Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Chemnitz Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Chemnitz

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,316 per month in Lisbon vs $1,958 in Chemnitz, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,361 per month in Lisbon vs $2,952 in Chemnitz, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,405 per month in Lisbon vs $3,946 in Chemnitz, rent included.

Lisbon costs about 18% more than Chemnitz, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Lisbon and Chemnitz sit above the global median – Lisbon by 69%, Chemnitz by 43%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.30 €14.92

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.3 €54.6

$68.1 €58.7

-7.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.39 €9.83

$13.53 €11.67

-15.82%

Cappuccino

$3.19 €2.75

$4.32 €3.72

-26.16%

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

$2.45 €2.11

$3.87 €3.34

-36.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 €1.52

$3.25 €2.81

-45.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.59 €3.10

$4.55 €3.93

-21.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 €2.93

$3.56 €3.07

-4.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 €1.07

$1.37 €1.18

-9.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.98 €1.71

$2.60 €2.24

-23.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 €1.31

$4.27 €3.69

-64.40%

Eggs

$4.04 €3.49

$3.46 €2.98

16.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.54 €11.68

$14.96 €12.90

-9.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.39 €7.23

$10.63 €9.17

-21.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.25 €15.74

$23.37 €20.16

-21.91%

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 €1.97

$3.50 €3.02

-34.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 €1.50

$2.12 €1.82

-17.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.86 €1.60

$2.06 €1.77

-9.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.63 €2.27

$4.01 €3.46

-34.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 €1.65

$1.50 €1.29

28.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.09 €1.81

$1.50 €1.29

39.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.44 €1.24

$1.52 €1.31

-5.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 €0.73

$1.44 €1.24

-41.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.78 €5.85

$10.15 €8.76

-33.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.71 €4.93

$5.83 €5.03

-2.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 €1.19

$1.17 €1.01

17.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 €1.91

$1.54 €1.33

44.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.40 €2.07

$3.44 €2.97

-30.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.78 €40.35

$72.3 €62.3

-35.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.17 €3.60

$3.98 €3.43

4.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.14 €0.98

$1.76 €1.52

-35.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.68 €15.25

$34.72 €29.95

-49.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.32 €2.00

$2.12 €1.83

9.43%

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

$35.3K €30.5K

$34.8K €30.0K

1.62%

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

$41.4K €35.7K

$39.0K €33.6K

6.31%

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

$170 €147

$333 €288

-48.92%

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

$19.34 €16.68

$23.76 €20.50

-18.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.64 €29.01

$42.25 €36.44

-20.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.10 €41.48

$33.74 €29.10

42.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.90 €17.16

$22.23 €19.17

-10.48%

Cinema Ticket

$9.92 €8.56

$21.89 €18.88

-54.68%

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

$717 €619

$312 €269

129.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.5K €15.1K

$7,495 €6,464

133.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €90.4

$120 €104

-12.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.95 €40.49

$45.13 €38.92

4.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 €89.2

$118 €102

-12.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 €107

$131 €113

-5.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,677 €1,446

$418 €360

301.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,271 €1,096

$549 €474

131.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,985 €2,574

$1,063 €917

180.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,992 €1,718

$898 €774

121.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,826 €6,750

$2,110 €1,820

270.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,658 €4,017

$1,323 €1,141

251.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,583 €1,365

$2,896 €2,498

-45.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.79

3.98

-4.77%

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

Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026

Last update for Chemnitz: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,677 in Lisbon versus $418 in Chemnitz. 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 83% higher in Chemnitz, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Lisbon versus $68.0 in Chemnitz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $283 vs $349 – 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 Chemnitz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lisbon costs about 18% more than Chemnitz, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,474 per month in Lisbon and $2,937 in Chemnitz. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chemnitz, 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 $2,316 in Lisbon and $1,958 in Chemnitz. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 54% less in Chemnitz. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Chemnitz, where all-in costs run around $1,958, than in Lisbon at $2,316. In Chemnitz it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chemnitz costs $1,958 versus $2,316 in Lisbon. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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