Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Freiburg im Breisgau Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Freiburg im Breisgau

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,227 per month in Lisbon vs $2,233 in Freiburg im Breisgau, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,305 per month in Lisbon vs $3,438 in Freiburg im Breisgau, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,384 per month in Lisbon vs $4,644 in Freiburg im Breisgau, rent included.

Lisbon and Freiburg im Breisgau have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Lisbon and Freiburg im Breisgau sit above the global median – Lisbon by 66%, Freiburg im Breisgau by 67%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.17 €13.84

$17.60 €15.06

-8.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.6 €55.3

$68.1 €58.3

-5.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.38 €8.88

$12.70 €10.87

-18.27%

Cappuccino

$2.77 €2.37

$3.82 €3.27

-27.49%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 €1.92

$3.61 €3.09

-37.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 €1.35

$3.36 €2.88

-53.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.49 €2.99

$5.80 €4.97

-39.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.00 €3.43

$4.73 €4.05

-15.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 €0.93

$1.30 €1.11

-16.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.74 €1.49

$2.35 €2.01

-25.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.74 €1.49

$3.23 €2.76

-46.13%

Eggs

$3.18 €2.72

$3.74 €3.20

-14.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.43 €11.50

$14.56 €12.47

-7.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.99 €6.84

$15.04 €12.88

-46.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.09 €13.77

$22.33 €19.11

-27.94%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 €1.95

$3.25 €2.79

-29.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 €1.48

$1.74 €1.49

-1.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 €1.66

$2.33 €2.00

-16.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.54 €2.18

$4.98 €4.26

-49.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.83 €1.57

$1.58 €1.35

15.82%

Onion (1kg)

$2.04 €1.75

$1.75 €1.50

16.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 €1.69

$2.09 €1.79

-5.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 €0.73

$1.17 €1.01

-27.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.85 €5.87

$9.33 €7.99

-26.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.78 €4.94

$6.87 €5.88

-15.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 €1.18

$1.08 €0.92

26.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 €2.48

$1.66 €1.42

74.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.28 €1.95

$3.03 €2.59

-24.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.84 €40.10

$67.9 €58.1

-30.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.08 €3.49

$4.49 €3.84

-9.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 €0.70

$2.97 €2.55

-72.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.27 €15.64

$45.71 €39.12

-60.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.01 €1.72

$2.06 €1.76

-2.43%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.3K €30.2K

$31.3K €26.8K

12.64%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$38.5K €32.9K

$40.3K €34.5K

-4.49%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$145 €124

$306 €262

-52.43%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$20.96 €17.94

$27.92 €23.90

-24.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.05 €34.29

$54.6 €46.70

-26.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.79 €41.76

$44.10 €37.75

10.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.69 €16.00

$14.49 €12.41

28.99%

Cinema Ticket

$9.06 €7.76

$15.56 €13.32

-41.77%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$607 €519

$484 €414

25.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.3K €14.0K

$4,976 €4,260

228.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €89.6

$102 €87.3

2.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.95 €35.06

$35.99 €30.80

13.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.6 €80.1

$103 €88.2

-9.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 €101

$150 €128

-20.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,604 €1,373

$1,169 €1,001

37.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,236 €1,058

$848 €726

45.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,046 €2,607

$1,896 €1,623

60.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,057 €1,761

$1,717 €1,470

19.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,709 €6,599

$7,874 €6,740

-2.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,266 €3,652

$5,031 €4,306

-15.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,584 €1,356

$3,560 €3,047

-55.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.81

3.97

-4.03%

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

Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026

Last update for Freiburg im Breisgau: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,604 in Lisbon versus $1,169 in Freiburg im Breisgau. 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 125% higher in Freiburg im Breisgau. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Lisbon versus $68.0 in Freiburg im Breisgau. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $271 vs $364 – making Lisbon the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Freiburg im Breisgau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,341 per month in Lisbon and $3,350 in Freiburg im Breisgau. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Groceries cost about 35% more in Freiburg im Breisgau, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

Kindergarten costs $607 per month in Lisbon and $484 in Freiburg im Breisgau. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Lisbon, where all-in costs run around $2,227, than in Freiburg im Breisgau at $2,233. In Lisbon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Freiburg im Breisgau it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Lisbon. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Freiburg im Breisgau makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.