Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Ashford Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Ashford

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $2,269 in Ashford.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $3,205 in Ashford.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $4,141 in Ashford.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 1% more expensive than in Ashford, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 71% above, Ashford 70% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Ashford
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19 €14.18
$20.00 £14.89
-19.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3 €55.5
$94.6 £70.5
-33.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.32 €9.04
$10.91 £8.12
-5.41%
Cappuccino
$2.83 €2.48
$4.10 £3.05
-30.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.01
$2.86 £2.13
-19.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 €1.38
$2.04 £1.52
-22.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 €2.98
$6.27 £4.67
-45.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03 €3.53
$6.15 £4.58
-34.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Ashford
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 €0.96
$1.91 £1.42
-42.93%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.53
$1.45 £1.08
20.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$2.79 £2.08
-36.92%
Eggs
$3.17 €2.77
$3.71 £2.76
-14.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.19 €11.56
$6.27 £4.67
110.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.97 €6.98
$6.81 £5.07
17.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.53 €13.60
$13.08 £9.74
18.73%
Apples (1kg)
$2.37 €2.07
$3.19 £2.37
-25.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 €1.49
$1.99 £1.48
-14.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.76
$3.76 £2.80
-46.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.43 €2.13
$3.59 £2.68
-32.31%
Potato (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$1.94 £1.45
-9.28%
Onion (1kg)
$2.03 €1.78
$2.07 £1.54
-1.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.92 €1.68
$1.21 £0.90
58.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.74
$1.52 £1.13
-44.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58 €5.76
$19.67 £14.64
-66.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.58 €4.89
$9.27 £6.90
-39.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.17
$3.54 £2.64
-62.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.60
$4.16 £3.10
-28.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Ashford
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €1.99
$3.40 £2.53
-32.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.79 €40.10
$88.2 £65.6
-48.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.23 €3.70
$6.82 £5.08
-37.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 €0.71
$1.59 £1.18
-49.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.44 €16.15
$54.3 £40.41
-66.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.08 €1.82
$1.88 £1.40
10.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K €30.4K
$24.1K £17.9K
44.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K €34.3K
$27.0K £20.1K
45.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Ashford
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €130
$254 £189
-41.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46 €17.92
$15.60 £11.61
31.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56 €34.64
$34.17 £25.44
15.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Ashford
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.99 €42.03
$58.4 £43.48
-17.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60 €16.29
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.22 €8.08
$16.36 £12.18
-43.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Ashford
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$616 €540
$2,230 £1,660
-72.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.4K €14.4K
$23.4K £17.4K
-29.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Ashford
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 €90.0
$85.7 £63.8
19.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74 €36.55
$29.25 £21.77
42.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.8 €83.0
$86.8 £64.6
9.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 €107
$91.4 £68.1
33.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Ashford
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,633 €1,430
$1,279 £952
27.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,232 €1,079
$1,011 £752
21.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,098 €2,713
$1,834 £1,366
68.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,031 €1,779
$1,285 £956
58.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,831 €6,858
$6,378 £4,749
22.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,389 €3,844
$4,798 £3,572
-8.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Ashford
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,607 €1,408
$2,508 £1,867
-35.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
5.54
-31.23%

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

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Last update for Ashford: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $1,279 in Ashford. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ashford pays 56% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $95.0 in Ashford for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $290 per month, with Lisbon cheaper across the board.

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 Ashford: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ashford cheaper than Lisbon?
Ashford is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or Ashford?
On paper, salaries run 56% lower in Ashford. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Lisbon and Ashford?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $1,279 in Ashford. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Lisbon or in Ashford?
Dining out is cheaper in Ashford – a meal for two runs $95.0 versus $63.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Lisbon and in Ashford?
All in, you'll spend $2,291 per month in Lisbon versus $2,269 in Ashford – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Lisbon or in Ashford?
At $2,269 in Ashford versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Ashford but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Ashford the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisbon or Ashford more family-friendly?
For families, Ashford is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lisbon, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Ashford?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Ashford are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Ashford gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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