Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Burlington, NC Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Burlington, NC

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,280 per month in Lisbon vs $2,525 in Burlington, NC, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,294 per month in Lisbon vs $3,686 in Burlington, NC, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,307 per month in Lisbon vs $4,847 in Burlington, NC, rent included.

Lisbon is about 10% cheaper than Burlington, NC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Lisbon and Burlington, NC sit above the global median – Lisbon by 71%, Burlington, NC by 90%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.75 €13.74

$18.91 $18.91

-16.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.5 €55.3

$74.8 $74.8

-15.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.45 €9.11

$10.87 $10.87

-3.86%

Cappuccino

$2.91 €2.54

$4.94 $4.94

-41.09%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 €2.00

$2.52 $2.52

-9.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 €1.31

$2.06 $2.06

-27.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.56 €3.11

$6.06 $6.06

-41.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 €3.46

$7.05 $7.05

-43.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 €0.94

$1.00 $1.00

8.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.76 €1.54

$3.47 $3.47

-49.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 €1.48

$4.23 $4.23

-59.81%

Eggs

$3.25 €2.83

$4.06 $4.06

-19.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.25 €11.55

$12.39 $12.39

6.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.70 €6.72

$11.32 $11.32

-31.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.77 €13.75

$15.71 $15.71

0.38%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 €1.99

$4.80 $4.80

-52.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 €1.44

$1.61 $1.61

3.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.02 €1.76

$4.33 $4.33

-53.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.47 €2.16

$4.62 $4.62

-46.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 €1.56

$2.82 $2.82

-36.52%

Onion (1kg)

$2.07 €1.80

$2.80 $2.80

-26.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 €1.72

$2.08 $2.08

-5.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 €0.73

$2.20 $2.20

-62.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.55 €5.71

$9.54 $9.54

-31.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.57 €4.85

$13.80 $13.80

-59.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 €1.16

$1.77 $1.77

-24.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 €2.62

$3.35 $3.35

-10.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.27 €1.98

$1.99 $1.99

14.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.35 €40.41

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.23 €3.69

$3.59 $3.59

17.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.85 €0.74

$1.65 $1.65

-48.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.83 €16.41

$29.60 $29.60

-36.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.02 €1.76

$0.84 $0.84

140.48%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.0K €30.5K

$29.2K $29.2K

19.56%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$39.6K €34.6K

$26.0K $26.0K

52.69%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$148 €129

$191 $191

-22.55%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$20.52 €17.89

$53.4 $53.4

-61.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.52 €34.46

$68.8 $68.8

-42.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.17 €42.00

$43.09 $43.09

11.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 €16.03

Cinema Ticket

$9.10 €7.93

$13.76 $13.76

-33.87%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$615 €536

$1,285 $1,285

-52.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.3K €14.2K

$23.5K $23.5K

-30.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$102 €88.6

$51.3 $51.3

98.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.09 €36.69

$40.25 $40.25

4.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.3 €80.5

$85.0 $85.0

8.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 €106

$112 $112

9.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,612 €1,405

$1,616 $1,616

-0.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,254 €1,093

$1,327 $1,327

-5.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,069 €2,676

$2,611 $2,611

17.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,037 €1,776

$2,259 $2,259

-9.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,751 €6,757

$2,814 $2,814

175.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,286 €3,737

$2,447 $2,447

75.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,602 €1,396

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.81

6.51

-41.47%

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

Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026

Last update for Burlington, NC: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,612 in Lisbon versus $1,616 in Burlington, NC. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Lisbon versus $75.0 in Burlington, NC. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $267 vs $385 – 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 Burlington, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,280 in Lisbon, $2,525 in Burlington, NC – roughly 11% apart. Burlington, NC costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,420 per month in Lisbon and $3,788 in Burlington, NC. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,280 in Lisbon and $2,525 in Burlington, NC. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $615 per month in Lisbon and $1,285 in Burlington, NC. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,280 in Lisbon and $2,525 in Burlington, NC. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Lisbon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,280 in Lisbon to $2,525 in Burlington, NC. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Lisbon. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Burlington, NC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.