😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $2,216 in Dayton, OH.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $3,215 in Dayton, OH.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $4,215 in Dayton, OH.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 4% more expensive than in Dayton, OH, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon68% above, Dayton, OH62% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Dayton, OH
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59€15.33
$14.31$14.31
22.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€54.8
$69.0$69.0
-8.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.58€10.10
$10.15$10.15
14.09%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$4.12$4.12
-24.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.17
$2.20$2.20
13.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74€1.52
$1.93$1.93
-9.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.48€3.03
$3.96$3.96
-12.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€3.00
$5.58$5.58
-38.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Dayton, OH
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15€1.00
$0.75$0.75
53.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.91€1.66
$2.88$2.88
-33.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50€1.31
$3.88$3.88
-61.34%
Eggs
$3.98€3.47
$3.77$3.77
5.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.59
$12.79$12.79
3.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.98
$22.14$22.14
-63.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.04€15.73
$16.35$16.35
10.34%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35€2.05
$4.59$4.59
-48.80%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75€1.53
$1.75$1.75
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85€1.62
$7.14$7.14
-74.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.22
$5.19$5.19
-50.87%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.61
$2.87$2.87
-35.89%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10€1.83
$3.16$3.16
-33.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.30
$2.25$2.25
-33.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.71
$2.63$2.63
-68.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10€6.19
$8.56$8.56
-17.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.91€5.15
$19.04$19.04
-68.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.15
$1.77$1.77
-25.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.86
$3.59$3.59
-40.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Dayton, OH
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.36€2.05
$3.98$3.98
-40.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.62€40.63
$49.31$49.31
-5.46%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.55
$5.06$5.06
-19.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.99
$1.91$1.91
-40.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.09€14.90
$51.0$51.0
-66.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.31€2.01
$0.99$0.99
133.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.7K
$35.7K$35.7K
-4.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€36.1K
$25.1K$25.1K
64.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Dayton, OH
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169€147
$202$202
-16.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33€16.85
$50.5$50.5
-61.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51€29.21
$58.8$58.8
-42.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Dayton, OH
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.84€42.57
$33.22$33.22
47.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43€16.94
$44.53$44.53
-56.37%
Cinema Ticket
$9.57€8.34
$13.63$13.63
-29.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Dayton, OH
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696€607
$536$536
29.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.4K€15.1K
$6,537$6,537
165.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Dayton, OH
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€91.8
$39.26$39.26
168.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75€41.62
$47.98$47.98
-0.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.6
$70.3$70.3
43.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€108
$123$123
1.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Dayton, OH
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,662€1,449
$1,184$1,184
40.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,246€1,086
$901$901
38.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,965€2,584
$1,568$1,568
89.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,049€1,786
$1,356$1,356
51.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,834€6,829
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,464€3,892
$1,444$1,444
209.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Dayton, OH
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,632€1,422
$3,402$3,402
-52.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
6.15
-38.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Last update for Dayton, OH: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $1,184 in Dayton, OH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Dayton, OH pays 109% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $69.0 in Dayton, OH for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $463 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 Dayton, OH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Dayton, OH?
Dayton, OH wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Lisbon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Dayton, OH the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lisbon or in Dayton, OH?
On paper, salaries run 109% lower in Dayton, OH. 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 compared to Dayton, OH?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $1,184 in Dayton, OH. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Lisbon compared to Dayton, OH?
All in, you'll spend $2,296 per month in Lisbon versus $2,216 in Dayton, OH – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Lisbon compared to Dayton, OH?
A monthly transit pass in Dayton, OH runs roughly 6% less than in Lisbon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Lisbon or in Dayton, OH?
At $2,216 in Dayton, OH versus $2,296 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Dayton, OH but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Dayton, OH the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Dayton, OH?
Both work as nomad bases, but Dayton, OH delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,216 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Dayton, OH hard to pass up.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Dayton, OH?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Dayton, OH 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 Dayton, OH gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.