Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Duisburg Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Duisburg

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,316 in Lisbon versus $2,076 in Duisburg.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,361 in Lisbon versus $3,078 in Duisburg.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,405 in Lisbon versus $4,080 in Duisburg.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 12% more expensive than in Duisburg, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 69% above, Duisburg 51% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Duisburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.30 €14.89
$13.98 €12.03
23.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3 €54.4
$74.2 €63.8
-14.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.39 €9.80
$13.59 €11.69
-16.19%
Cappuccino
$3.19 €2.75
$4.72 €4.06
-32.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 €2.10
$4.02 €3.46
-39.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76 €1.52
$3.24 €2.79
-45.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.59 €3.09
$5.96 €5.13
-39.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 €2.92
$5.86 €5.04
-42.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Duisburg
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 €1.06
$1.40 €1.20
-11.43%
White Bread (500g)
$1.98 €1.71
$2.13 €1.83
-7.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.52 €1.31
$4.03 €3.47
-62.28%
Eggs
$4.04 €3.48
$3.54 €3.04
14.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.54 €11.65
$15.07 €12.97
-10.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.39 €7.22
$11.04 €9.50
-24.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.25 €15.70
$26.23 €22.57
-30.42%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 €1.97
$3.56 €3.06
-35.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 €1.50
$2.38 €2.05
-26.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.86 €1.60
$2.44 €2.10
-23.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.63 €2.26
$4.51 €3.88
-41.69%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 €1.65
$1.58 €1.36
21.52%
Onion (1kg)
$2.09 €1.80
$1.20 €1.03
74.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 €1.24
$1.80 €1.55
-20.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 €0.72
$1.10 €0.94
-23.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78 €5.83
$10.98 €9.45
-38.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.71 €4.91
$7.02 €6.04
-18.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 €1.18
$1.12 €0.96
23.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 €1.91
$1.38 €1.19
60.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Duisburg
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.40 €2.06
$4.87 €4.19
-50.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.78 €40.25
$70.5 €60.7
-33.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.17 €3.59
$5.31 €4.57
-21.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.14 €0.98
$2.29 €1.97
-50.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.68 €15.21
$35.43 €30.48
-50.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.32 €2.00
$2.20 €1.89
5.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K €30.4K
$34.0K €29.2K
4.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K €35.7K
$40.0K €34.5K
3.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Duisburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 €147
$484 €416
-64.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.34 €16.64
$26.56 €22.86
-27.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.64 €28.95
$43.03 €37.03
-21.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Duisburg
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.10 €41.39
$33.42 €28.76
43.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.90 €17.12
$29.91 €25.74
-33.47%
Cinema Ticket
$9.92 €8.54
$14.03 €12.07
-29.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Duisburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$717 €617
$175 €151
309.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.5K €15.0K
$27.2K €23.4K
-35.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Duisburg
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.2
$99.6 €85.7
5.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.95 €40.40
$49.70 €42.76
-5.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 €89.0
$114 €98.2
-9.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €107
$202 €174
-38.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Duisburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,677 €1,443
$724 €623
131.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,271 €1,094
$560 €482
127.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,985 €2,568
$1,407 €1,211
112.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,992 €1,715
$953 €820
109.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,826 €6,734
$7,032 €6,051
11.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,658 €4,008
$3,521 €3,029
32.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Duisburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,583 €1,362
$2,859 €2,461
-44.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.79
3.96
-4.29%

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

Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026

Last update for Duisburg: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,677 in Lisbon and $724 in Duisburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Duisburg pays 81% 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 $74.0 in Duisburg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $283 vs $359 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 Duisburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Duisburg?
Duisburg wins on cost – living expenses run 12% lower than in Lisbon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Duisburg the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lisbon or in Duisburg?
On paper, salaries run 81% lower in Duisburg. 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 Duisburg?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,677 in Lisbon versus $724 in Duisburg. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Lisbon and in Duisburg?
Childcare runs $717 in Lisbon versus $175 in Duisburg. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Lisbon or in Duisburg?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 27% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Lisbon or in Duisburg?
At $2,076 in Duisburg versus $2,316 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Duisburg but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Duisburg the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Duisburg?
Both work as nomad bases, but Duisburg delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,076 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Duisburg hard to pass up.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Duisburg?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Duisburg 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 Duisburg gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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