Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Fairbanks, AK

For one person, living is cheaper in Lisbon: $2,202 a month against $3,000 in Fairbanks, AK, rent and utilities included – about $9,600 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,202
/mo nomad
Fairbanks, AK
🇺🇸 United States
$3,000
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Fairbanks, AK

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 Fairbanks, AK actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,202 per month in Lisbon vs $3,000 in Fairbanks, AK, rent included.

  • Lisbon $2,202
  • Fairbanks, AK $3,000

A couple spends around $3,274 per month in Lisbon vs $4,408 in Fairbanks, AK, rent included.

  • Lisbon $3,274
  • Fairbanks, AK $4,408

A family of three spends $4,346 per month in Lisbon vs $5,816 in Fairbanks, AK, rent included.

  • Lisbon $4,346
  • Fairbanks, AK $5,816

Lisbon is about 27% cheaper than Fairbanks, AK, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Lisbon and Fairbanks, AK sit above the global median – Lisbon by 62%, Fairbanks, AK by 121%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Fairbanks, AK
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.04 €15.15
$25.10 $25.10
-32.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.3 €55.4
$99.1 $99.1
-37.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.02 €9.80
$15.27 $15.27
-27.83%
Cappuccino
$3.12 €2.78
$6.07 $6.07
-48.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 €2.02
$2.68 $2.68
-15.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.55
$2.04 $2.04
-14.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.42 €3.04
$6.83 $6.83
-49.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74 €3.33
$10.07 $10.07
-62.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Fairbanks, AK
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 €1.04
$1.13 $1.13
3.54%
White Bread (500g)
$1.86 €1.66
$5.38 $5.38
-65.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.54 €1.37
$4.78 $4.78
-67.78%
Eggs
$4.06 €3.61
$4.36 $4.36
-6.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.91 €11.49
$21.93 $21.93
-41.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.90 €7.03
$8.66 $8.66
-8.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.64 €15.69
$20.87 $20.87
-15.48%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 €2.01
$7.54 $7.54
-70.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.55
$2.17 $2.17
-19.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 €1.68
$6.03 $6.03
-68.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.56 €2.27
$6.24 $6.24
-58.97%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 €1.64
$3.57 $3.57
-48.18%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 €1.75
$3.69 $3.69
-46.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 €1.29
$2.78 $2.78
-47.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 €0.69
$2.02 $2.02
-61.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.71 €5.97
$12.10 $12.10
-44.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.67 €5.04
$12.20 $12.20
-53.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.22
$1.77 $1.77
-22.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 €1.88
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Fairbanks, AK
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.32 €2.07
$1.52 $1.52
52.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.43 €39.52
$40.60 $40.60
9.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.95 €3.51
$3.60 $3.60
9.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.05 €0.93
$2.16 $2.16
-51.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.15 €15.26
$44.97 $44.97
-61.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.19 €1.95
$1.28 $1.28
71.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.8K €30.0K
$25.9K $25.9K
30.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.3K €34.0K
$24.7K $24.7K
54.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Fairbanks, AK
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$164 €146
$212 $212
-22.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.48 €16.43
$61.3 $61.3
-69.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.96 €29.32
$139 $139
-76.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Fairbanks, AK
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.87 €40.80
$98.0 $98.0
-53.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.68 €16.61
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.75 €8.67
$18.10 $18.10
-46.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Fairbanks, AK
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$684 €608
$1,845 $1,845
-62.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.6K €15.7K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Fairbanks, AK
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 €92.3
$59.4 $59.4
74.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.20 €41.09
$39.78 $39.78
16.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.7 €88.7
$120 $120
-17.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 €111
$119 $119
4.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Fairbanks, AK
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,589 €1,414
$1,612 $1,612
-1.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,169 €1,040
$1,381 $1,381
-15.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,851 €2,536
$2,580 $2,580
10.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,993 €1,773
$2,230 $2,230
-10.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,793 €6,932
$2,244 $2,244
247.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,418 €3,930
$2,000 $2,000
120.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Fairbanks, AK
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,600 €1,423
$3,941 $3,941
-59.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
6.71
-42.62%

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

Last update for Lisbon: October 19, 2026

Last update for Fairbanks, AK: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Fairbanks, AK
$1.4K 18.1% $212
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$273
Fairbanks, AK
$466 * 70.7% $193
Eating Out
Lisbon
$247
Fairbanks, AK
$393 58.6% $145
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$215
Fairbanks, AK
$413 91.9% $198
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$168
Fairbanks, AK
$152 9.6% $16
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$65
Fairbanks, AK
$134 105% $69
Getting Around
Lisbon
$63
Fairbanks, AK
$61 2.9% $1.9

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,589 in Lisbon versus $1,612 in Fairbanks, AK. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 146% higher in Fairbanks, AK, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $62.0 in Lisbon versus $99.0 in Fairbanks, AK. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $273 vs $466 – making Lisbon the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇺🇸 Fairbanks, AK
🕒 Local time
16:39 4:39 PM
07:39 7:39 AM
9 h behind Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
32,515
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Fairbanks, AK 7,950 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Fairbanks, AK

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 Fairbanks, AK: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fairbanks, AK cheaper than Lisbon?
Yes – Fairbanks, AK is pricier by about 36%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,302 per month in Lisbon and $4,500 in Fairbanks, AK. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Lisbon, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Lisbon and in Fairbanks, AK?
Groceries cost about 71% more in Fairbanks, AK, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Lisbon or in Fairbanks, AK?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $62.0 in Lisbon and $99.0 in Fairbanks, AK. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Lisbon or in Fairbanks, AK?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Lisbon, where all-in costs run around $2,202, than in Fairbanks, AK at $3,000. In Lisbon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Fairbanks, AK it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Lisbon or Fairbanks, AK more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Lisbon – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Fairbanks, AK?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Lisbon. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Fairbanks, AK makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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