Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Carbondale, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Carbondale, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,243 in Lisbon versus $2,435 in Carbondale, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $3,484 in Carbondale, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,387 in Lisbon versus $4,532 in Carbondale, IL.

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 8% less than in Carbondale, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 67% above, Carbondale, IL 82% above.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Lisbon
Carbondale, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.73 โ‚ฌ13.42
$16.91 $16.91
-6.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.2 โ‚ฌ53.9
$32.62 $32.62
93.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.32 โ‚ฌ8.80
$8.17 $8.17
26.32%
Cappuccino
$2.81 โ‚ฌ2.40
$2.92 $2.92
-3.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 โ‚ฌ1.99
$1.98 $1.98
17.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 โ‚ฌ1.29
$1.46 $1.46
3.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.37 โ‚ฌ2.87
$4.47 $4.47
-24.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 โ‚ฌ3.34
$5.34 $5.34
-26.78%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Carbondale, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 โ‚ฌ0.92
$0.80 $0.80
35.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 โ‚ฌ1.49
$2.88 $2.88
-39.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.75 โ‚ฌ1.50
$4.64 $4.64
-62.28%
Eggs
$3.10 โ‚ฌ2.64
$4.13 $4.13
-24.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.28 โ‚ฌ11.33
$11.06 $11.06
20.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.85 โ‚ฌ6.70
$11.06 $11.06
-29.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.05 โ‚ฌ13.69
$15.23 $15.23
5.38%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 โ‚ฌ2.04
$6.30 $6.30
-62.06%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 โ‚ฌ1.47
$1.60 $1.60
7.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.97 โ‚ฌ1.68
$5.20 $5.20
-62.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.55 โ‚ฌ2.17
$4.97 $4.97
-48.69%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 โ‚ฌ1.53
$4.88 $4.88
-63.32%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 โ‚ฌ1.68
$3.36 $3.36
-41.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.96 โ‚ฌ1.67
$2.26 $2.26
-13.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 โ‚ฌ0.71
$2.38 $2.38
-64.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.82 โ‚ฌ5.82
$7.78 $7.78
-12.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.85 โ‚ฌ4.99
$14.77 $14.77
-60.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 โ‚ฌ1.18
$1.77 $1.77
-22.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 โ‚ฌ2.49
$1.86 $1.86
56.99%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Lisbon
Carbondale, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.29 โ‚ฌ1.95
$2.02 $2.02
13.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.88 โ‚ฌ39.99
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.12 โ‚ฌ3.51
$2.03 $2.03
102.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 โ‚ฌ0.69
$1.35 $1.35
-40.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.94 โ‚ฌ16.16
$19.94 $19.94
-5.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.09 โ‚ฌ1.78
$0.82 $0.82
154.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K โ‚ฌ30.0K
$33.3K $33.3K
5.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7K โ‚ฌ33.9K
$27.2K $27.2K
46.05%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Carbondale, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$150 โ‚ฌ128
$121 $121
23.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.49 โ‚ฌ17.48
$60.0 $60.0
-65.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.15 โ‚ฌ33.40
$30.12 $30.12
29.98%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Carbondale, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.65 โ‚ฌ42.35
$43.48 $43.48
14.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.47 โ‚ฌ15.76
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.20 โ‚ฌ7.84
$12.96 $12.96
-29.01%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Carbondale, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$624 โ‚ฌ533
$1,551 $1,551
-59.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.9K โ‚ฌ13.6K
$27.0K $27.0K
-41.09%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Carbondale, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 โ‚ฌ87.2
$39.97 $39.97
155.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.88 โ‚ฌ34.87
$32.64 $32.64
25.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.7 โ‚ฌ81.6
$74.1 $74.1
29.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 โ‚ฌ103
$139 $139
-13.15%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Carbondale, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,653 โ‚ฌ1,410
$1,576 $1,576
4.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,233 โ‚ฌ1,051
$1,352 $1,352
-8.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,043 โ‚ฌ2,596
$2,600 $2,600
17.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,059 โ‚ฌ1,756
$2,233 $2,233
-7.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,879 โ‚ฌ6,720
$854 $854
822.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,303 โ‚ฌ3,671
$866 $866
396.84%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Carbondale, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,566 โ‚ฌ1,336
$3,901 $3,901
-59.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
6.53
-41.65%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lisbon: April 21, 2026

Last update for Carbondale, IL: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,653 in Lisbon and $1,576 in Carbondale, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Carbondale, IL pays 149% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $63 in Lisbon vs $33 in Carbondale, IL. Groceries flip the comparison at $270 vs $394, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.

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 Carbondale, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Carbondale, IL?
Lisbon wins on cost โ€“ living expenses run 9% lower than in Carbondale, IL. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lisbon the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lisbon or Carbondale, IL?
On paper, Carbondale, IL earns 149% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lisbon vs Carbondale, IL?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,653 in Lisbon versus $1,576 in Carbondale, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Lisbon or Carbondale, IL?
Supermarket bills run roughly 46% higher in Carbondale, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Lisbon compared to Carbondale, IL?
All in, you'll spend $2,243 per month in Lisbon versus $2,435 in Carbondale, IL โ€“ a 9% 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 Carbondale, IL?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Lisbon is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Carbondale, IL?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lisbon delivers better value โ€“ similar infrastructure at $2,243 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 Carbondale, IL?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Carbondale, IL 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 โ€“ expenses run 9% less than in Carbondale, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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