Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Athens, TN Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Athens, TN

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,296 per month in Lisbon vs $2,072 in Athens, TN, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,376 per month in Lisbon vs $3,194 in Athens, TN, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,457 per month in Lisbon vs $4,316 in Athens, TN, rent included.

Lisbon costs about 11% more than Athens, TN, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Lisbon and Athens, TN sit above the global median – Lisbon by 68%, Athens, TN by 51%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.59 €15.31

$30.09 $30.09

-41.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.9 €54.7

$116 $116

-45.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.58 €10.08

$11.77 $11.77

-1.61%

Cappuccino

$3.10 €2.70

$5.66 $5.66

-45.23%

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

$2.49 €2.17

$2.93 $2.93

-15.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 €1.52

$2.09 $2.09

-16.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.48 €3.03

$7.72 $7.72

-54.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 €3.00

$8.03 $8.03

-57.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 €1.00

$0.95 $0.95

21.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.91 €1.66

$2.47 $2.47

-22.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 €1.31

$3.77 $3.77

-60.21%

Eggs

$3.98 €3.47

$4.90 $4.90

-18.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.29 €11.57

$14.98 $14.98

-11.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.01 €6.97

$6.51 $6.51

23.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.04 €15.70

$21.93 $21.93

-17.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 €2.05

$6.13 $6.13

-61.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 €1.52

$1.46 $1.46

19.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 €1.61

$6.02 $6.02

-69.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.55 €2.22

$5.46 $5.46

-53.30%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 €1.60

$3.61 $3.61

-49.03%

Onion (1kg)

$2.10 €1.83

$2.65 $2.65

-20.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.49 €1.29

$2.19 $2.19

-31.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 €0.71

$1.70 $1.70

-51.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.10 €6.18

$6.84 $6.84

3.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.91 €5.14

$15.26 $15.26

-61.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 €1.14

$1.97 $1.97

-33.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 €1.85

$5.04 $5.04

-57.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.36 €2.05

$2.03 $2.03

16.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.62 €40.57

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.08 €3.55

$3.44 $3.44

18.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.14 €0.99

$1.45 $1.45

-21.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.09 €14.88

$24.12 $24.12

-29.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.31 €2.01

$0.74 $0.74

212.16%

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

$34.1K €29.7K

$36.8K $36.8K

-7.33%

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

$41.4K €36.0K

$25.9K $25.9K

59.96%

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

$169 €147

$198 $198

-14.79%

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

$19.33 €16.82

$70.8 $70.8

-72.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.51 €29.17

$54.5 $54.5

-38.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.84 €42.50

$41.29 $41.29

18.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.43 €16.91

Cinema Ticket

$9.57 €8.33

$8.20 $8.20

16.71%

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

$696 €606

$1,865 $1,865

-62.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.4K €15.1K

$22.4K $22.4K

-22.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €91.6

$52.9 $52.9

99.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.75 €41.56

$44.12 $44.12

8.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 €87.5

$95.3 $95.3

5.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 €108

$107 $107

16.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,662 €1,446

$863 $863

92.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,246 €1,085

$718 $718

73.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,965 €2,580

$1,464 $1,464

102.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,049 €1,783

$1,159 $1,159

76.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,834 €6,818

$2,702 $2,702

189.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,464 €3,885

$2,405 $2,405

85.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,632 €1,420

$8,357 $8,357

-80.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.78

6.18

-38.83%

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

Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026

Last update for Athens, TN: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,662 in Lisbon versus $863 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 412% higher in Athens, TN, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Lisbon versus $116 in Athens, TN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $277 vs $399 – 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 Athens, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lisbon costs about 11% more than Athens, TN, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,444 per month in Lisbon and $3,109 in Athens, TN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Athens, TN, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Lisbon and $116 in Athens, TN. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 44% cheaper in Lisbon – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Athens, TN, where all-in costs run around $2,072, than in Lisbon at $2,296. In Athens, TN it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Athens, TN costs $2,072 versus $2,296 in Lisbon. 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 Athens, TN. 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.