🙂A single person spends $2,243 per month in Lisbon vs $2,517 in Bloomington, IL, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $3,315 per month in Lisbon vs $3,494 in Bloomington, IL, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $4,387 per month in Lisbon vs $4,471 in Bloomington, IL, rent included.
🙂Lisbon is about 11% cheaper than Bloomington, IL, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both Lisbon and Bloomington, IL sit above the global median – Lisbon by 67%, Bloomington, IL by 88%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Bloomington, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.73€13.42
$15.45$15.45
1.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.2€53.9
$51.7$51.7
22.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€8.80
$10.89$10.89
-5.23%
Cappuccino
$2.81€2.40
$2.54$2.54
10.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33€1.99
$1.99$1.99
17.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51€1.29
$2.03$2.03
-25.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.37€2.87
$5.86$5.86
-42.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.34
$4.90$4.90
-20.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Bloomington, IL
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.92
$0.83$0.83
30.12%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.49
$3.06$3.06
-42.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75€1.50
$4.34$4.34
-59.68%
Eggs
$3.10€2.64
$3.39$3.39
-8.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.28€11.33
$9.02$9.02
47.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.85€6.70
$6.42$6.42
22.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.05€13.69
$13.07$13.07
22.80%
Apples(1kg)
$2.39€2.04
$4.29$4.29
-44.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.47
$1.29$1.29
33.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97€1.68
$5.53$5.53
-64.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.17
$3.12$3.12
-18.27%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
$2.07$2.07
-13.53%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97€1.68
$2.12$2.12
-7.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.96€1.67
$1.77$1.77
10.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.71
$2.04$2.04
-58.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.82€5.82
$9.18$9.18
-25.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.85€4.99
$15.69$15.69
-62.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.18
$1.72$1.72
-19.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92€2.49
$2.23$2.23
30.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Bloomington, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.29€1.95
$1.22$1.22
87.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.88€39.99
$40.17$40.17
16.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.12€3.51
$2.04$2.04
101.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.69
$2.14$2.14
-62.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.94€16.16
$33.38$33.38
-43.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09€1.78
$0.89$0.89
134.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K€30.0K
$33.3K$33.3K
5.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7K€33.9K
$25.1K$25.1K
58.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Bloomington, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150€128
$170$170
-12.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.49€17.48
$64.8$64.8
-68.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.15€33.40
$72.9$72.9
-46.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Bloomington, IL
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.65€42.35
$59.4$59.4
-16.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.47€15.76
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.20€7.84
$8.42$8.42
9.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Bloomington, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$624€533
$1,768$1,768
-64.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9K€13.6K
$27.4K$27.4K
-42.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Bloomington, IL
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€87.2
$46.75$46.75
118.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.88€34.87
$41.81$41.81
-2.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.7€81.6
$86.2$86.2
11.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121€103
$129$129
-5.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Bloomington, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,653€1,410
$1,091$1,091
51.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,233€1,051
$1,373$1,373
-10.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,043€2,596
$2,119$2,119
43.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,059€1,756
$1,970$1,970
4.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,879€6,720
$1,339$1,339
488.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,303€3,671
$1,355$1,355
217.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Bloomington, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,566€1,336
$4,580$4,580
-65.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
6.53
-41.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 21, 2026
Last update for Bloomington, IL: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,653 in Lisbon versus $1,091 in Bloomington, IL. 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 192% higher in Bloomington, IL, 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 in Lisbon versus $52 in Bloomington, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $270 in Lisbon vs $321 in Bloomington, IL – 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 Bloomington, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Bloomington, IL?
Bloomington, IL costs about 12% more than Lisbon, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Lisbon vs Bloomington, IL?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,365 per month in Lisbon and $3,775 in Bloomington, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Lisbon or Bloomington, IL?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Lisbon and Bloomington, IL?
Kindergarten costs $624 per month in Lisbon and $1,768 in Bloomington, IL. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Lisbon or Bloomington, IL?
Groceries cost about 19% more in Bloomington, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Lisbon or Bloomington, IL?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Lisbon, where all-in costs run around $2,243, than in Bloomington, IL at $2,517. In Lisbon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bloomington, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Bloomington, IL?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Lisbon costs $2,243 versus $2,517 in Bloomington, IL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Bloomington, IL?
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.
Should I move to Lisbon or Bloomington, IL?
If budget matters most, go with Lisbon. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bloomington, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.