Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Ballerup Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Ballerup

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $3,010 in Ballerup.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $4,664 in Ballerup.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $6,317 in Ballerup.

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 25% less than in Ballerup, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 68% above, Ballerup 124% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Ballerup
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94 €13.73
$25.53 DKK 164
-37.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4 €54.6
$127 DKK 815
-49.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 €8.95
$15.68 DKK 101
-33.80%
Cappuccino
$2.79 €2.40
$6.78 DKK 43.70
-58.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 €2.01
$4.43 DKK 28.54
-47.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 €1.35
$3.24 DKK 20.89
-51.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.43 €2.95
$9.36 DKK 60.3
-63.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 €3.37
$7.67 DKK 49.37
-49.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Ballerup
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.93
$1.99 DKK 12.82
-45.73%
White Bread (500g)
$1.77 €1.52
$3.26 DKK 20.98
-45.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 €1.47
$2.48 DKK 15.97
-31.05%
Eggs
$3.15 €2.71
$4.86 DKK 31.32
-35.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.68 €11.79
$13.64 DKK 87.8
0.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.01 €6.90
$10.63 DKK 68.5
-24.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.52 €13.37
$15.97 DKK 103
-2.82%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 €1.98
$3.03 DKK 19.51
-24.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 €1.41
$3.22 DKK 20.73
-49.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 €1.67
$3.54 DKK 22.80
-45.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.51 €2.17
$5.65 DKK 36.38
-55.58%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 €1.54
$2.28 DKK 14.68
-21.49%
Onion (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$1.77 DKK 11.43
13.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 €1.69
$2.34 DKK 15.10
-15.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 €0.73
$0.84 DKK 5.38
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79 €5.85
$10.12 DKK 65.2
-32.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.67 €4.89
$10.25 DKK 66.1
-44.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 €1.20
$1.80 DKK 11.56
-22.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 €2.60
$2.05 DKK 13.23
47.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Ballerup
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.27 €1.95
$3.65 DKK 23.53
-37.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.44 €39.15
$78.5 DKK 505
-42.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.70
$7.65 DKK 49.25
-43.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 €0.73
$1.75 DKK 11.25
-51.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.28 €15.75
$61.4 DKK 395
-70.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.99 €1.71
$2.11 DKK 13.57
-5.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K €30.2K
$48.0K DKK 308.9K
-26.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K €34.1K
$47.8K DKK 307.8K
-17.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Ballerup
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$146 €126
$199 DKK 1,281
-26.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45 €17.62
$17.67 DKK 114
15.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98 €33.58
$40.94 DKK 264
-4.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Ballerup
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.98 €42.21
$40.66 DKK 262
20.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83 €16.22
$30.29 DKK 195
-37.83%
Cinema Ticket
$9.52 €8.21
$18.46 DKK 119
-48.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Ballerup
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$608 €524
$607 DKK 3,907
0.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K €14.2K
$5,948 DKK 38.3K
177.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Ballerup
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 €89.5
$103 DKK 662
1.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12 €36.29
$34.98 DKK 225
20.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.2 €79.5
$119 DKK 764
-22.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$198 DKK 1,274
-39.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Ballerup
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,621 €1,397
$2,354 DKK 15.2K
-31.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,268 €1,092
$1,549 DKK 9,976
-18.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,048 €2,626
$3,119 DKK 20.1K
-2.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,009 €1,731
$2,751 DKK 17.7K
-26.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,663 €6,602
$4,593 DKK 29.6K
66.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,329 €3,730
$4,179 DKK 26.9K
3.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Ballerup
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,585 €1,366
$6,077 DKK 39.1K
-73.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
4.38
-13.01%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026

Last update for Ballerup: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $2,354 in Ballerup. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ballerup pays 283% 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: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $127 in Ballerup for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $364 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 Ballerup: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ballerup cheaper than Lisbon?
Lisbon is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 33% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or Ballerup?
On paper, Ballerup earns 283% less. 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 Ballerup?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $2,354 in Ballerup. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $608 in Lisbon versus $607 in Ballerup. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Lisbon and Ballerup?
Supermarket bills run roughly 35% higher in Ballerup. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for Lisbon or Ballerup?
At $2,263 in Lisbon versus $3,010 in Ballerup, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Ballerup. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisbon or Ballerup more family-friendly?
For families, Lisbon is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ballerup, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Ballerup?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Ballerup 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 Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Ballerup. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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