🙂A single person spends $2,210 per month in Lisbon vs $2,239 in Bridgewater, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,311 per month in Lisbon vs $3,262 in Bridgewater, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,411 per month in Lisbon vs $4,285 in Bridgewater, rent included.
🙂Lisbon is about 1% cheaper than Bridgewater, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Lisbon and Bridgewater sit above the global median – Lisbon by 65%, Bridgewater by 67%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Bridgewater
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.70
$11.59£8.63
37.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.8
$81.6£60.8
-20.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.05
$10.22£7.62
2.84%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$3.54£2.63
-18.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$2.29£1.71
-2.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$1.67£1.24
-10.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.01
$5.20£3.87
-32.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$6.08£4.53
-36.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Bridgewater
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.64£1.22
-30.49%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$1.60£1.19
9.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$2.20£1.64
-20.00%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$3.96£2.95
-18.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$10.07£7.50
33.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$8.87£6.61
-10.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.67
$13.92£10.37
14.01%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$2.35£1.75
-1.70%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$1.20£0.90
41.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$2.80£2.09
-28.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$3.56£2.65
-30.90%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$1.12£0.83
64.29%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$0.91£0.68
119.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$1.55£1.15
24.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.93£0.69
-15.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.69
$13.79£10.27
-52.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.93
$11.05£8.23
-48.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$2.79£2.08
-50.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$3.09£2.30
-3.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Bridgewater
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$3.44£2.56
-31.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.22
$110£81.6
-58.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$5.34£3.98
-19.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$1.52£1.13
-46.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.76
$22.81£16.99
-19.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$1.93£1.44
6.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$37.8K£28.2K
-9.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$40.8K£30.4K
-3.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Bridgewater
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$300£223
-50.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.67
$17.09£12.73
20.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.10
$43.81£32.64
-9.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Bridgewater
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.19
$46.66£34.76
2.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.29
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.91
$13.67£10.18
-32.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Bridgewater
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€529
$1,612£1,201
-61.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$18.0K£13.4K
-10.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Bridgewater
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.1
$84.0£62.6
24.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.21
$42.91£31.97
-1.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.9
$94.1£70.1
-0.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$99.5£74.2
20.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Bridgewater
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,401
$1,223£911
33.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,081
$1,001£746
25.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,609
$2,071£1,543
46.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,739
$1,721£1,282
17.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,715
$5,009£3,731
55.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,678
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Bridgewater
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,380
$4,283£3,191
-62.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
5.63
-32.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Bridgewater: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,628 in Lisbon versus $1,223 in Bridgewater. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 167% higher in Bridgewater, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Lisbon versus $82.0 in Bridgewater. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $269 vs $286 – making Lisbon the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Bridgewater: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bridgewater cheaper than Lisbon?
Yes – Bridgewater is pricier by about 1%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,315 per month in Lisbon and $3,358 in Bridgewater. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Lisbon, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 140% less in Lisbon. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $614 per month in Lisbon and $1,612 in Bridgewater. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for Lisbon or Bridgewater?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Lisbon, where all-in costs run around $2,210, than in Bridgewater at $2,239. In Lisbon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bridgewater it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Lisbon or Bridgewater more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Lisbon – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Bridgewater?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Lisbon. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bridgewater makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.