🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,243 in Lisbon versus $3,962 in Fairfield, CA.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $5,555 in Fairfield, CA.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,387 in Lisbon versus $7,149 in Fairfield, CA.
🙂Living in Lisbon costs roughly 43% less than in Fairfield, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon67% above, Fairfield, CA196% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Fairfield, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.73€13.42
$22.15$22.15
-28.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.2€53.9
$81.5$81.5
-22.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€8.80
$11.81$11.81
-12.62%
Cappuccino
$2.81€2.40
$4.82$4.82
-41.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33€1.99
$2.90$2.90
-19.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51€1.29
$1.98$1.98
-23.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.37€2.87
$7.33$7.33
-54.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.34
$6.89$6.89
-43.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Fairfield, CA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.92
$1.18$1.18
-8.47%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.49
$4.00$4.00
-56.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75€1.50
$4.48$4.48
-60.94%
Eggs
$3.10€2.64
$5.31$5.31
-41.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.28€11.33
$13.33$13.33
-0.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.85€6.70
$11.24$11.24
-30.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.05€13.69
$17.82$17.82
-9.93%
Apples(1kg)
$2.39€2.04
$7.97$7.97
-70.01%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.47
$2.84$2.84
-39.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97€1.68
$5.96$5.96
-66.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.17
$7.58$7.58
-66.36%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
$4.03$4.03
-55.58%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97€1.68
$3.86$3.86
-48.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.96€1.67
$2.22$2.22
-11.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.71
$2.02$2.02
-58.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.82€5.82
$12.11$12.11
-43.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.85€4.99
$9.83$9.83
-40.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.18
$1.80$1.80
-23.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92€2.49
$2.54$2.54
14.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Fairfield, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.29€1.95
$2.02$2.02
13.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.88€39.99
$87.8$87.8
-46.61%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.12€3.51
$3.04$3.04
35.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.69
$1.87$1.87
-56.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.94€16.16
$29.03$29.03
-34.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09€1.78
$1.32$1.32
58.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K€30.0K
$33.5K$33.5K
4.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7K€33.9K
$27.6K$27.6K
43.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Fairfield, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150€128
$228$228
-34.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.49€17.48
$50.6$50.6
-59.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.15€33.40
$75.7$75.7
-48.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Fairfield, CA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.65€42.35
$123$123
-59.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.47€15.76
$75.6$75.6
-75.57%
Cinema Ticket
$9.20€7.84
$14.16$14.16
-35.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Fairfield, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$624€533
$1,877$1,877
-66.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9K€13.6K
$20.4K$20.4K
-21.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Fairfield, CA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€87.2
$57.9$57.9
76.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.88€34.87
$42.66$42.66
-4.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.7€81.6
$85.8$85.8
11.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121€103
$109$109
10.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Fairfield, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,653€1,410
$2,477$2,477
-33.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,233€1,051
$2,416$2,416
-48.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,043€2,596
$3,353$3,353
-9.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,059€1,756
$3,661$3,661
-43.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,879€6,720
$3,676$3,676
114.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,303€3,671
$3,743$3,743
14.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Fairfield, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,566€1,336
$4,739$4,739
-66.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
6.52
-41.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 21, 2026
Last update for Fairfield, CA: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,653 in Lisbon and $2,477 in Fairfield, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Fairfield, CA pays 203% 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: $63 in Lisbon vs $81 in Fairfield, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $270 vs $446 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 Fairfield, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Fairfield, CA?
Lisbon wins on cost – living expenses run 77% lower than in Fairfield, CA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lisbon the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lisbon or Fairfield, CA?
On paper, Fairfield, CA earns 203% less. 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 vs Fairfield, CA?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,653 in Lisbon versus $2,477 in Fairfield, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Lisbon compared to Fairfield, CA?
All in, you'll spend $2,243 per month in Lisbon versus $3,962 in Fairfield, CA – a 77% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Lisbon vs Fairfield, CA?
A monthly transit pass in Lisbon runs roughly 87% less than in Fairfield, CA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Lisbon or Fairfield, CA?
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.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Fairfield, CA?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lisbon delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,243 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lisbon hard to pass up.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Fairfield, CA?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Fairfield, CA 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 Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 77% less than in Fairfield, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.