Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Bethlehem, PA Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Bethlehem, PA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,296 per month in Lisbon vs $2,632 in Bethlehem, PA, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,376 per month in Lisbon vs $3,718 in Bethlehem, PA, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,457 per month in Lisbon vs $4,804 in Bethlehem, PA, rent included.

Lisbon is about 13% cheaper than Bethlehem, PA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Lisbon and Bethlehem, PA sit above the global median – Lisbon by 68%, Bethlehem, PA by 92%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.59 €15.32

$18.05 $18.05

-2.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.9 €54.8

$49.97 $49.97

25.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.58 €10.09

$13.15 $13.15

-11.94%

Cappuccino

$3.10 €2.70

$5.42 $5.42

-42.80%

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

$2.49 €2.17

$3.01 $3.01

-17.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 €1.52

$1.89 $1.89

-7.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.48 €3.03

$5.16 $5.16

-32.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 €3.00

$7.97 $7.97

-56.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 €1.00

$1.12 $1.12

2.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.91 €1.66

$3.96 $3.96

-51.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 €1.31

$4.41 $4.41

-65.99%

Eggs

$3.98 €3.47

$4.12 $4.12

-3.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.29 €11.58

$12.27 $12.27

8.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.01 €6.98

$16.71 $16.71

-52.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.04 €15.72

$18.30 $18.30

-1.42%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 €2.05

$4.96 $4.96

-52.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 €1.52

$1.57 $1.57

11.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 €1.62

$6.02 $6.02

-69.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.55 €2.22

$7.31 $7.31

-65.12%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 €1.61

$5.60 $5.60

-67.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.10 €1.83

$3.00 $3.00

-30.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.49 €1.29

$2.68 $2.68

-44.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 €0.71

$1.85 $1.85

-55.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.10 €6.18

$9.78 $9.78

-27.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.91 €5.15

$17.65 $17.65

-66.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 €1.15

$1.93 $1.93

-32.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 €1.86

$3.27 $3.27

-34.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.36 €2.05

$1.92 $1.92

22.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.62 €40.61

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.08 €3.55

$3.10 $3.10

31.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.14 €0.99

$1.60 $1.60

-28.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.09 €14.89

$25.58 $25.58

-33.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.31 €2.01

$1.00 $1.00

131.00%

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

$34.1K €29.7K

$36.8K $36.8K

-7.26%

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

$41.4K €36.0K

$27.3K $27.3K

51.73%

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

$169 €147

$202 $202

-16.71%

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

$19.33 €16.84

$64.8 $64.8

-70.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.51 €29.20

$77.4 $77.4

-56.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.84 €42.55

$37.01 $37.01

31.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.43 €16.93

Cinema Ticket

$9.57 €8.34

$14.87 $14.87

-35.64%

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

$696 €606

$1,005 $1,005

-30.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.4K €15.1K

$22.9K $22.9K

-24.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €91.7

$53.6 $53.6

96.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.75 €41.60

$30.03 $30.03

59.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 €87.6

$67.4 $67.4

49.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 €108

$86.3 $86.3

44.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,662 €1,448

$1,551 $1,551

7.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,246 €1,086

$1,344 $1,344

-7.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,965 €2,583

$2,224 $2,224

33.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,049 €1,785

$2,108 $2,108

-2.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,834 €6,825

$2,154 $2,154

263.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,464 €3,889

$2,123 $2,123

110.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,632 €1,421

$3,608 $3,608

-54.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.78

6.5

-41.85%

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

Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026

Last update for Bethlehem, PA: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,662 in Lisbon versus $1,551 in Bethlehem, PA. 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 121% higher in Bethlehem, PA, 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 $63.0 in Lisbon versus $50.0 in Bethlehem, PA. Groceries tell a different story – $277 in Lisbon vs $462 in Bethlehem, PA – 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 Bethlehem, PA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon, $2,632 in Bethlehem, PA – roughly 15% apart. Bethlehem, PA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,444 per month in Lisbon and $3,948 in Bethlehem, PA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Lisbon and $50.0 in Bethlehem, PA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 67% more in Bethlehem, PA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,296 in Lisbon and $2,632 in Bethlehem, PA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Lisbon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,296 in Lisbon to $2,632 in Bethlehem, PA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Lisbon. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bethlehem, PA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.