😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $918 in Brackenfell.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,400 in Brackenfell.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $1,883 in Brackenfell.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 141% more expensive than Brackenfell, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Brackenfell is 31% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Brackenfell
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.69
$8.64R 140
84.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.7
$22.76R 370
184.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.04
$4.97R 80.7
111.47%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$2.06R 33.51
39.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$1.01R 16.34
121.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$0.88R 14.37
70.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.00
$2.25R 36.62
55.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$2.28R 37.05
70.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Brackenfell
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.01R 16.39
12.87%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$1.01R 16.38
73.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$1.92R 31.17
-8.33%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$2.38R 38.63
35.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$8.72R 142
54.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$3.36R 54.5
135.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.65
$7.62R 124
108.27%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$1.30R 21.13
77.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$1.41R 22.96
20.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.51R 24.49
33.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$1.54R 25.01
59.74%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$1.09R 17.66
68.81%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$1.10R 17.86
81.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$1.04R 16.93
85.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.87R 14.12
-9.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.68
$3.07R 49.82
115.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.92
$4.26R 69.2
34.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.17
$1.37R 22.27
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$1.15R 18.67
158.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Brackenfell
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$1.69R 27.43
40.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.19
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$1.41R 22.94
204.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.84R 13.63
-2.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.74
$4.46R 72.4
310.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$1.21R 19.62
70.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$13.9KR 226.6K
145.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$19.3KR 313.3K
103.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Brackenfell
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$63.5R 1,032
132.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.65
$33.17R 539
-38.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.08
$41.45R 674
-4.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Brackenfell
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.16
$31.23R 508
53.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.28
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.90
$6.87R 112
33.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Brackenfell
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€528
$143R 2,321
329.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$5,317R 86.4K
201.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Brackenfell
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.0
$44.94R 730
132.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.18
$25.14R 409
67.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.8
$68.5R 1,114
37.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$35.99R 585
232.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Brackenfell
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,400
$365R 5,932
345.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,080
$338R 5,499
270.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,607
$682R 11.1K
344.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,738
$689R 11.2K
193.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,709
$907R 14.7K
760.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,675
$712R 11.6K
500.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Brackenfell
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,379
$1,852R 30.1K
-13.43%
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Brackenfell: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $365 in Brackenfell. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Brackenfell pays 16% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $23.00 in Brackenfell for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $170 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 141% 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 Brackenfell?
On paper, Brackenfell earns 16% 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 Brackenfell?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $365 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 Brackenfell?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $143 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 vs Brackenfell?
Dining out is cheaper in Brackenfell – a meal for two runs $23.00 versus $65.0 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 Brackenfell?
At $918 in Brackenfell versus $2,210 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 $918 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 141% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.