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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,227 per month in Lisbon vs $1,140 in Bethlehem, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,305 per month in Lisbon vs $1,676 in Bethlehem, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,384 per month in Lisbon vs $2,213 in Bethlehem, rent included.

Lisbon costs about 95% more than Bethlehem, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Lisbon sits 66% above the global median, while Bethlehem is 15% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.17 €13.84

$8.43 ₪25.12

91.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.6 €55.3

$28.03 ₪83.5

130.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.38 €8.88

$9.79 ₪29.16

6.03%

Cappuccino

$2.77 €2.37

$2.96 ₪8.82

-6.42%

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

$2.25 €1.92

$0.80 ₪2.39

181.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 €1.35

$0.57 ₪1.69

175.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.49 €2.99

$4.24 ₪12.64

-17.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.00 €3.43

$3.58 ₪10.66

11.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 €0.93

$1.65 ₪4.90

-34.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.74 €1.49

$0.61 ₪1.83

185.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.74 €1.49

$2.02 ₪6.03

-13.86%

Eggs

$3.18 €2.72

$2.25 ₪6.70

41.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.43 €11.50

$7.24 ₪21.56

85.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.99 €6.84

$7.99 ₪23.82

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.09 €13.77

$13.53 ₪40.33

18.92%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 €1.95

$1.57 ₪4.68

45.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 €1.48

$1.24 ₪3.69

38.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 €1.66

$1.16 ₪3.44

67.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.54 €2.18

$0.94 ₪2.81

170.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.83 €1.57

$0.87 ₪2.58

110.34%

Onion (1kg)

$2.04 €1.75

$0.59 ₪1.75

245.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 €1.69

$0.80 ₪2.39

147.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 €0.73

$0.86 ₪2.55

-1.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.85 €5.87

$7.92 ₪23.59

-13.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.78 €4.94

$10.28 ₪30.63

-43.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 €1.18

$1.95 ₪5.81

-29.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 €2.48

$2.19 ₪6.54

32.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.28 €1.95

$0.80 ₪2.39

185.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.84 €40.10

$101 ₪302

-53.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.08 €3.49

$2.75 ₪8.18

48.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 €0.70

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.27 €15.64

$14.27 ₪42.53

28.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.01 €1.72

$2.13 ₪6.34

-5.63%

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

$35.3K €30.2K

$39.2K ₪116.7K

-9.98%

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

$38.5K €32.9K

$45.9K ₪136.6K

-16.06%

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

$145 €124

$84.3 ₪251

72.54%

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

$20.96 €17.94

$19.10 ₪56.9

9.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.05 €34.29

$47.37 ₪141

-15.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.79 €41.76

$41.74 ₪124

16.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.69 €16.00

$22.49 ₪67.0

-16.90%

Cinema Ticket

$9.06 €7.76

$8.98 ₪26.75

0.89%

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

$607 €519

$212 ₪632

186.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.3K €14.0K

$3,882 ₪11.6K

320.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €89.6

$63.5 ₪189

64.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.95 €35.06

$37.83 ₪113

8.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.6 €80.1

$92.4 ₪275

1.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 €101

$72.9 ₪217

62.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,604 €1,373

$358 ₪1,067

347.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,236 €1,058

$340 ₪1,012

263.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,046 €2,607

$726 ₪2,164

319.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,057 €1,761

$417 ₪1,244

392.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,709 €6,599

$1,641 ₪4,889

369.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,266 €3,652

$1,144 ₪3,410

272.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,584 €1,356

$1,700 ₪5,065

-6.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.81

5.62

-32.21%

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

Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026

Last update for Bethlehem: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,604 in Lisbon versus $358 in Bethlehem. 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 7% higher in Bethlehem, 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 $65.0 in Lisbon versus $28.00 in Bethlehem. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $271 vs $219 – making Bethlehem 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 Bethlehem: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Lisbon is pricier by about 95%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,341 per month in Lisbon and $1,710 in Bethlehem. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,227 in Lisbon and $1,140 in Bethlehem. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 116% less in Bethlehem. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bethlehem, where all-in costs run around $1,140, than in Lisbon at $2,227. In Bethlehem it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bethlehem – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Bethlehem. 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.