$2.82
5.39%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$6.31 NZ$10.66
-48.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.61
$8.22 NZ$13.88
64.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$9.50 NZ$16.04
-16.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.65
$13.12 NZ$22.14
20.96%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$3.01 NZ$5.08
-23.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$2.13 NZ$3.60
-20.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$2.99 NZ$5.05
-32.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$3.41 NZ$5.76
-27.86%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$2.11 NZ$3.56
-12.80%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$2.21 NZ$3.73
-9.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$2.90 NZ$4.90
-33.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$1.40 NZ$2.36
-43.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.68
$24.06 NZ$40.63
-72.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.92
$8.70 NZ$14.68
-34.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.17
$3.66 NZ$6.19
-62.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$4.97 NZ$8.39
-40.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Ashburton
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$2.15 NZ$3.62
10.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.19
$64.6 NZ$109
-29.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$2.69 NZ$4.54
59.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$1.64 NZ$2.77
-50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.74
$30.40 NZ$51.3
-39.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$1.71 NZ$2.89
20.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$27.4K NZ$46.3K
25.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$20.0K NZ$33.8K
96.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Ashburton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$117 NZ$197
26.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.65
$32.17 NZ$54.3
-36.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.08
$54.1 NZ$91.3
-26.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Ashburton
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.16
$36.68 NZ$61.9
30.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.28
$12.03 NZ$20.31
57.27%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.90
$11.20 NZ$18.91
-18.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Ashburton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €528
$645 NZ$1,089
-4.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$9,322 NZ$15.7K
72.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Ashburton
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.0
$30.53 NZ$51.6
242.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.18
$42.82 NZ$72.3
-1.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.8
$93.4 NZ$158
0.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$153 NZ$257
-21.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Ashburton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,400
$982 NZ$1,658
65.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,080
$774 NZ$1,306
62.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,607
$1,579 NZ$2,666
91.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,738
$1,400 NZ$2,363
44.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,709
$4,791 NZ$8,088
62.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,675
$3,958 NZ$6,682
7.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Ashburton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,379
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
6.74
-43.47%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ashburton: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,628 in Lisbon versus $982 in Ashburton. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Lisbon versus $74.0 in Ashburton. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $269 vs $323 – 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 Ashburton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Lisbon and Ashburton compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon, $1,836 in Ashburton – roughly 20% apart. Lisbon costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Ashburton?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,315 per month in Lisbon and $2,754 in Ashburton. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Lisbon and Ashburton?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ashburton, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 20% cheaper in Lisbon – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Lisbon and $74.0 in Ashburton. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Ashburton, where all-in costs run around $1,836, than in Lisbon at $2,210. In Ashburton it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Ashburton?
It depends on your priorities. Lisbon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,836 in Ashburton to $2,210 in Lisbon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Lisbon or Ashburton safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Lisbon and Ashburton?
If budget matters most, go with Ashburton. 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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