Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Blenheim

For one person, living is cheaper in Blenheim: $1,414 a month against $2,210 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $9,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lisbon, Portugal
Blenheim, New Zealand
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,210
/mo nomad
Blenheim
🇳🇿 New Zealand
$1,414
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Blenheim

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lisbon and in Blenheim actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,210 per month in Lisbon vs $1,414 in Blenheim, rent included.

  • Lisbon $2,210
  • Blenheim $1,414

A couple spends around $3,275 per month in Lisbon vs $2,289 in Blenheim, rent included.

  • Lisbon $3,275
  • Blenheim $2,289

A family of three spends $4,341 per month in Lisbon vs $3,163 in Blenheim, rent included.

  • Lisbon $4,341
  • Blenheim $3,163

Lisbon costs about 56% more than Blenheim, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Lisbon and Blenheim sit above the global median – Lisbon by 62%, Blenheim by 4%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Blenheim
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.65 €14.91
$14.11 NZ$25.05
18.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.7 €55.3
$67.5 NZ$120
-8.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.36 €10.17
$8.08 NZ$14.35
40.59%
Cappuccino
$2.97 €2.66
$3.33 NZ$5.91
-10.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.05
$2.21 NZ$3.92
3.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.56
$1.85 NZ$3.29
-5.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 €3.05
$5.85 NZ$10.38
-41.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 €2.96
$6.71 NZ$11.91
-50.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Blenheim
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.16 €1.04
$1.64 NZ$2.91
-29.27%
White Bread (500g)
$1.91 €1.71
$1.38 NZ$2.45
38.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 €1.35
$1.06 NZ$1.88
42.45%
Eggs
$4.02 €3.60
$5.47 NZ$9.71
-26.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.94 €11.59
$6.98 NZ$12.38
85.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.77 €6.96
$5.01 NZ$8.90
55.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.76 €15.91
$10.35 NZ$18.38
71.59%
Apples (1kg)
$2.30 €2.06
$2.58 NZ$4.58
-10.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 €1.55
$1.72 NZ$3.06
0.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.86 €1.66
$2.80 NZ$4.96
-33.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.59 €2.32
$3.96 NZ$7.04
-34.60%
Potato (1kg)
$1.82 €1.63
$1.57 NZ$2.79
15.92%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 €1.76
$1.40 NZ$2.48
40.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.47 €1.32
$1.72 NZ$3.06
-14.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 €0.65
$1.31 NZ$2.33
-45.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58 €5.90
$23.72 NZ$42.11
-72.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.61 €5.02
$8.18 NZ$14.51
-31.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 €1.22
$3.39 NZ$6.02
-59.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 €1.91
$4.33 NZ$7.68
-50.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Blenheim
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.33 €2.09
$2.05 NZ$3.64
13.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.68 €40.01
$103 NZ$182
-56.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.85 €3.45
$2.59 NZ$4.61
48.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.07 €0.96
$1.17 NZ$2.07
-8.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.46 €14.74
$27.98 NZ$49.68
-41.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.20 €1.97
$1.57 NZ$2.78
40.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2K €30.6K
$10.7K NZ$18.9K
220.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K €34.7K
$17.9K NZ$31.7K
116.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Blenheim
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$161 €144
$45.60 NZ$81.0
253.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.41 €16.49
$22.52 NZ$39.98
-18.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.74 €29.32
$45.55 NZ$80.9
-28.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Blenheim
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.55 €39.90
$22.87 NZ$40.61
94.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10 €17.10
$4.48 NZ$7.95
326.34%
Cinema Ticket
$9.60 €8.60
$5.00 NZ$8.87
92.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Blenheim
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$668 €598
$447 NZ$793
49.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.6K €15.8K
$21.8K NZ$38.7K
-19.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Blenheim
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 €91.4
$20.09 NZ$35.66
407.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.46 €39.82
$11.33 NZ$20.12
292.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.5 €88.2
$99.6 NZ$177
-1.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €111
$123 NZ$219
0.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Blenheim
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,608 €1,440
$679 NZ$1,205
136.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,190 €1,066
$538 NZ$956
121.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,812 €2,519
$1,223 NZ$2,171
129.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,013 €1,803
$1,053 NZ$1,869
91.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,839 €7,021
$4,659 NZ$8,271
68.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,576 €4,098
$3,339 NZ$5,927
37.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Blenheim
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,575 €1,411
$2,431 NZ$4,316
-35.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
5.91
-34.86%

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

Last update for Lisbon: October 27, 2026

Last update for Blenheim: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Blenheim
$538 54.8% $652
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$272
Blenheim
$260 4.7% $13
Eating Out
Lisbon
$243
Blenheim
$236 2.7% $6.6
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$212
Blenheim
$114 46.5% $99
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$166
Blenheim
$114 31% $51
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$64
Blenheim
$33 48.4% $31
Getting Around
Lisbon
$63
Blenheim
$119 88.9% $56

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,608 in Lisbon versus $679 in Blenheim. 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 54% higher in Blenheim, 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 $62 in Lisbon versus $68 in Blenheim. Groceries tell a different story – $272 in Lisbon vs $260 in Blenheim – so Blenheim wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇳🇿 Blenheim
🕒 Local time
06:45 6:45 AM
19:45 7:45 PM
13 h ahead of Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
28,800
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

NZD, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

New Zealand Dollar exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 1.78 NZD (1 NZD = 0.563 USD). 1 EUR = 1.98 NZD (1 NZD = 0.504 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Blenheim 19,610 km ≈ 25 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Blenheim

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Blenheim: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Blenheim cheaper than Lisbon?
Yes – Lisbon is pricier by about 56%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,315 per month in Lisbon and $2,122 in Blenheim. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Blenheim, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $679 there versus $1,608 in Lisbon.
What are total monthly expenses in Lisbon and in Blenheim?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,210 in Lisbon and $1,414 in Blenheim. That makes Blenheim about 36% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 57% less in Lisbon. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is Lisbon or Blenheim more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Blenheim – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Blenheim?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

Lisbon vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?