🙂A single person spends $2,210 per month in Lisbon vs $2,525 in Bloomington, IL, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $3,289 per month in Lisbon vs $3,505 in Bloomington, IL, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $4,369 per month in Lisbon vs $4,486 in Bloomington, IL, rent included.
🙂Lisbon is about 12% cheaper than Bloomington, IL, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both Lisbon and Bloomington, IL sit above the global median – Lisbon by 65%, Bloomington, IL by 89%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Bloomington, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.71€13.80
$15.20$15.20
3.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€55.2
$52.7$52.7
19.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.53€9.25
$11.18$11.18
-5.81%
Cappuccino
$2.88€2.53
$2.55$2.55
12.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.98
$1.94$1.94
15.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56€1.37
$1.98$1.98
-21.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.39€2.98
$6.06$6.06
-44.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90€3.42
$4.92$4.92
-20.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Bloomington, IL
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.95
$0.79$0.79
36.71%
White Bread(500g)
$1.73€1.52
$3.01$3.01
-42.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.55
$4.37$4.37
-59.73%
Eggs
$3.16€2.78
$3.59$3.59
-11.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.68
$8.96$8.96
48.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.87€6.92
$6.48$6.48
21.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.84€13.92
$13.00$13.00
21.85%
Apples(1kg)
$2.40€2.11
$4.28$4.28
-43.93%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.50
$1.30$1.30
30.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$5.40$5.40
-62.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.52€2.21
$3.10$3.10
-18.71%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86€1.63
$2.12$2.12
-12.26%
Onion(1kg)
$2.06€1.81
$2.19$2.19
-5.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.00€1.76
$1.85$1.85
8.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78€0.69
$2.04$2.04
-61.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.65€5.84
$9.63$9.63
-30.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€5.08
$14.88$14.88
-61.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.22
$1.76$1.76
-21.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.65
$2.19$2.19
37.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Bloomington, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.33€2.05
$1.22$1.22
90.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.45€39.94
$39.56$39.56
14.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.58
$1.96$1.96
108.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.80€0.70
$2.20$2.20
-63.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.65€16.38
$34.31$34.31
-45.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.00€1.76
$0.89$0.89
124.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K€31.1K
$33.5K$33.5K
5.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.1K€34.3K
$25.0K$25.0K
56.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Bloomington, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150€132
$171$171
-12.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.55€18.06
$63.9$63.9
-67.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.45€34.66
$75.3$75.3
-47.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Bloomington, IL
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.06€42.23
$61.0$61.0
-21.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.70€16.43
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.30€8.17
$8.30$8.30
12.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Bloomington, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$628€552
$1,770$1,770
-64.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.5K
$27.6K$27.6K
-40.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Bloomington, IL
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€89.2
$46.81$46.81
116.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.55€36.51
$40.39$40.39
2.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.5€81.3
$86.1$86.1
7.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123€108
$127$127
-3.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Bloomington, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,430
$1,114$1,114
46.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,233€1,083
$1,330$1,330
-7.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,126€2,747
$2,172$2,172
43.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,058€1,808
$2,019$2,019
1.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,762€6,821
$1,341$1,341
478.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,386€3,854
$1,343$1,343
226.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Bloomington, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,621€1,425
$4,600$4,600
-64.76%
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: July 21, 2026
Last update for Bloomington, IL: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,628 in Lisbon versus $1,114 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 184% 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 $63.0 in Lisbon versus $53.0 in Bloomington, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $269 in Lisbon vs $320 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 14% 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 and in Bloomington, IL?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,315 per month in Lisbon and $3,787 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 in Bloomington, IL?
Kindergarten costs $628 per month in Lisbon and $1,770 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 in 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 in Bloomington, IL?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Lisbon, where all-in costs run around $2,210, than in Bloomington, IL at $2,525. 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 $2,210 versus $2,525 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 to 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.