Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Chester, CA

For one person, living is cheaper in Lisbon: $2,202 a month against $2,629 in Chester, CA, rent and utilities included – about $5,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,202
/mo nomad
Chester, CA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,629
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Chester, CA

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 Chester, CA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,202 in Lisbon versus $2,629 in Chester, CA.

  • Lisbon $2,202
  • Chester, CA $2,629

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,274 in Lisbon versus $3,789 in Chester, CA.

  • Lisbon $3,274
  • Chester, CA $3,789

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,346 in Lisbon versus $4,949 in Chester, CA.

  • Lisbon $4,346
  • Chester, CA $4,949

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 16% less than in Chester, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 62% above, Chester, CA 94% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Chester, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.04 €15.15
$15.13 $15.13
12.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.3 €55.4
$56.1 $56.1
11.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.02 €9.80
$12.61 $12.61
-12.61%
Cappuccino
$3.12 €2.78
$5.06 $5.06
-38.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 €2.02
$1.94 $1.94
17.01%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.55
$1.46 $1.46
19.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.42 €3.04
$4.99 $4.99
-31.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74 €3.33
$6.45 $6.45
-42.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Chester, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 €1.04
$1.23 $1.23
-4.88%
White Bread (500g)
$1.86 €1.66
$4.19 $4.19
-55.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.54 €1.37
$4.62 $4.62
-66.67%
Eggs
$4.06 €3.61
$5.67 $5.67
-28.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.91 €11.49
$14.96 $14.96
-13.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.90 €7.03
$14.97 $14.97
-47.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.64 €15.69
$17.94 $17.94
-1.67%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 €2.01
$5.05 $5.05
-55.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.55
$1.94 $1.94
-9.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 €1.68
$4.30 $4.30
-56.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.56 €2.27
$5.74 $5.74
-55.40%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 €1.64
$3.86 $3.86
-52.07%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 €1.75
$3.34 $3.34
-41.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 €1.29
$2.50 $2.50
-42.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 €0.69
$2.70 $2.70
-71.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.71 €5.97
$9.06 $9.06
-25.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.67 €5.04
$13.92 $13.92
-59.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.22
$2.58 $2.58
-46.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 €1.88
$3.52 $3.52
-40.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Chester, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.32 €2.07
$2.28 $2.28
1.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.43 €39.52
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.95 €3.51
$4.11 $4.11
-3.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.05 €0.93
$1.93 $1.93
-45.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.15 €15.26
$24.76 $24.76
-30.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.19 €1.95
$1.41 $1.41
55.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.8K €30.0K
$35.2K $35.2K
-4.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.3K €34.0K
$27.2K $27.2K
40.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Chester, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$164 €146
$227 $227
-27.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.48 €16.43
$60.6 $60.6
-69.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.96 €29.32
$69.3 $69.3
-52.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Chester, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.87 €40.80
$35.63 $35.63
28.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.68 €16.61
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.75 €8.67
$17.07 $17.07
-42.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Chester, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$684 €608
$1,537 $1,537
-55.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.6K €15.7K
$19.0K $19.0K
-7.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Chester, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 €92.3
$61.7 $61.7
68.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.20 €41.09
$46.31 $46.31
-0.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.7 €88.7
$94.4 $94.4
5.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 €111
$126 $126
-1.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Chester, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,589 €1,414
$1,604 $1,604
-0.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,169 €1,040
$1,300 $1,300
-10.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,851 €2,536
$2,499 $2,499
14.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,993 €1,773
$2,130 $2,130
-6.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,793 €6,932
$2,448 $2,448
218.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,418 €3,930
$2,699 $2,699
63.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Chester, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,600 €1,423
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
6.5
-40.77%

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

Last update for Lisbon: October 19, 2026

Last update for Chester, CA: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Chester, CA
$1.3K 11.2% $131
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$273
Chester, CA
$460 68.6% $187
Eating Out
Lisbon
$247
Chester, CA
$271 9.5% $24
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$215
Chester, CA
$357 65.9% $142
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$168
Chester, CA
$148 12.2% $20
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$65
Chester, CA
$70 6.7% $4.4
Getting Around
Lisbon
$63
Chester, CA
$23 * 63.6% $40

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,589 in Lisbon and $1,604 in Chester, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $62.0 in Lisbon vs $56.0 in Chester, CA. Groceries flip the comparison at $273 vs $460, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇺🇸 Chester, CA
🕒 Local time
17:16 5:16 PM
09:16 9:16 AM
8 h behind Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
36,801
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Chester, CA 8,850 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Chester, CA

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 Chester, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Chester, CA?
Lisbon wins on cost – living expenses run 19% lower than in Chester, CA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lisbon the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Lisbon and in Chester, CA?
You'd need roughly $3,302 in Lisbon and $3,944 in Chester, CA to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lisbon compared to Chester, CA?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,589 in Lisbon versus $1,604 in Chester, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Lisbon or in Chester, CA?
Supermarket bills run roughly 69% higher in Chester, CA. 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 Chester, CA?
All in, you'll spend $2,202 per month in Lisbon versus $2,629 in Chester, CA – a 19% 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 in Chester, CA?
At $2,202 in Lisbon versus $2,629 in Chester, CA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Chester, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Chester, CA?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lisbon delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,202 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 Chester, CA?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Chester, CA 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 – expenses run 19% less than in Chester, CA. 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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