😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,268 in Lisbon versus $1,046 in Brackenfell.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,348 in Lisbon versus $1,670 in Brackenfell.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,429 in Lisbon versus $2,295 in Brackenfell.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 117% more expensive than in Brackenfell, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 64% above, Brackenfell is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Brackenfell
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.55€15.12
$9.45R 152
85.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.5€55.6
$25.49R 411
153.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.65€10.04
$5.92R 95.3
96.79%
Cappuccino
$3.26€2.81
$2.57R 41.43
26.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.15
$1.12R 18.05
122.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67€1.44
$1.03R 16.54
62.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47€2.99
$2.57R 41.41
35.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58€3.08
$2.67R 42.93
34.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Brackenfell
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18€1.02
$1.07R 17.17
10.28%
White Bread(500g)
$1.95€1.68
$1.15R 18.54
69.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56€1.35
$2.15R 34.69
-27.44%
Eggs
$4.01€3.45
$1.86R 29.89
115.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.27€11.44
$8.33R 134
59.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.42€7.26
$2.88R 46.32
192.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.23€15.71
$7.16R 115
154.61%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32€2.00
$1.46R 23.45
58.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73€1.49
$2.04R 32.82
-15.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93€1.67
$1.78R 28.64
8.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$1.67R 26.93
58.08%
Potato(1kg)
$1.90€1.64
$1.43R 22.98
32.87%
Onion(1kg)
$2.11€1.82
$1.11R 17.82
90.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.24
$0.97R 15.60
48.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80€0.69
$1.06R 17.08
-24.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.01€6.04
$3.76R 60.6
86.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.92€5.11
$4.40R 70.9
34.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36€1.18
$1.40R 22.53
-2.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15€1.85
$2.09R 33.65
2.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Brackenfell
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.38€2.05
$1.73R 27.91
37.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.22€39.84
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.19€3.61
$0.66R 10.59
534.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.10€0.95
$0.92R 14.88
19.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.26€14.87
$5.23R 84.3
230.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.25€1.94
$1.39R 22.45
61.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K€29.7K
$18.7KR 301.2K
84.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.6K€35.9K
$20.7KR 333.2K
101.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Brackenfell
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$171€147
$119R 1,912
43.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.01€16.38
$32.02R 516
-40.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.28€29.55
$40.90R 659
-16.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Brackenfell
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.65€42.79
$24.85R 400
99.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.51€16.81
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.10€8.70
$9.29R 150
8.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Brackenfell
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$699€603
$157R 2,535
344.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.8K€15.3K
$6,611R 106.5K
168.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Brackenfell
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.2
$43.32R 698
141.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.97€41.34
$23.79R 383
101.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.8
$69.4R 1,118
46.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128€111
$51.9R 835
147.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Brackenfell
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,661€1,432
$667R 10.7K
148.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,228€1,059
$405R 6,517
203.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,915€2,513
$1,358R 21.9K
114.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,023€1,744
$938R 15.1K
115.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,129€7,006
$911R 14.7K
792.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,635€3,995
$700R 11.3K
562.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Brackenfell
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,619€1,396
$1,908R 30.7K
-15.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
11.02
-65.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026
Last update for Brackenfell: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,661 in Lisbon and $667 in Brackenfell. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Brackenfell pays 18% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $64.0 in Lisbon vs $25.00 in Brackenfell for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $281 vs $177 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 117% 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 18% 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: $1,661 in Lisbon versus $667 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 $699 in Lisbon versus $157 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 $25.00 versus $64.0 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 $1,046 in Brackenfell versus $2,268 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 $1,046 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 117% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.