Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Bremen Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Bremen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $2,002 in Bremen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $3,117 in Bremen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $4,232 in Bremen.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 13% more expensive than Bremen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 68% above, Bremen 49% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Bremen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94 €13.73
$17.70 €15.25
-9.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4 €54.6
$69.5 €59.9
-8.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 €8.95
$11.80 €10.17
-12.03%
Cappuccino
$2.79 €2.40
$4.08 €3.52
-31.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 €2.01
$3.19 €2.75
-26.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 €1.35
$2.95 €2.54
-46.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.43 €2.95
$5.93 €5.11
-42.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 €3.37
$4.53 €3.90
-13.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Bremen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.93
$1.29 €1.11
-16.28%
White Bread (500g)
$1.77 €1.52
$2.18 €1.88
-18.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 €1.47
$3.25 €2.80
-47.38%
Eggs
$3.15 €2.71
$3.76 €3.24
-16.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.68 €11.79
$14.65 €12.62
-6.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.01 €6.90
$14.31 €12.33
-44.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.52 €13.37
$21.49 €18.52
-27.78%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 €1.98
$3.15 €2.71
-27.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 €1.41
$1.79 €1.55
-8.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 €1.67
$2.25 €1.94
-13.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.51 €2.17
$5.02 €4.32
-50.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 €1.54
$1.56 €1.35
14.74%
Onion (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$1.56 €1.35
28.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 €1.69
$2.05 €1.77
-3.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 €0.73
$1.23 €1.06
-31.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79 €5.85
$9.98 €8.60
-31.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.67 €4.89
$5.88 €5.06
-3.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 €1.20
$1.06 €0.92
31.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 €2.60
$1.63 €1.40
85.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Bremen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.27 €1.95
$3.55 €3.06
-36.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.44 €39.15
$67.2 €57.9
-32.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.70
$5.55 €4.78
-22.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 €0.73
$2.27 €1.96
-62.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.28 €15.75
$43.47 €37.45
-57.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.99 €1.71
$2.06 €1.78
-3.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K €30.2K
$32.0K €27.6K
9.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K €34.1K
$38.0K €32.8K
3.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Bremen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$146 €126
$292 €252
-49.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45 €17.62
$33.97 €29.27
-39.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98 €33.58
$51.0 €43.90
-23.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Bremen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.98 €42.21
$39.66 €34.17
23.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83 €16.22
$26.00 €22.40
-27.58%
Cinema Ticket
$9.52 €8.21
$13.75 €11.85
-30.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Bremen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$608 €524
$504 €434
20.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K €14.2K
$13.7K €11.8K
20.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Bremen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 €89.5
$129 €111
-19.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12 €36.29
$62.8 €54.1
-32.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.2 €79.5
$87.9 €75.8
4.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$148 €127
-18.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Bremen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,621 €1,397
$906 €780
79.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,268 €1,092
$625 €538
102.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,048 €2,626
$1,519 €1,309
100.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,009 €1,731
$1,216 €1,048
65.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,663 €6,602
$5,186 €4,468
47.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,329 €3,730
$4,312 €3,715
0.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Bremen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,585 €1,366
$3,277 €2,823
-51.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
3.97
-4.03%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026

Last update for Bremen: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $906 in Bremen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bremen pays 107% 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 $70.0 in Bremen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $354 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 Bremen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bremen cheaper than Lisbon?
Bremen is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or Bremen?
On paper, Bremen earns 107% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Lisbon and Bremen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $906 in Bremen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Lisbon or Bremen?
Dining out is cheaper in Bremen – a meal for two runs $70.0 versus $63.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Lisbon vs Bremen?
All in, you'll spend $2,263 per month in Lisbon versus $2,002 in Bremen – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Lisbon or Bremen?
At $2,002 in Bremen versus $2,263 in Lisbon, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Bremen but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Bremen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisbon or Bremen more family-friendly?
For families, Bremen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lisbon, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Bremen?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Bremen 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Bremen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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