🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,316 in Lisbon versus $2,532 in Fort William.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,361 in Lisbon versus $3,652 in Fort William.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,405 in Lisbon versus $4,772 in Fort William.
🌍Living in Lisbon costs roughly 9% less than in Fort William, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon69% above, Fort William84% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Fort William
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.30€14.89
$20.55£15.20
-15.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€54.5
$89.0£65.9
-28.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.39€9.81
$10.78£7.98
5.66%
Cappuccino
$3.19€2.75
$4.71£3.48
-32.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45€2.11
$2.65£1.96
-7.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.52
$2.03£1.50
-13.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.59€3.09
$6.75£5.00
-46.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39€2.92
$6.89£5.10
-50.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Fort William
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.06
$1.53£1.13
-18.95%
White Bread(500g)
$1.98€1.71
$1.86£1.38
6.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.52€1.31
$1.90£1.41
-20.00%
Eggs
$4.04€3.48
$3.65£2.70
10.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.54€11.65
$8.84£6.54
53.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.39€7.22
$10.68£7.90
-21.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.25€15.71
$15.67£11.59
16.46%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.97
$3.02£2.23
-24.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74€1.50
$1.40£1.04
24.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86€1.60
$2.11£1.56
-11.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.63€2.26
$3.91£2.89
-32.74%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$1.17£0.87
64.10%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09€1.80
$1.40£1.03
49.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.24
$1.30£0.97
10.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.72
$1.65£1.22
-49.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.84
$21.48£15.89
-68.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.71€4.92
$11.25£8.32
-49.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.18
$2.72£2.02
-49.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22€1.91
$3.15£2.33
-29.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Fort William
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.40€2.07
$3.65£2.70
-34.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.78€40.27
$94.8£70.2
-50.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.17€3.59
$4.17£3.08
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.98
$2.46£1.82
-53.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.68€15.22
$24.18£17.89
-26.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.32€2.00
$2.07£1.53
12.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.4K
$38.7K£28.6K
-8.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€35.7K
$41.3K£30.6K
0.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Fort William
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170€147
$390£288
-56.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.34€16.65
$29.91£22.13
-35.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.64€28.96
$45.10£33.36
-25.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Fort William
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.10€41.40
$47.61£35.22
1.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.90€17.13
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.92€8.54
$11.79£8.72
-15.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Fort William
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$717€617
$1,803£1,334
-60.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.5K€15.0K
$24.1K£17.8K
-27.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Fort William
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.2
$100£74.2
4.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.95€40.41
$49.08£36.31
-4.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.0
$106£78.3
-2.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€107
$118£87.5
4.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Fort William
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,677€1,443
$1,256£929
33.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,271€1,094
$1,036£766
22.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,985€2,569
$2,141£1,584
39.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,992€1,715
$1,705£1,262
16.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,826€6,737
$5,275£3,903
48.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,658€4,010
$3,675£2,719
26.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Fort William
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,583€1,362
$2,062£1,525
-23.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.79
5.11
-25.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Last update for Fort William: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,677 in Lisbon and $1,256 in Fort William. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Fort William pays 30% 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 $89.0 in Fort William for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $283 vs $308 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 Fort William: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fort William cheaper than Lisbon?
Lisbon is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or Fort William?
On paper, salaries run 30% lower in Fort William. 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 Fort William?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,677 in Lisbon versus $1,256 in Fort William. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Lisbon and in Fort William?
Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Fort William. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Lisbon or in Fort William?
Dining out is cheaper in Lisbon – a meal for two runs $63.0 versus $89.0 in Fort William. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Lisbon or in Fort William?
At $2,316 in Lisbon versus $2,532 in Fort William, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Fort William. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisbon or Fort William more family-friendly?
For families, Lisbon is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Fort William, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Fort William?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Fort William 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 9% less than in Fort William. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.