Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Bordeaux

For one person, living is cheaper in Bordeaux: $2,079 a month against $2,223 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $1,700 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Lisbon outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,223
/mo nomad
Bordeaux
🇫🇷 France
$2,079
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Bordeaux

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 Bordeaux actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,223 per month in Lisbon vs $2,079 in Bordeaux, rent included.

  • Lisbon $2,223
  • Bordeaux $2,079

A couple spends around $3,271 per month in Lisbon vs $3,202 in Bordeaux, rent included.

  • Lisbon $3,271
  • Bordeaux $3,202

A family of three spends $4,319 per month in Lisbon vs $4,324 in Bordeaux, rent included.

  • Lisbon $4,319
  • Bordeaux $4,324

Lisbon costs about 7% more than Bordeaux, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Lisbon and Bordeaux sit above the global median – Lisbon by 65%, Bordeaux by 54%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Bordeaux
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.50 €14.67
$20.47 €18.21
-19.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.3 €54.5
$78.8 €70.1
-22.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.27 €10.03
$14.15 €12.59
-20.35%
Cappuccino
$3.06 €2.72
$4.02 €3.57
-23.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 €2.01
$2.89 €2.57
-21.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 €1.54
$1.44 €1.28
20.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.39 €3.02
$7.75 €6.90
-56.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40 €3.02
$6.75 €6.00
-49.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Bordeaux
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 €1.00
$1.18 €1.05
-5.08%
White Bread (500g)
$1.86 €1.65
$1.93 €1.72
-3.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 €1.36
$3.06 €2.72
-50.00%
Eggs
$3.96 €3.53
$3.48 €3.09
13.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.76 €11.35
$13.91 €12.37
-8.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.90 €7.02
$16.27 €14.47
-51.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.97 €15.09
$20.22 €17.99
-16.07%
Apples (1kg)
$2.27 €2.02
$3.23 €2.87
-29.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.55
$2.17 €1.93
-19.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 €1.64
$3.51 €3.12
-47.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.57 €2.28
$4.42 €3.93
-41.86%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 €1.65
$2.27 €2.02
-18.06%
Onion (1kg)
$2.02 €1.80
$2.90 €2.58
-30.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 €1.28
$1.32 €1.17
9.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 €0.73
$0.56 €0.50
46.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.56 €5.83
$13.10 €11.65
-49.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.62 €5.00
$9.94 €8.84
-43.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 €1.14
$4.05 €3.60
-68.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 €1.84
$4.15 €3.69
-50.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Bordeaux
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.35 €2.09
$2.18 €1.94
7.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.18 €39.30
$47.01 €41.81
-6.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.99 €3.55
$2.29 €2.04
74.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.09 €0.97
$1.82 €1.62
-40.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.64 €14.81
$37.26 €33.14
-55.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.28 €2.03
$2.11 €1.88
8.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.7K €30.0K
$34.7K €30.9K
-3.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €35.0K
$34.9K €31.0K
12.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Bordeaux
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$167 €149
$257 €229
-34.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.80 €16.72
$15.66 €13.93
20.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.09 €29.43
$30.64 €27.26
8.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Bordeaux
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.01 €40.93
$33.36 €29.67
37.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.19 €17.07
$28.15 €25.04
-31.83%
Cinema Ticket
$9.84 €8.75
$11.73 €10.44
-16.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Bordeaux
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$677 €602
$801 €713
-15.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.9K €15.1K
$13.6K €12.1K
24.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Bordeaux
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 €90.1
$120 €106
-15.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.76 €40.70
$45.31 €40.30
0.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100.0 €88.9
$107 €95.4
-6.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 €109
$144 €128
-14.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Bordeaux
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,614 €1,436
$913 €812
76.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,197 €1,065
$761 €677
57.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,862 €2,545
$1,747 €1,554
63.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,990 €1,770
$1,381 €1,228
44.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,577 €6,740
$6,806 €6,054
11.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,307 €3,831
$4,667 €4,151
-7.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Bordeaux
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,588 €1,412
$2,893 €2,573
-45.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
3.92
-1.79%

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

Last update for Lisbon: October 11, 2026

Last update for Bordeaux: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Bordeaux
$761 36.4% $436
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$269
Bordeaux
$379 40.8% $110
Eating Out
Lisbon
$242
Bordeaux
$324 33.8% $82
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$219
Bordeaux
$304 38.4% $84
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$166
Bordeaux
$188 12.7% $21
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$66
Bordeaux
$57 13.5% $8.9
Getting Around
Lisbon
$63
Bordeaux
$67 6.6% $4.1

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,614 in Lisbon versus $913 in Bordeaux. 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 82% higher in Bordeaux, 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 $61.0 in Lisbon versus $79.0 in Bordeaux. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $269 vs $379 – making Lisbon the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇫🇷 Bordeaux
🕒 Local time
05:15 5:15 AM
06:15 6:15 AM
1 h ahead of Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
261,804
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Bordeaux 980 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Bordeaux

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 Bordeaux: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Bordeaux?
Lisbon costs about 7% more than Bordeaux, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 Bordeaux?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,335 per month in Lisbon and $3,119 in Bordeaux. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Lisbon or Bordeaux?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bordeaux, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Lisbon compared to Bordeaux?
Public transport costs about 6% less in Bordeaux. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Lisbon and in Bordeaux?
Kindergarten costs $677 per month in Lisbon and $801 in Bordeaux. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Lisbon or in Bordeaux?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Bordeaux, where all-in costs run around $2,079, than in Lisbon at $2,223. In Bordeaux it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Bordeaux?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bordeaux costs $2,079 versus $2,223 in Lisbon. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Bordeaux?
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 Bordeaux?
If budget matters most, go with Bordeaux. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lisbon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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