Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Bournemouth

For one person, living is cheaper in Lisbon: $2,210 a month against $2,504 in Bournemouth, rent and utilities included – about $3,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Lisbon, Portugal
Bournemouth, United Kingdom
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,210
/mo nomad
Bournemouth
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
$2,504
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Bournemouth

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

A single person spends $2,210 per month in Lisbon vs $2,504 in Bournemouth, rent included.

  • Lisbon $2,210
  • Bournemouth $2,504

A couple spends around $3,275 per month in Lisbon vs $3,763 in Bournemouth, rent included.

  • Lisbon $3,275
  • Bournemouth $3,763

A family of three spends $4,341 per month in Lisbon vs $5,021 in Bournemouth, rent included.

  • Lisbon $4,341
  • Bournemouth $5,021

Lisbon is about 12% cheaper than Bournemouth, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Lisbon and Bournemouth sit above the global median – Lisbon by 62%, Bournemouth by 84%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Bournemouth
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.65 €14.92
$20.52 £15.33
-18.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.7 €55.3
$99.2 £74.1
-37.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.36 €10.18
$11.97 £8.94
-5.10%
Cappuccino
$2.97 €2.66
$5.04 £3.76
-41.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.05
$3.22 £2.40
-28.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.56
$2.31 £1.73
-24.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 €3.05
$6.66 £4.98
-48.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 €2.97
$7.32 £5.47
-54.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Bournemouth
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.16 €1.04
$1.72 £1.28
-32.56%
White Bread (500g)
$1.91 €1.71
$1.50 £1.12
27.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 €1.36
$1.89 £1.41
-20.11%
Eggs
$4.02 €3.60
$4.20 £3.14
-4.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.94 €11.59
$6.47 £4.84
100.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.77 €6.97
$9.11 £6.81
-14.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.76 €15.92
$12.83 £9.58
38.43%
Apples (1kg)
$2.30 €2.06
$2.31 £1.72
-0.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 €1.55
$1.72 £1.29
0.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.86 €1.66
$1.90 £1.42
-2.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.59 €2.32
$2.21 £1.65
17.19%
Potato (1kg)
$1.82 €1.63
$2.03 £1.52
-10.34%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 €1.76
$1.29 £0.96
52.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.47 €1.32
$1.95 £1.46
-24.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 €0.65
$1.73 £1.29
-58.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58 €5.90
$23.41 £17.49
-71.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.61 €5.02
$9.85 £7.36
-43.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 €1.22
$2.85 £2.13
-52.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 €1.91
$2.40 £1.79
-10.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Bournemouth
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.33 €2.09
$3.54 £2.64
-34.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.68 €40.04
$93.2 £69.7
-52.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.85 €3.45
$3.29 £2.46
17.02%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.07 €0.96
$2.35 £1.75
-54.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.46 €14.75
$32.98 £24.63
-50.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.20 €1.97
$2.01 £1.50
9.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2K €30.6K
$38.3K £28.6K
-10.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K €34.7K
$40.5K £30.3K
-4.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Bournemouth
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$161 €144
$363 £272
-55.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.41 €16.50
$16.43 £12.28
12.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.74 €29.34
$43.99 £32.86
-25.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Bournemouth
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.55 €39.92
$35.48 £26.51
25.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10 €17.11
$11.90 £8.89
60.50%
Cinema Ticket
$9.60 €8.60
$17.19 £12.84
-44.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Bournemouth
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$668 €598
$2,155 £1,610
-69.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.6K €15.8K
$34.3K £25.6K
-48.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Bournemouth
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 €91.4
$89.2 £66.6
14.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.46 €39.85
$43.84 £32.75
1.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.5 €88.3
$83.3 £62.2
18.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €111
$140 £105
-11.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Bournemouth
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,608 €1,441
$1,339 £1,000
20.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,190 €1,066
$1,121 £837
6.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,812 €2,520
$2,655 £1,984
5.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,013 €1,804
$2,027 £1,515
-0.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,839 €7,025
$6,597 £4,928
18.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,576 €4,100
$4,806 £3,591
-4.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Bournemouth
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,575 €1,411
$2,984 £2,229
-47.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
4.96
-22.38%

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

Last update for Lisbon: October 27, 2026

Last update for Bournemouth: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Bournemouth
$1.1K 5.8% $70
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$272
Bournemouth
$277 1.5% $4.2
Eating Out
Lisbon
$243
Bournemouth
$331 36.3% $88
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$212
Bournemouth
$424 99.6% $212
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$166
Bournemouth
$161 3.2% $5.4
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$64
Bournemouth
$70 9.6% $6.1
Getting Around
Lisbon
$63
Bournemouth
$122 93.7% $59

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,608 in Lisbon versus $1,339 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 89% higher in Bournemouth. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $62 in Lisbon versus $99 in Bournemouth. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $272 vs $277 – making Lisbon the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇬🇧 Bournemouth
🕒 Local time
08:31 8:31 AM
08:31 8:31 AM
Same time as Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
183,491
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

GBP, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

British Pound exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 0.747 GBP (1 GBP = 1.34 USD). 1 EUR = 0.834 GBP (1 GBP = 1.2 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Bournemouth 1,450 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Bournemouth

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 Bournemouth: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Bournemouth?
Bournemouth costs about 13% more than Lisbon, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from 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 and in Bournemouth?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,315 per month in Lisbon and $3,757 in Bournemouth. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Lisbon or Bournemouth?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bournemouth, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,339 there versus $1,608 in Lisbon.
How do dining costs compare in Lisbon and in Bournemouth?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $62 in Lisbon and $99 in Bournemouth. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How expensive is transport in Lisbon compared to Bournemouth?
Public transport costs about 52% less in Lisbon. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Lisbon or in Bournemouth?
$3,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $2,210 in Lisbon and $2,504 in Bournemouth, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Lisbon or Bournemouth?
It depends on your priorities. Lisbon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,210 in Lisbon to $2,504 in Bournemouth. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Should I move to Lisbon or to Bournemouth?
If budget matters most, go with Lisbon. If higher salaries 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

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?