🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $2,315 in Brainerd, MN.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $3,089 in Brainerd, MN.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $3,863 in Brainerd, MN.
🙂Living in Lisbon costs roughly 5% less than in Brainerd, MN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon65% above, Brainerd, MN73% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Brainerd, MN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.70
$14.25$14.25
11.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.8
$67.1$67.1
-3.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.05
$10.18$10.18
3.24%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$1.86$1.86
54.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$2.26$2.26
-0.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$1.91$1.91
-21.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.01
$5.86$5.86
-40.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$5.94$5.94
-34.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Brainerd, MN
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.00$1.00
14.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$3.23$3.23
-45.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$3.88$3.88
-54.64%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$2.52$2.52
27.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.62
$9.60$9.60
40.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$8.18$8.18
-3.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.67
$12.26$12.26
29.45%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$5.14$5.14
-55.06%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$1.15$1.15
47.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$5.71$5.71
-64.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$5.02$5.02
-51.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$3.90$3.90
-52.82%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$3.68$3.68
-45.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$2.01$2.01
-3.98%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$1.96$1.96
-59.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.69
$10.59$10.59
-37.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.93
$11.14$11.14
-48.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$1.69$1.69
-18.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$4.39$4.39
-32.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Brainerd, MN
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$1.96$1.96
20.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.23
$40.38$40.38
12.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$2.93$2.93
46.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$1.43$1.43
-42.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.76
$28.87$28.87
-36.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$0.85$0.85
142.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$35.8K$35.8K
-4.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$26.1K$26.1K
50.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Brainerd, MN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$218$218
-32.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.67
$44.56$44.56
-53.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.11
$60.6$60.6
-34.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Brainerd, MN
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.20
$42.96$42.96
11.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.29
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.91
$8.90$8.90
3.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Brainerd, MN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€529
$1,183$1,183
-48.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$29.7K$29.7K
-45.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Brainerd, MN
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.1
$39.03$39.03
168.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.22
$42.43$42.43
-0.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.9
$60.6$60.6
55.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$64.9$64.9
84.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Brainerd, MN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,402
$1,582$1,582
2.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,081
$1,221$1,221
2.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,609
$2,651$2,651
14.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,740
$1,517$1,517
33.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,716
$2,405$2,405
224.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,679
$2,396$2,396
78.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Brainerd, MN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,381
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
6.43
-40.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Brainerd, MN: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $1,582 in Brainerd, MN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $67.0 in Brainerd, MN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $345 per month, with Lisbon 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 Brainerd, MN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Brainerd, MN?
Lisbon wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Brainerd, MN. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lisbon the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Lisbon vs Brainerd, MN?
You'd need roughly $3,315 in Lisbon and $3,472 in Brainerd, MN to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lisbon vs Brainerd, MN?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $1,582 in Brainerd, MN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Lisbon vs Brainerd, MN?
Dining out is cheaper in Lisbon – a meal for two runs $65.0 versus $67.0 in Brainerd, MN. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Lisbon compared to Brainerd, MN?
All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $2,315 in Brainerd, MN – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Lisbon or Brainerd, MN?
At $2,210 in Lisbon versus $2,315 in Brainerd, MN, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Brainerd, MN. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Brainerd, MN?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lisbon delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,210 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lisbon hard to pass up.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Brainerd, MN?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Brainerd, MN 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 Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Brainerd, MN. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.