😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $888 in Brackenfell.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $1,407 in Brackenfell.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $1,927 in Brackenfell.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 158% more expensive than in Brackenfell, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Brackenfell is 34% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Brackenfell
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.18
$8.26R 136
96.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.5
$21.98R 363
188.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.04
$5.13R 84.7
101.17%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$2.07R 34.22
36.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.01
$1.00R 16.51
129.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$0.81R 13.36
95.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$2.20R 36.26
54.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.53
$2.32R 38.36
73.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Brackenfell
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.96
$1.00R 16.47
9.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$0.93R 15.41
88.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.93R 31.82
-8.81%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$2.31R 38.18
37.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.56
$8.32R 137
58.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.98
$3.48R 57.5
129.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.60
$7.56R 125
105.42%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$1.32R 21.71
79.55%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$1.47R 24.21
16.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$1.45R 23.98
38.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$1.60R 26.34
51.88%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.13R 18.67
55.75%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$1.09R 17.95
86.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$1.06R 17.49
81.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$0.80R 13.19
6.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$3.15R 51.9
108.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.89
$4.31R 71.1
29.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$1.37R 22.67
-2.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$1.11R 18.27
167.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Brackenfell
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$1.61R 26.61
41.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.10
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$1.38R 22.77
206.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$0.78R 12.91
3.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.15
$4.52R 74.6
307.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$1.25R 20.64
66.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.4K
$13.7KR 226.6K
152.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$19.6KR 323.9K
99.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Brackenfell
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$65.1R 1,074
127.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.92
$32.40R 535
-36.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.64
$41.30R 682
-4.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Brackenfell
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€42.03
$31.57R 521
52.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.29
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.08
$6.84R 113
34.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Brackenfell
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€540
$139R 2,301
341.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$5,389R 88.9K
205.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Brackenfell
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€90.0
$44.94R 742
128.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.55
$25.56R 422
63.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€83.0
$67.3R 1,110
40.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$35.87R 592
240.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Brackenfell
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,430
$358R 5,910
355.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,079
$329R 5,429
274.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,713
$692R 11.4K
347.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,779
$698R 11.5K
191.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,858
$836R 13.8K
837.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,844
$700R 11.5K
527.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Brackenfell
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,408
$1,854R 30.6K
-13.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
11.77
-67.63%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Last update for Brackenfell: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $358 in Brackenfell. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Brackenfell pays 15% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $22.00 in Brackenfell for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $168 per month, with Brackenfell 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 Brackenfell: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Brackenfell?
Brackenfell wins on cost – living expenses run 158% lower than in Lisbon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Brackenfell the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lisbon or in Brackenfell?
On paper, salaries run 15% lower in Brackenfell. 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 compared to Brackenfell?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $358 in Brackenfell. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Lisbon and in Brackenfell?
Childcare runs $616 in Lisbon versus $139 in Brackenfell. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Lisbon and in Brackenfell?
Dining out is cheaper in Brackenfell – a meal for two runs $22.00 versus $63.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Lisbon or in Brackenfell?
At $888 in Brackenfell versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Brackenfell but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Brackenfell the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Brackenfell?
Both work as nomad bases, but Brackenfell delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $888 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Brackenfell hard to pass up.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Brackenfell?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Brackenfell 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 Brackenfell gentler on the wallet – expenses run 158% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.