😐A single person spends $2,316 per month in Lisbon vs $1,932 in Cold Lake, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,361 per month in Lisbon vs $2,895 in Cold Lake, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,405 per month in Lisbon vs $3,859 in Cold Lake, rent included.
😐Lisbon costs about 20% more than Cold Lake, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Lisbon and Cold Lake sit above the global median – Lisbon by 69%, Cold Lake by 41%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Cold Lake
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.30€14.93
$20.15CA$27.90
-14.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€54.6
$59.8CA$82.8
5.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.39€9.83
$10.06CA$13.93
13.22%
Cappuccino
$3.19€2.75
$3.87CA$5.36
-17.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45€2.11
$2.22CA$3.07
10.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.52
$1.41CA$1.95
24.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.59€3.10
$5.72CA$7.91
-37.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39€2.93
$6.63CA$9.18
-48.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Cold Lake
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.07
$1.16CA$1.60
6.90%
White Bread(500g)
$1.98€1.71
$2.26CA$3.13
-12.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.52€1.31
$3.05CA$4.23
-50.16%
Eggs
$4.04€3.49
$3.16CA$4.37
27.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.54€11.68
$11.18CA$15.48
21.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.39€7.24
$11.68CA$16.17
-28.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.25€15.75
$18.75CA$25.95
-2.67%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.98
$3.57CA$4.94
-35.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74€1.50
$1.13CA$1.56
53.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86€1.60
$2.86CA$3.96
-34.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.63€2.27
$2.62CA$3.63
0.38%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$2.24CA$3.10
-14.29%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09€1.81
$1.05CA$1.46
99.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.24
$2.49CA$3.45
-42.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$1.84CA$2.54
-54.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.85
$12.01CA$16.63
-43.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.71€4.93
$11.71CA$16.22
-51.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.19
$3.57CA$4.94
-61.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22€1.91
$3.02CA$4.18
-26.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Cold Lake
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.40€2.07
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.78€40.37
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.17€3.60
$3.03CA$4.20
37.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.98
$1.42CA$1.97
-19.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.68€15.26
$21.96CA$30.40
-19.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.32€2.01
$1.04CA$1.44
123.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.5K
$28.3KCA$39.1K
25.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€35.8K
$20.1KCA$27.8K
106.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Cold Lake
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170€147
$231CA$320
-26.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.34€16.69
$41.34CA$57.2
-53.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.64€29.03
$55.6CA$77.0
-39.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Cold Lake
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.10€41.50
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.90€17.17
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.92€8.56
$13.37CA$18.51
-25.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Cold Lake
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$717€619
$777CA$1,076
-7.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.5K€15.1K
$9,577CA$13.3K
82.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Cold Lake
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.4
$29.08CA$40.27
260.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.95€40.51
$35.70CA$49.43
31.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.2
$54.6CA$75.7
89.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€107
$91.5CA$127
35.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Cold Lake
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,677€1,447
$898CA$1,244
86.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,271€1,097
$861CA$1,192
47.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,985€2,575
$1,583CA$2,192
88.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,992€1,719
$1,454CA$2,013
37.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,826€6,753
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,658€4,019
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Cold Lake
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,583€1,366
$3,099CA$4,291
-48.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.79
4.32
-12.27%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Last update for Cold Lake: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,677 in Lisbon versus $898 in Cold Lake. 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 96% higher in Cold Lake, 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 $60.0 in Cold Lake. Groceries tell a different story – $283 in Lisbon vs $344 in Cold Lake – so Lisbon wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Cold Lake: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cold Lake cheaper than Lisbon?
Yes – Lisbon is pricier by about 20%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,474 per month in Lisbon and $2,897 in Cold Lake. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Cold Lake, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Lisbon and in Cold Lake?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,316 in Lisbon and $1,932 in Cold Lake. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $717 per month in Lisbon and $777 in Cold Lake. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Lisbon or in Cold Lake?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Cold Lake, where all-in costs run around $1,932, than in Lisbon at $2,316. In Cold Lake it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Lisbon or Cold Lake more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Cold Lake – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Cold Lake?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Cold Lake. 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.