Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Bonn Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Bonn

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $2,265 in Bonn.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $3,393 in Bonn.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $4,521 in Bonn.

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 2% less than in Bonn, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 65% above, Bonn 69% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Bonn
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.69
$17.63 €15.16
-9.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.7
$81.2 €69.8
-20.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.04
$11.54 €9.92
-8.93%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$3.38 €2.91
-15.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$2.67 €2.30
-16.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$2.22 €1.91
-32.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.00
$5.10 €4.39
-31.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$5.43 €4.67
-28.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Bonn
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$1.32 €1.13
-13.64%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$2.37 €2.03
-26.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$3.35 €2.88
-47.46%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$3.90 €3.36
-17.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.61
$14.75 €12.69
-8.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$16.03 €13.79
-50.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.65
$22.61 €19.45
-29.81%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$3.32 €2.85
-30.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$1.81 €1.56
-6.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$2.27 €1.95
-11.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$5.31 €4.57
-53.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$1.69 €1.45
8.88%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$1.65 €1.42
21.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$2.11 €1.81
-8.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$1.21 €1.04
-34.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.68
$9.28 €7.98
-28.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.92
$5.66 €4.87
1.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.17
$1.11 €0.95
23.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$1.77 €1.52
67.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Bonn
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$3.85 €3.31
-38.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.19
$58.0 €49.87
-21.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$4.74 €4.08
-9.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$2.01 €1.73
-59.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.74
$37.06 €31.88
-50.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$2.00 €1.72
3.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$31.1K €26.7K
10.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$38.3K €33.0K
2.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Bonn
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$372 €320
-60.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.65
$27.97 €24.06
-26.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.08
$50.9 €43.77
-22.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Bonn
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.16
$43.45 €37.38
10.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.28
$37.22 €32.01
-49.17%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.90
$16.26 €13.99
-43.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Bonn
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €528
$576 €495
6.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$14.2K €12.2K
12.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Bonn
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.0
$79.6 €68.4
31.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.18
$40.39 €34.74
4.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.8
$97.3 €83.7
-3.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$119 €102
0.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Bonn
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,400
$976 €839
66.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,080
$807 €694
55.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,607
$2,046 €1,760
48.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,738
$1,577 €1,356
28.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,709
$6,528 €5,615
19.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,675
$4,559 €3,922
-6.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Bonn
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,379
$3,662 €3,150
-56.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
3.98
-4.27%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Bonn: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $976 in Bonn. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bonn pays 128% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $81.0 in Bonn for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $373 per month, with Lisbon cheaper across the board.

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 Bonn: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Bonn?
Lisbon wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Bonn. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lisbon the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lisbon or Bonn?
On paper, Bonn earns 128% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lisbon vs Bonn?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $976 in Bonn. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Lisbon and Bonn?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $576 in Bonn. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Lisbon or Bonn?
Supermarket bills run roughly 38% higher in Bonn. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Lisbon or Bonn?
At $2,210 in Lisbon versus $2,265 in Bonn, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Bonn. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Bonn?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lisbon delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,210 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lisbon hard to pass up.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Bonn?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Bonn are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Bonn. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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