Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Burlington, VT

For one person, living is cheaper in Lisbon: $2,206 a month against $3,098 in Burlington, VT, rent and utilities included – about $10,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Lisbon, Portugal
Burlington, VT, United States
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,206
/mo nomad
Burlington, VT
🇺🇸 United States
$3,098
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Burlington, VT

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lisbon and in Burlington, VT actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,206 in Lisbon versus $3,098 in Burlington, VT.

  • Lisbon $2,206
  • Burlington, VT $3,098

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,276 in Lisbon versus $4,642 in Burlington, VT.

  • Lisbon $3,276
  • Burlington, VT $4,642

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,346 in Lisbon versus $6,187 in Burlington, VT.

  • Lisbon $4,346
  • Burlington, VT $6,187

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 29% less than in Burlington, VT, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 63% above, Burlington, VT 129% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Burlington, VT
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.86 €14.98
$22.36 $22.36
-24.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.0 €54.2
$79.7 $79.7
-23.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.98 €9.75
$12.21 $12.21
-10.07%
Cappuccino
$3.05 €2.71
$5.03 $5.03
-39.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 €2.03
$2.89 $2.89
-21.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 €1.49
$2.37 $2.37
-29.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.44 €3.05
$8.15 $8.15
-57.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 €3.47
$8.22 $8.22
-52.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Burlington, VT
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 €1.02
$1.26 $1.26
-8.73%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 €1.68
$4.59 $4.59
-58.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 €1.33
$5.91 $5.91
-74.62%
Eggs
$4.12 €3.66
$4.48 $4.48
-8.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.01 €11.55
$15.38 $15.38
-15.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.04 €7.15
$12.25 $12.25
-34.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.89 €15.89
$19.07 $19.07
-6.19%
Apples (1kg)
$2.27 €2.02
$7.25 $7.25
-68.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 €1.55
$2.03 $2.03
-14.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.82 €1.62
$5.49 $5.49
-66.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.69 €2.39
$7.37 $7.37
-63.50%
Potato (1kg)
$1.77 €1.57
$4.41 $4.41
-59.86%
Onion (1kg)
$1.94 €1.72
$3.95 $3.95
-50.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.46 €1.30
$3.02 $3.02
-51.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 €0.68
$2.85 $2.85
-73.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.66 €5.91
$12.26 $12.26
-45.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.64 €5.01
$15.20 $15.20
-62.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29 €1.15
$1.78 $1.78
-27.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 €1.90
$4.46 $4.46
-52.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Burlington, VT
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.30 €2.04
$1.98 $1.98
16.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.02 €39.10
$50.8 $50.8
-13.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.98 €3.54
$2.55 $2.55
56.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 €0.57
$1.79 $1.79
-64.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.93 €16.81
$27.73 $27.73
-31.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.28 €2.02
$1.14 $1.14
100.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.4K €29.6K
$27.3K $27.3K
22.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K €34.2K
$26.6K $26.6K
44.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Burlington, VT
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$158 €141
$151 $151
4.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.54 €15.58
$55.6 $55.6
-68.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.18 €27.70
$62.1 $62.1
-49.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Burlington, VT
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.64 €39.66
$64.0 $64.0
-30.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.98 €16.86
$28.22 $28.22
-32.74%
Cinema Ticket
$9.58 €8.51
$12.15 $12.15
-21.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Burlington, VT
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$674 €598
$1,267 $1,267
-46.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.7K €16.6K
$21.1K $21.1K
-11.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Burlington, VT
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 €90.8
$59.7 $59.7
71.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.90 €40.77
$51.3 $51.3
-10.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 €90.8
$70.2 $70.2
45.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 €108
$155 $155
-21.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Burlington, VT
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 €1,457
$2,426 $2,426
-32.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,187 €1,055
$1,678 $1,678
-29.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,825 €2,509
$3,601 $3,601
-21.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,018 €1,793
$2,943 $2,943
-31.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,836 €6,960
$3,831 $3,831
104.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,701 €4,176
$3,217 $3,217
46.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Burlington, VT
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,687 €1,499
$4,442 $4,442
-62.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.82
6.7
-42.99%

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

Last update for Lisbon: November 1, 2026

Last update for Burlington, VT: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Burlington, VT
$1.7K 41.3% $491
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$275
Burlington, VT
$487 77.6% $213
Eating Out
Lisbon
$245
Burlington, VT
$354 44.4% $109
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$207
Burlington, VT
$269 29.9% $62
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$168
Burlington, VT
$151 9.7% $16
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$64
Burlington, VT
$88 38.3% $24
Getting Around
Lisbon
$60
Burlington, VT
$70 16.2% $9.8

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,641 in Lisbon and $2,426 in Burlington, VT. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Burlington, VT pays about 2.6 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $61 in Lisbon vs $80 in Burlington, VT for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $275 vs $487 per month, with Lisbon cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇺🇸 Burlington, VT
🕒 Local time
17:36 5:36 PM
12:36 12:36 PM
5 h behind Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
44,743
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 0.888 EUR (1 EUR = 1.13 USD).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Burlington, VT 5,230 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Burlington, VT

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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, VT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lisbon cheaper than Burlington, VT?
Lisbon is about 29% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and utilities. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or Burlington, VT?
On paper, salaries run 62% lower in Lisbon. 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 Burlington, VT?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,641 in Lisbon versus $2,426 in Burlington, VT. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Lisbon runs roughly 13% less than in Burlington, VT. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $674 in Lisbon versus $1,267 in Burlington, VT. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Lisbon or in Burlington, VT?
At $2,206 in Lisbon versus $3,098 in Burlington, VT, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Burlington, VT. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisbon or Burlington, VT more family-friendly?
For families, Lisbon is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Burlington, VT, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Burlington, VT. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Lisbon vs other spots: cost of living compared

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