Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Douglas

For one person, living is cheaper in Lisbon: $2,223 a month against $2,631 in Douglas, rent and utilities included – about $4,900 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,223
/mo nomad
Douglas
🇮🇲 Isle of Man
$2,631
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Douglas

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lisbon and in Douglas actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,223 in Lisbon versus $2,631 in Douglas.

  • Lisbon $2,223
  • Douglas $2,631

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,271 in Lisbon versus $4,083 in Douglas.

  • Lisbon $3,271
  • Douglas $4,083

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,319 in Lisbon versus $5,534 in Douglas.

  • Lisbon $4,319
  • Douglas $5,534

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 16% less than in Douglas, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 65% above, Douglas 95% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Douglas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.50 €14.67
$27.55 IMP 20.69
-40.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.3 €54.5
$118 IMP 88.7
-48.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.27 €10.03
$11.84 IMP 8.90
-4.81%
Cappuccino
$3.06 €2.72
$4.94 IMP 3.71
-38.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 €2.01
$2.65 IMP 1.99
-14.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 €1.54
$2.14 IMP 1.61
-19.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.39 €3.02
$6.71 IMP 5.04
-49.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40 €3.02
$5.88 IMP 4.41
-42.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Douglas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 €1.00
$2.42 IMP 1.82
-53.72%
White Bread (500g)
$1.86 €1.65
$2.58 IMP 1.94
-27.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 €1.36
$2.08 IMP 1.56
-26.44%
Eggs
$3.96 €3.53
$5.19 IMP 3.90
-23.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.76 €11.35
$7.80 IMP 5.86
63.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.90 €7.02
$8.80 IMP 6.61
-10.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.97 €15.09
$12.47 IMP 9.36
36.09%
Apples (1kg)
$2.27 €2.02
$3.01 IMP 2.26
-24.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.55
$1.79 IMP 1.34
-2.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 €1.64
$3.89 IMP 2.92
-52.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.57 €2.28
$3.63 IMP 2.73
-29.20%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 €1.65
$3.02 IMP 2.27
-38.41%
Onion (1kg)
$2.02 €1.80
$2.94 IMP 2.21
-31.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 €1.28
$2.06 IMP 1.55
-30.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 €0.73
$2.60 IMP 1.95
-68.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.56 €5.83
$22.31 IMP 16.76
-70.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.62 €5.00
$11.67 IMP 8.76
-51.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 €1.14
$4.50 IMP 3.38
-71.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 €1.84
$4.37 IMP 3.28
-52.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Douglas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.35 €2.09
$2.95 IMP 2.21
-20.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.18 €39.30
$98.9 IMP 74.3
-55.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.99 €3.55
$4.95 IMP 3.72
-19.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.09 €0.97
$1.47 IMP 1.10
-25.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.64 €14.81
$80.6 IMP 60.5
-79.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.28 €2.03
$1.98 IMP 1.48
15.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.7K €30.0K
$44.5K IMP 33.4K
-24.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €35.0K
$43.1K IMP 32.4K
-8.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Douglas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$167 €149
$336 IMP 252
-50.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.80 €16.72
$61.2 IMP 45.92
-69.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.09 €29.43
$73.6 IMP 55.3
-55.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Douglas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.01 €40.93
$65.7 IMP 49.36
-29.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.19 €17.07
$20.20 IMP 15.17
-5.00%
Cinema Ticket
$9.84 €8.75
$15.76 IMP 11.84
-37.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Douglas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$677 €602
$1,729 IMP 1,298
-60.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.9K €15.1K
$52.5K IMP 39.4K
-67.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Douglas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 €90.1
$98.1 IMP 73.7
3.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.76 €40.70
$45.25 IMP 33.98
1.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100.0 €88.9
$110 IMP 82.7
-9.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 €109
$69.2 IMP 52.0
77.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Douglas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,614 €1,436
$1,220 IMP 916
32.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,197 €1,065
$1,063 IMP 798
12.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,862 €2,545
$2,351 IMP 1,765
21.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,990 €1,770
$2,046 IMP 1,537
-2.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,577 €6,740
$4,987 IMP 3,745
51.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,307 €3,831
$3,758 IMP 2,822
14.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Douglas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,588 €1,412
$2,966 IMP 2,228
-46.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
4.76
-19.12%

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

Last update for Lisbon: October 11, 2026

Last update for Douglas: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Douglas
$1.1K 11.2% $134
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$269
Douglas
$352 30.8% $83
Eating Out
Lisbon
$242
Douglas
$380 56.8% $138
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$219
Douglas
$471 115% $251
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$166
Douglas
$145 12.8% $21
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$66
Douglas
$97 48% $32
Getting Around
Lisbon
$63
Douglas
$123 95.2% $60

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,614 in Lisbon and $1,220 in Douglas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Douglas pays 87% 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: $61.0 in Lisbon vs $118 in Douglas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $352 per month, with Lisbon cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇮🇲 Douglas
🕒 Local time
09:03 9:03 AM
09:03 9:03 AM
Same time as Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
26,218 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

IMP, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Isle of Man Pound exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.751 IMP (1 IMP = 1.33 USD). 1 EUR = 0.844 IMP (1 IMP = 1.18 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Douglas 1,750 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Douglas

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Douglas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Douglas cheaper than Lisbon?
Lisbon is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and leisure. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or Douglas?
On paper, salaries run 87% lower in Douglas. 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 Douglas?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,614 in Lisbon versus $1,220 in Douglas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Lisbon and in Douglas?
All in, you'll spend $2,223 per month in Lisbon versus $2,631 in Douglas – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Lisbon runs roughly 124% less than in Douglas. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Lisbon or in Douglas?
At $2,223 in Lisbon versus $2,631 in Douglas, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Douglas. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisbon or Douglas more family-friendly?
For families, Lisbon is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Douglas, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Douglas?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Douglas 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 Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Douglas. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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