Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Derry Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Derry

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,217 in Lisbon versus $1,820 in Derry.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,245 in Lisbon versus $2,682 in Derry.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,272 in Lisbon versus $3,544 in Derry.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 22% more expensive than Derry, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 66% above, Derry 37% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Derry
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.78 €13.59
$13.64 €11.75
15.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.5 €53.8
$61.7 €53.1
1.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.54 €9.07
$8.21 €7.07
28.38%
Cappuccino
$2.77 €2.38
$4.18 €3.60
-33.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 €1.97
$2.09 €1.80
9.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 €1.33
$1.61 €1.39
-3.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.55 €3.05
$5.35 €4.60
-33.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98 €3.43
$5.36 €4.62
-25.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Derry
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.93
$1.46 €1.26
-26.03%
White Bread (500g)
$1.77 €1.52
$1.60 €1.38
10.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 €1.52
$2.13 €1.84
-16.90%
Eggs
$3.12 €2.69
$3.71 €3.19
-15.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.34 €11.49
$12.71 €10.94
4.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.99 €6.88
$10.35 €8.91
-22.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.92 €13.70
$11.68 €10.06
36.30%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 €1.97
$3.02 €2.60
-24.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 €1.42
$1.59 €1.37
3.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.98 €1.70
$2.75 €2.37
-28.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.45 €2.11
$3.41 €2.93
-28.15%
Potato (1kg)
$1.77 €1.52
$1.10 €0.95
60.91%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 €1.69
$1.42 €1.22
38.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 €1.70
$1.09 €0.94
80.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 €0.69
$1.66 €1.43
-51.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.54 €5.63
$15.72 €13.53
-58.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.75 €4.95
$10.79 €9.29
-46.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32 €1.13
$2.35 €2.02
-43.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 €2.57
$2.78 €2.40
7.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Derry
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.34 €2.01
$2.39 €2.06
-2.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.85 €39.48
$100 €86.4
-54.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.26 €3.66
$4.92 €4.24
-13.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.84 €0.73
$1.34 €1.15
-37.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.86 €16.24
$43.85 €37.76
-56.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.07 €1.78
$2.00 €1.72
3.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.2K €30.3K
$43.0K €37.0K
-18.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.6K €33.2K
$38.6K €33.2K
0.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Derry
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$151 €130
$215 €185
-29.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.91 €18.00
$21.96 €18.91
-4.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.54 €34.05
$54.5 €46.92
-27.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Derry
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.39 €41.67
$33.54 €28.88
44.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.61 €16.02
$26.97 €23.23
-31.00%
Cinema Ticket
$9.04 €7.79
$10.76 €9.26
-15.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Derry
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$610 €525
$1,043 €899
-41.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K €14.0K
$8,219 €7,077
98.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Derry
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 €87.2
$91.1 €78.5
11.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.58 €34.94
$39.90 €34.35
1.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.0 €80.1
$101 €86.9
-7.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €102
$73.1 €62.9
62.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Derry
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,603 €1,380
$734 €632
118.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,239 €1,067
$704 €607
75.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,019 €2,599
$1,263 €1,087
139.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,061 €1,775
$1,037 €893
98.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,981 €6,872
$4,062 €3,498
96.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,533 €3,903
$3,196 €2,752
41.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Derry
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,628 €1,402
$2,483 €2,138
-34.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
4.18
-8.85%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 15, 2026

Last update for Derry: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,603 in Lisbon and $734 in Derry. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Derry pays 52% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $62.0 in Lisbon vs $62.0 in Derry for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $301 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 Derry: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Derry cheaper than Lisbon?
Derry is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or Derry?
On paper, Derry earns 52% 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 Derry?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,603 in Lisbon versus $734 in Derry. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $610 in Lisbon versus $1,043 in Derry. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Lisbon and Derry?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 12% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Lisbon or Derry?
At $1,820 in Derry versus $2,217 in Lisbon, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Derry but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Derry the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisbon or Derry more family-friendly?
For families, Derry 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 Derry?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Derry 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 Derry gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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