Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Bournemouth Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Bournemouth

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,258 per month in Lisbon vs $2,491 in Bournemouth, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,328 per month in Lisbon vs $3,726 in Bournemouth, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,397 per month in Lisbon vs $4,960 in Bournemouth, rent included.

Lisbon is about 9% cheaper than Bournemouth, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Lisbon and Bournemouth sit above the global median โ€“ Lisbon by 68%, Bournemouth by 85%.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Lisbon
Bournemouth
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.82 โ‚ฌ13.46
$20.24 ยฃ15.00
-21.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.4 โ‚ฌ54.8
$93.7 ยฃ69.4
-31.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.37 โ‚ฌ8.82
$9.38 ยฃ6.95
10.55%
Cappuccino
$2.89 โ‚ฌ2.46
$4.31 ยฃ3.19
-32.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 โ‚ฌ1.90
$2.28 ยฃ1.69
-2.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 โ‚ฌ1.32
$1.77 ยฃ1.31
-12.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.38 โ‚ฌ2.88
$6.72 ยฃ4.98
-49.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90 โ‚ฌ3.32
$5.54 ยฃ4.11
-29.60%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Bournemouth
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 โ‚ฌ0.96
$1.70 ยฃ1.26
-34.12%
White Bread (500g)
$1.80 โ‚ฌ1.53
$1.24 ยฃ0.92
45.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.75 โ‚ฌ1.49
$2.55 ยฃ1.89
-31.37%
Eggs
$3.17 โ‚ฌ2.70
$3.31 ยฃ2.45
-4.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.50 โ‚ฌ11.49
$9.58 ยฃ7.10
40.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.79 โ‚ฌ6.63
$7.00 ยฃ5.19
11.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.65 โ‚ฌ13.32
$13.57 ยฃ10.05
15.33%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 โ‚ฌ1.94
$2.72 ยฃ2.01
-16.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 โ‚ฌ1.46
$1.43 ยฃ1.06
19.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 โ‚ฌ1.65
$2.33 ยฃ1.73
-17.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.52 โ‚ฌ2.15
$2.22 ยฃ1.64
13.51%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 โ‚ฌ1.52
$1.78 ยฃ1.32
0.56%
Onion (1kg)
$2.05 โ‚ฌ1.74
$1.30 ยฃ0.96
57.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.94 โ‚ฌ1.65
$0.95 ยฃ0.70
104.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81 โ‚ฌ0.69
$1.46 ยฃ1.08
-44.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.65 โ‚ฌ5.66
$21.90 ยฃ16.23
-69.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.79 โ‚ฌ4.92
$10.08 ยฃ7.47
-42.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 โ‚ฌ1.14
$2.69 ยฃ1.99
-50.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 โ‚ฌ2.47
$2.48 ยฃ1.84
17.34%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Lisbon
Bournemouth
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.35 โ‚ฌ2.00
$2.65 ยฃ1.97
-11.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.70 โ‚ฌ38.89
$86.2 ยฃ63.9
-46.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.20 โ‚ฌ3.58
$3.99 ยฃ2.95
5.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 โ‚ฌ0.69
$1.99 ยฃ1.47
-59.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.70 โ‚ฌ15.91
$26.19 ยฃ19.41
-28.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.09 โ‚ฌ1.78
$1.90 ยฃ1.41
10.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6K โ‚ฌ29.5K
$38.2K ยฃ28.3K
-9.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7K โ‚ฌ33.7K
$39.3K ยฃ29.1K
0.87%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Bournemouth
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$146 โ‚ฌ124
$347 ยฃ257
-58.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.84 โ‚ฌ17.73
$16.06 ยฃ11.90
29.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.78 โ‚ฌ33.85
$45.11 ยฃ33.43
-11.82%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Bournemouth
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.58 โ‚ฌ41.35
$40.00 ยฃ29.64
21.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.85 โ‚ฌ16.04
$12.80 ยฃ9.48
47.27%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07 โ‚ฌ7.72
$16.23 ยฃ12.03
-44.12%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Bournemouth
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$618 โ‚ฌ526
$2,270 ยฃ1,682
-72.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.2K โ‚ฌ13.8K
$35.3K ยฃ26.1K
-54.18%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Bournemouth
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 โ‚ฌ89.0
$86.5 ยฃ64.1
20.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.54 โ‚ฌ34.50
$48.04 ยฃ35.60
-15.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.8 โ‚ฌ79.8
$103 ยฃ76.3
-8.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 โ‚ฌ104
$91.0 ยฃ67.4
34.78%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Bournemouth
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,604 โ‚ฌ1,365
$1,342 ยฃ994
19.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,260 โ‚ฌ1,073
$1,171 ยฃ868
7.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,065 โ‚ฌ2,608
$2,849 ยฃ2,111
7.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,008 โ‚ฌ1,709
$2,196 ยฃ1,627
-8.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,702 โ‚ฌ6,555
$6,829 ยฃ5,060
12.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,367 โ‚ฌ3,716
$4,370 ยฃ3,238
-0.07%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Bournemouth
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,638 โ‚ฌ1,394
$3,258 ยฃ2,414
-49.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
5.82
-34.54%

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

Last update for Lisbon: April 13, 2026

Last update for Bournemouth: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,604 in Lisbon versus $1,342 in Bournemouth. 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 99% higher in Bournemouth, 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 $64 in Lisbon versus $94 in Bournemouth. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $268 vs $268 โ€“ making Lisbon the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Bournemouth: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Bournemouth?
Bournemouth costs about 10% more than Lisbon, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 Bournemouth?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,387 per month in Lisbon and $3,737 in Bournemouth. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ€“ not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Lisbon or Bournemouth?
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.
Are groceries more expensive in Lisbon or Bournemouth?
Interestingly, groceries are about 0% cheaper in Bournemouth โ€“ one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
How do dining costs compare in Lisbon vs Bournemouth?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $64.0 in Lisbon and $94.0 in Bournemouth. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafรฉ pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Lisbon or Bournemouth?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Lisbon, where all-in costs run around $2,258, than in Bournemouth at $2,491. In Lisbon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bournemouth it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Bournemouth?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Lisbon costs $2,258 versus $2,491 in Bournemouth. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Bournemouth?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ€“ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Lisbon or Bournemouth?
If budget matters most, go with Lisbon. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bournemouth makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Lisbon vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities