Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Bourges Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Bourges

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,258 in Lisbon versus $2,039 in Bourges.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,328 in Lisbon versus $3,074 in Bourges.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,397 in Lisbon versus $4,109 in Bourges.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 11% more expensive than Bourges, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 68% above, Bourges 51% above.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Lisbon
Bourges
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.82 โ‚ฌ13.46
$17.27 โ‚ฌ14.70
-8.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.4 โ‚ฌ54.8
$73.7 โ‚ฌ62.8
-12.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.37 โ‚ฌ8.82
$12.50 โ‚ฌ10.64
-17.04%
Cappuccino
$2.89 โ‚ฌ2.46
$3.86 โ‚ฌ3.28
-25.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 โ‚ฌ1.90
$2.91 โ‚ฌ2.48
-23.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 โ‚ฌ1.32
$1.77 โ‚ฌ1.51
-12.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.38 โ‚ฌ2.88
$8.28 โ‚ฌ7.04
-59.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90 โ‚ฌ3.32
$6.96 โ‚ฌ5.92
-43.97%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Bourges
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 โ‚ฌ0.96
$1.47 โ‚ฌ1.25
-23.81%
White Bread (500g)
$1.80 โ‚ฌ1.53
$2.55 โ‚ฌ2.17
-29.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.75 โ‚ฌ1.49
$2.68 โ‚ฌ2.28
-34.70%
Eggs
$3.17 โ‚ฌ2.70
$4.17 โ‚ฌ3.55
-23.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.50 โ‚ฌ11.49
$24.15 โ‚ฌ20.55
-44.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.79 โ‚ฌ6.63
$15.86 โ‚ฌ13.50
-50.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.65 โ‚ฌ13.32
$25.31 โ‚ฌ21.54
-38.17%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 โ‚ฌ1.94
$2.72 โ‚ฌ2.31
-16.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 โ‚ฌ1.46
$2.57 โ‚ฌ2.18
-33.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 โ‚ฌ1.65
$3.49 โ‚ฌ2.97
-44.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.52 โ‚ฌ2.15
$3.89 โ‚ฌ3.31
-35.22%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 โ‚ฌ1.52
$2.76 โ‚ฌ2.35
-35.14%
Onion (1kg)
$2.05 โ‚ฌ1.74
$2.79 โ‚ฌ2.38
-26.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.94 โ‚ฌ1.65
$1.48 โ‚ฌ1.26
31.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81 โ‚ฌ0.69
$0.87 โ‚ฌ0.74
-6.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.65 โ‚ฌ5.66
$13.72 โ‚ฌ11.67
-51.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.79 โ‚ฌ4.92
$8.38 โ‚ฌ7.13
-30.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 โ‚ฌ1.14
$3.16 โ‚ฌ2.69
-57.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 โ‚ฌ2.47
$3.13 โ‚ฌ2.67
-7.03%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Lisbon
Bourges
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.35 โ‚ฌ2.00
$1.93 โ‚ฌ1.64
21.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.70 โ‚ฌ38.89
$49.60 โ‚ฌ42.21
-7.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.20 โ‚ฌ3.58
$5.89 โ‚ฌ5.02
-28.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 โ‚ฌ0.69
$1.91 โ‚ฌ1.63
-57.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.70 โ‚ฌ15.91
$57.4 โ‚ฌ48.80
-67.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.09 โ‚ฌ1.78
$2.10 โ‚ฌ1.79
-0.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6K โ‚ฌ29.5K
$37.7K โ‚ฌ32.1K
-8.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7K โ‚ฌ33.7K
$37.9K โ‚ฌ32.3K
4.50%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Bourges
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$146 โ‚ฌ124
$284 โ‚ฌ242
-48.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.84 โ‚ฌ17.73
$22.27 โ‚ฌ18.95
-6.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.78 โ‚ฌ33.85
$37.15 โ‚ฌ31.61
7.08%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Bourges
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.58 โ‚ฌ41.35
$38.25 โ‚ฌ32.55
27.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.85 โ‚ฌ16.04
$18.44 โ‚ฌ15.69
2.22%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07 โ‚ฌ7.72
$14.10 โ‚ฌ12.00
-35.67%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Bourges
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$618 โ‚ฌ526
$291 โ‚ฌ247
112.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.2K โ‚ฌ13.8K
$11.9K โ‚ฌ10.1K
35.66%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Bourges
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 โ‚ฌ89.0
$110 โ‚ฌ93.7
-5.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.54 โ‚ฌ34.50
$49.93 โ‚ฌ42.49
-18.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.8 โ‚ฌ79.8
$123 โ‚ฌ104
-23.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 โ‚ฌ104
$163 โ‚ฌ139
-24.81%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Bourges
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,604 โ‚ฌ1,365
$770 โ‚ฌ655
108.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,260 โ‚ฌ1,073
$606 โ‚ฌ516
108.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,065 โ‚ฌ2,608
$1,225 โ‚ฌ1,042
150.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,008 โ‚ฌ1,709
$1,105 โ‚ฌ940
81.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,702 โ‚ฌ6,555
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,367 โ‚ฌ3,716
$1,047 โ‚ฌ891
316.99%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Bourges
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,638 โ‚ฌ1,394
$2,993 โ‚ฌ2,547
-45.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
3.76
1.33%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lisbon: April 13, 2026

Last update for Bourges: April 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $770 in Bourges. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bourges pays 83% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $64 in Lisbon vs $74 in Bourges for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $427 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 Bourges: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Bourges?
Bourges wins on cost โ€“ living expenses run 11% lower than in Lisbon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bourges the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lisbon or Bourges?
On paper, Bourges earns 83% 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 Bourges?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $770 in Bourges. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Lisbon vs Bourges?
Dining out is cheaper in Bourges โ€“ a meal for two runs $74.0 versus $64.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Lisbon compared to Bourges?
All in, you'll spend $2,258 per month in Lisbon versus $2,039 in Bourges โ€“ a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Lisbon or Bourges?
At $2,039 in Bourges versus $2,258 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bourges but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Bourges the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Bourges?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bourges delivers better value โ€“ similar infrastructure at $2,039 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bourges hard to pass up.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Bourges?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Bourges 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 Bourges gentler on the wallet โ€“ expenses run 11% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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