😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,782 in Cromwell.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $2,789 in Cromwell.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $3,795 in Cromwell.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 24% more expensive than Cromwell, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon65% above, Cromwell33% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Cromwell
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.70
$11.86NZ$20.20
34.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.8
$71.8NZ$122
-9.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.05
$10.89NZ$18.55
-3.49%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$3.35NZ$5.71
-14.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$2.27NZ$3.87
-1.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$2.09NZ$3.55
-28.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.01
$7.04NZ$12.00
-50.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$5.98NZ$10.18
-35.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Cromwell
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$2.16NZ$3.67
-47.22%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$1.97NZ$3.35
-11.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$1.89NZ$3.22
-6.88%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$5.49NZ$9.34
-41.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.62
$8.12NZ$13.82
66.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$10.87NZ$18.51
-27.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.67
$12.91NZ$21.99
22.93%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$2.99NZ$5.10
-22.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$2.28NZ$3.88
-25.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$3.42NZ$5.83
-41.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$4.46NZ$7.60
-44.84%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$2.00NZ$3.40
-8.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$2.07NZ$3.52
-3.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$2.53NZ$4.31
-23.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$1.07NZ$1.82
-26.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.69
$24.46NZ$41.66
-72.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.93
$8.94NZ$15.22
-36.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$2.47NZ$4.20
-44.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$3.68NZ$6.26
-19.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Cromwell
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$2.13NZ$3.64
11.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.23
$64.9NZ$111
-29.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$2.64NZ$4.49
62.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$1.14NZ$1.94
-28.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.76
$29.72NZ$50.6
-38.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$1.65NZ$2.81
24.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$19.7KNZ$33.6K
73.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$25.4KNZ$43.3K
54.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Cromwell
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$101NZ$172
46.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.67
$35.29NZ$60.1
-41.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.11
$54.7NZ$93.1
-27.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Cromwell
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.20
$37.06NZ$63.1
29.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.29
$12.29NZ$20.94
53.95%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.91
$9.30NZ$15.84
-1.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Cromwell
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€529
$576NZ$980
6.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$13.3KNZ$22.6K
20.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Cromwell
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.1
$65.5NZ$111
59.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.22
$35.42NZ$60.3
18.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.9
$95.3NZ$162
-1.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$120NZ$205
-0.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Cromwell
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,402
$981NZ$1,670
65.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,081
$779NZ$1,326
61.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,609
$1,588NZ$2,704
90.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,740
$1,383NZ$2,355
46.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,716
$4,516NZ$7,690
72.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,679
$3,394NZ$5,780
25.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Cromwell
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,381
$3,160NZ$5,381
-49.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
6.6
-42.27%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Cromwell: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $981 in Cromwell. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cromwell pays 97% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $72.0 in Cromwell for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $323 per month, with Lisbon cheaper across the board.
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 Cromwell: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cromwell cheaper than Lisbon?
Cromwell is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or Cromwell?
On paper, Cromwell earns 97% less. 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 Cromwell?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $981 in Cromwell. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Lisbon and Cromwell?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 20% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is eating out cheaper in Lisbon or Cromwell?
Dining out is cheaper in Cromwell – a meal for two runs $72.0 versus $65.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Lisbon or Cromwell?
At $1,782 in Cromwell versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Cromwell but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Cromwell the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisbon or Cromwell more family-friendly?
For families, Cromwell is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lisbon, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Cromwell?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Cromwell 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Cromwell gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.