Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Birmingham, AL Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Birmingham, AL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,210 per month in Lisbon vs $2,408 in Birmingham, AL, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,311 per month in Lisbon vs $3,805 in Birmingham, AL, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,411 per month in Lisbon vs $5,202 in Birmingham, AL, rent included.

Lisbon is about 8% cheaper than Birmingham, AL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Lisbon and Birmingham, AL sit above the global median – Lisbon by 65%, Birmingham, AL by 80%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.91 €13.69

$18.30 $18.30

-13.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.8 €55.7

$59.1 $59.1

9.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.51 €9.04

$10.14 $10.14

3.65%

Cappuccino

$2.87 €2.47

$5.49 $5.49

-47.72%

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

$2.24 €1.93

$2.14 $2.14

4.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 €1.29

$2.32 $2.32

-35.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.49 €3.00

$6.05 $6.05

-42.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 €3.34

$7.55 $7.55

-48.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 €0.98

$1.15 $1.15

-0.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.75 €1.51

$3.62 $3.62

-51.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 €1.51

$4.00 $4.00

-56.00%

Eggs

$3.22 €2.77

$4.26 $4.26

-24.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.49 €11.61

$11.27 $11.27

19.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.91 €6.81

$11.45 $11.45

-30.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.87 €13.65

$14.07 $14.07

12.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 €1.99

$6.38 $6.38

-63.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 €1.46

$2.01 $2.01

-15.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 €1.73

$7.36 $7.36

-72.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.46 €2.12

$5.30 $5.30

-53.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 €1.59

$4.21 $4.21

-56.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.00 €1.72

$5.05 $5.05

-60.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.93 €1.66

$2.67 $2.67

-27.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 €0.68

$2.73 $2.73

-71.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.61 €5.68

$7.01 $7.01

-5.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.72 €4.92

$15.09 $15.09

-62.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 €1.17

$2.25 $2.25

-39.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 €2.56

$3.60 $3.60

-17.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.37 €2.04

$1.54 $1.54

53.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.56 €39.19

$54.2 $54.2

-15.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 €3.69

$4.10 $4.10

4.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 €0.70

$1.61 $1.61

-49.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.30 €15.74

$30.55 $30.55

-40.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.06 €1.78

$0.81 $0.81

154.32%

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

$34.3K €29.5K

$30.5K $30.5K

12.50%

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

$39.3K €33.8K

$26.4K $26.4K

48.66%

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

$148 €127

$213 $213

-30.54%

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

$20.52 €17.65

$49.23 $49.23

-58.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.61 €34.08

$54.5 $54.5

-27.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.85 €41.16

$47.84 $47.84

0.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.92 €16.28

$20.29 $20.29

-6.75%

Cinema Ticket

$9.18 €7.90

$13.74 $13.74

-33.19%

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

$614 €528

$1,255 $1,255

-51.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.0K €13.8K

$18.2K $18.2K

-11.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €90.0

$63.0 $63.0

66.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.06 €36.18

$27.55 $27.55

52.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.0 €80.8

$104 $104

-9.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 €103

$95.6 $95.6

25.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,628 €1,400

$1,550 $1,550

5.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,255 €1,080

$1,111 $1,111

12.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,030 €2,607

$2,571 $2,571

17.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,020 €1,738

$2,307 $2,307

-12.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,800 €6,709

$3,034 $3,034

157.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,273 €3,675

$1,863 $1,863

129.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,603 €1,379

$3,179 $3,179

-49.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.81

6.49

-41.29%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Birmingham, AL: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,628 in Lisbon versus $1,550 in Birmingham, AL. 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 98% higher in Birmingham, AL, 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 $65.0 in Lisbon versus $59.0 in Birmingham, AL. Groceries tell a different story – $269 in Lisbon vs $429 in Birmingham, AL – 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 Birmingham, AL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon, $2,408 in Birmingham, AL – roughly 9% apart. Birmingham, AL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,315 per month in Lisbon and $3,612 in Birmingham, AL. 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,210 in Lisbon and $2,408 in Birmingham, AL. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 19% less in Lisbon. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,210 in Lisbon and $2,408 in Birmingham, AL. 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 $2,210 in Lisbon to $2,408 in Birmingham, AL. 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, Birmingham, AL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.