🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $2,528 in Balbriggan.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $3,767 in Balbriggan.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $5,005 in Balbriggan.
🙂Living in Lisbon costs roughly 12% less than in Balbriggan, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon66% above, Balbriggan89% above.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Balbriggan
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.84
$23.28€19.93
-30.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.3
$105€90.1
-38.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.88
$12.56€10.75
-17.36%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.37
$4.60€3.93
-39.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$2.46€2.11
-8.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$2.22€1.90
-29.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€2.99
$8.25€7.06
-57.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.43
$6.98€5.98
-42.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Balbriggan
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.66€1.42
-34.94%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.49
$2.12€1.82
-17.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.49
$2.09€1.79
-16.75%
Eggs
$3.18€2.72
$3.25€2.78
-2.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43€11.50
$11.15€9.54
20.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.84
$11.56€9.89
-30.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€13.77
$14.35€12.29
12.13%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
$3.19€2.73
-28.53%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$2.13€1.82
-19.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$2.96€2.53
-34.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
$5.48€4.69
-53.65%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$2.21€1.90
-17.19%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$1.77€1.51
15.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98€1.69
$1.31€1.12
51.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$2.02€1.73
-57.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.87
$20.58€17.62
-66.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€4.94
$13.98€11.97
-58.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$2.95€2.52
-53.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
$2.56€2.19
13.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Balbriggan
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.95
$2.49€2.13
-8.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€40.10
$100€85.7
-53.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.49
$5.20€4.45
-21.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$2.06€1.76
-60.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27€15.64
$38.29€32.78
-52.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.72
$1.98€1.70
1.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.2K
$43.0K€36.8K
-17.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
$40.9K€35.0K
-6.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Balbriggan
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145€124
$177€151
-17.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96€17.94
$17.24€14.76
21.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05€34.29
$46.73€40.00
-14.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Balbriggan
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79€41.76
$54.2€46.43
-10.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€16.00
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.06€7.76
$13.94€11.94
-35.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Balbriggan
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607€519
$1,361€1,165
-55.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$9,730€8,329
67.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Balbriggan
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.6
$104€89.1
0.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€35.06
$29.21€25.00
40.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€80.1
$63.7€54.5
46.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€101
$130€111
-8.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Balbriggan
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,373
$1,469€1,257
9.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,058
$1,259€1,078
-1.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046€2,607
$2,380€2,037
28.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057€1,761
$1,972€1,688
4.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709€6,599
$4,621€3,956
66.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,652
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Balbriggan
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584€1,356
$2,438€2,087
-35.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
4.04
-5.69%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Última actualización para Balbriggan: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $1,469 in Balbriggan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Balbriggan pays 54% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $105 in Balbriggan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $349 per month, with Lisbon cheaper across the board.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Lisbon vs Balbriggan: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Balbriggan?
Lisbon and Balbriggan differ by about 14% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $2,528 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Balbriggan earns 54% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Balbriggan?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $1,469 in Balbriggan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 29% higher in Balbriggan. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Lisbon – a meal for two runs $65.0 versus $105 in Balbriggan. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,227 in Lisbon versus $2,528 in Balbriggan, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Balbriggan. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Balbriggan?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Lisbon or Balbriggan safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Balbriggan are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Lisbon or Balbriggan?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Balbriggan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.