🙂A single person spends $2,227 per month in Lisbon vs $2,584 in Athens, TN, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $3,305 per month in Lisbon vs $3,624 in Athens, TN, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $4,384 per month in Lisbon vs $4,663 in Athens, TN, rent included.
🙂Lisbon is about 14% cheaper than Athens, TN, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Lisbon and Athens, TN sit above the global median – Lisbon by 66%, Athens, TN by 93%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Athens, TN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.84
$21.89$21.89
-26.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.3
$35.64$35.64
81.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.88
$8.85$8.85
17.29%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.37
$3.02$3.02
-8.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$1.96$1.96
14.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$2.09$2.09
-24.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€2.99
$6.49$6.49
-46.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.43
$8.17$8.17
-51.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Athens, TN
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$0.95$0.95
13.68%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.49
$2.31$2.31
-24.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.49
$4.64$4.64
-62.50%
Eggs
$3.18€2.72
$4.40$4.40
-27.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43€11.50
$13.62$13.62
-1.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.84
$6.41$6.41
24.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€13.77
$10.87$10.87
48.02%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
$4.43$4.43
-48.53%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$1.35$1.35
27.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$4.64$4.64
-58.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
$3.95$3.95
-35.70%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$3.78$3.78
-51.59%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$3.34$3.34
-38.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98€1.69
$2.29$2.29
-13.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$1.82$1.82
-53.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.87
$7.21$7.21
-4.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€4.94
$15.81$15.81
-63.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$1.77$1.77
-22.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
$1.59$1.59
82.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Athens, TN
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.95
$1.98$1.98
15.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€40.10
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.49
$2.96$2.96
37.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$1.45$1.45
-43.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27€15.64
$40.61$40.61
-55.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.72
$0.80$0.80
151.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.2K
$32.1K$32.1K
9.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
$26.6K$26.6K
44.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Athens, TN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145€124
$243$243
-40.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96€17.94
$54.5$54.5
-61.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05€34.29
$58.0$58.0
-30.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Athens, TN
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79€41.76
$42.58$42.58
14.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€16.00
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.06€7.76
$8.18$8.18
10.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Athens, TN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607€519
$1,347$1,347
-54.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$30.3K$30.3K
-46.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Athens, TN
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.6
$70.9$70.9
47.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€35.06
$38.81$38.81
5.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€80.1
$102$102
-8.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€101
$128$128
-7.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Athens, TN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,373
$1,600$1,600
0.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,058
$1,367$1,367
-9.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046€2,607
$2,637$2,637
15.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057€1,761
$2,245$2,245
-8.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709€6,599
$2,040$2,040
277.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,652
$2,052$2,052
107.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Athens, TN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584€1,356
$8,398$8,398
-81.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
6.56
-41.92%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Last update for Athens, TN: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,604 in Lisbon versus $1,600 in Athens, TN. 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 430% higher in Athens, TN, 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 $65.0 in Lisbon versus $36.00 in Athens, TN. Groceries tell a different story – $271 in Lisbon vs $336 in Athens, TN – so Lisbon wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Athens, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Athens, TN?
Athens, TN costs about 16% more than Lisbon, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Lisbon vs Athens, TN?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,341 per month in Lisbon and $3,876 in Athens, TN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Lisbon or Athens, TN?
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.
How do dining costs compare in Lisbon vs Athens, TN?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Lisbon and $36.00 in Athens, TN. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Lisbon or Athens, TN?
Groceries cost about 24% more in Athens, TN, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Lisbon or Athens, TN?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Lisbon, where all-in costs run around $2,227, than in Athens, TN at $2,584. In Lisbon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Athens, TN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Athens, TN?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Lisbon costs $2,227 versus $2,584 in Athens, TN. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Athens, TN?
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.
Should I move to Lisbon or Athens, TN?
If budget matters most, go with Lisbon. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Athens, TN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.