Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Florence, SC Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Florence, SC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $2,616 in Florence, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $3,755 in Florence, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $4,894 in Florence, SC.

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 13% less than in Florence, SC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 68% above, Florence, SC 95% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Florence, SC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94 €13.73
$15.15 $15.15
5.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4 €54.6
$65.1 $65.1
-2.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 €8.95
$10.79 $10.79
-3.80%
Cappuccino
$2.79 €2.40
$5.16 $5.16
-45.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 €2.01
$2.38 $2.38
-1.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 €1.35
$2.04 $2.04
-23.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.43 €2.95
$4.07 $4.07
-15.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 €3.37
$5.88 $5.88
-33.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Florence, SC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.93
$0.99 $0.99
9.09%
White Bread (500g)
$1.77 €1.52
$3.28 $3.28
-46.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 €1.47
$4.47 $4.47
-61.74%
Eggs
$3.15 €2.71
$5.69 $5.69
-44.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.68 €11.79
$8.89 $8.89
53.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.01 €6.90
$19.06 $19.06
-57.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.52 €13.37
$22.78 $22.78
-31.87%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 €1.98
$4.36 $4.36
-47.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 €1.41
$1.33 $1.33
23.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 €1.67
$4.49 $4.49
-56.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.51 €2.17
$4.34 $4.34
-42.17%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 €1.54
$2.25 $2.25
-20.44%
Onion (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$4.39 $4.39
-54.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 €1.69
$1.97 $1.97
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 €0.73
$1.98 $1.98
-57.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79 €5.85
$6.57 $6.57
3.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.67 €4.89
$16.03 $16.03
-64.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 €1.20
$1.75 $1.75
-20.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 €2.60
$2.94 $2.94
2.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Florence, SC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.27 €1.95
$2.02 $2.02
12.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.44 €39.15
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.70
$4.07 $4.07
5.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 €0.73
$2.34 $2.34
-63.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.28 €15.75
$29.04 $29.04
-37.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.99 €1.71
$0.80 $0.80
148.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K €30.2K
$28.5K $28.5K
22.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K €34.1K
$24.4K $24.4K
62.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Florence, SC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$146 €126
$183 $183
-20.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45 €17.62
$54.6 $54.6
-62.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98 €33.58
$70.4 $70.4
-44.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Florence, SC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.98 €42.21
$42.81 $42.81
14.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83 €16.22
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.52 €8.21
$11.80 $11.80
-19.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Florence, SC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$608 €524
$1,429 $1,429
-57.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K €14.2K
$23.7K $23.7K
-30.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Florence, SC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 €89.5
$39.45 $39.45
163.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12 €36.29
$30.21 $30.21
39.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.2 €79.5
$103 $103
-10.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$113 $113
6.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Florence, SC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,621 €1,397
$756 $756
114.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,268 €1,092
$1,344 $1,344
-5.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,048 €2,626
$3,924 $3,924
-22.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,009 €1,731
$2,240 $2,240
-10.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,663 €6,602
$1,559 $1,559
391.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,329 €3,730
$1,573 $1,573
175.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Florence, SC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,585 €1,366
$3,087 $3,087
-48.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
6.45
-40.93%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026

Last update for Florence, SC: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $756 in Florence, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Florence, SC pays 95% 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: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $65.0 in Florence, SC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $437 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 Florence, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Florence, SC?
Lisbon wins on cost – living expenses run 16% lower than in Florence, SC. 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 Florence, SC?
On paper, Florence, SC earns 95% 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 Florence, SC?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $756 in Florence, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Lisbon and Florence, SC?
Childcare runs $608 in Lisbon versus $1,429 in Florence, SC. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Lisbon vs Florence, SC?
Dining out is cheaper in Lisbon – a meal for two runs $63.0 versus $65.0 in Florence, SC. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Lisbon or Florence, SC?
At $2,263 in Lisbon versus $2,616 in Florence, SC, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Florence, SC. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Florence, SC?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lisbon delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,263 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 Florence, SC?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Florence, SC 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 16% less than in Florence, SC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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