Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Delft Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Delft

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $2,373 in Delft.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $3,674 in Delft.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $4,975 in Delft.

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 7% less than in Delft, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 65% above, Delft 77% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Delft
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.69
$17.70 €15.23
-10.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.7
$80.7 €69.4
-19.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.04
$13.73 €11.81
-23.45%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$4.02 €3.45
-28.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$3.16 €2.71
-29.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$2.38 €2.05
-36.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.00
$6.00 €5.16
-41.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$5.54 €4.76
-29.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Delft
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$1.26 €1.08
-9.52%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$2.09 €1.80
-16.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$3.35 €2.88
-47.46%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$4.75 €4.09
-32.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.61
$13.91 €11.97
-3.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$16.66 €14.33
-52.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.65
$16.87 €14.52
-5.93%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$2.36 €2.03
-2.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$2.48 €2.13
-31.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$1.97 €1.70
2.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$4.27 €3.68
-42.39%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$2.11 €1.82
-12.80%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$2.21 €1.90
-9.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$1.21 €1.04
59.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$0.80 €0.69
-1.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.68
$14.22 €12.23
-53.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.92
$7.23 €6.22
-20.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.17
$1.49 €1.28
-8.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$2.69 €2.32
10.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Delft
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$2.33 €2.01
1.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.19
$68.4 €58.8
-33.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$3.38 €2.91
26.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$3.21 €2.76
-74.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.74
$51.8 €44.58
-64.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$2.29 €1.97
-10.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$40.8K €35.1K
-15.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$38.1K €32.8K
3.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Delft
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$200 €172
-26.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.65
$28.77 €24.75
-28.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.08
$39.38 €33.87
0.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Delft
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.16
$32.62 €28.06
46.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.28
$16.64 €14.32
13.70%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.90
$14.88 €12.80
-38.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Delft
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €528
$1,979 €1,703
-68.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$6,306 €5,424
154.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Delft
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.0
$75.2 €64.7
39.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.18
$47.16 €40.57
-10.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.8
$92.5 €79.5
1.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$133 €114
-9.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Delft
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,400
$1,602 €1,378
1.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,080
$1,169 €1,005
7.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,607
$2,567 €2,208
18.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,738
$2,151 €1,850
-6.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,709
$8,103 €6,970
-3.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,675
$4,937 €4,246
-13.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Delft
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,379
$3,614 €3,109
-55.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
4.33
-12.01%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Delft: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $1,602 in Delft. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Delft pays 125% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $81.0 in Delft for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $350 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 Delft: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Delft?
Lisbon and Delft differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $2,373 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Delft earns 125% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Delft?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $1,602 in Delft. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Lisbon and Delft?
A monthly transit pass in Lisbon runs roughly 50% less than in Delft. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lisbon and Delft?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $1,979 in Delft. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Lisbon is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Delft?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Lisbon or Delft safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Delft are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Lisbon or Delft?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Delft. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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