Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Germantown, MD

For one person, living is cheaper in Lisbon: $2,202 a month against $3,140 in Germantown, MD, rent and utilities included – about $11,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,202
/mo nomad
Germantown, MD
🇺🇸 United States
$3,140
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Germantown, MD

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 Germantown, MD actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,202 per month in Lisbon vs $3,140 in Germantown, MD, rent included.

  • Lisbon $2,202
  • Germantown, MD $3,140

A couple spends around $3,274 per month in Lisbon vs $4,618 in Germantown, MD, rent included.

  • Lisbon $3,274
  • Germantown, MD $4,618

A family of three spends $4,346 per month in Lisbon vs $6,097 in Germantown, MD, rent included.

  • Lisbon $4,346
  • Germantown, MD $6,097

Lisbon is about 30% cheaper than Germantown, MD, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Lisbon and Germantown, MD sit above the global median – Lisbon by 62%, Germantown, MD by 132%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Germantown, MD
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.04 €15.15
$16.28 $16.28
4.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.3 €55.4
$79.3 $79.3
-21.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.02 €9.80
$11.72 $11.72
-5.97%
Cappuccino
$3.12 €2.78
$5.23 $5.23
-40.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 €2.02
$3.09 $3.09
-26.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.55
$1.96 $1.96
-11.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.42 €3.04
$5.96 $5.96
-42.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74 €3.33
$6.95 $6.95
-46.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Germantown, MD
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 €1.04
$0.76 $0.76
53.95%
White Bread (500g)
$1.86 €1.66
$3.28 $3.28
-43.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.54 €1.37
$6.71 $6.71
-77.05%
Eggs
$4.06 €3.61
$3.07 $3.07
32.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.91 €11.49
$12.18 $12.18
5.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.90 €7.03
$9.94 $9.94
-20.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.64 €15.69
$16.83 $16.83
4.81%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 €2.01
$5.62 $5.62
-59.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.55
$1.53 $1.53
14.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 €1.68
$5.07 $5.07
-62.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.56 €2.27
$5.13 $5.13
-50.10%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 €1.64
$2.27 $2.27
-18.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 €1.75
$3.05 $3.05
-35.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 €1.29
$1.95 $1.95
-25.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 €0.69
$1.97 $1.97
-60.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.71 €5.97
$9.13 $9.13
-26.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.67 €5.04
$14.71 $14.71
-61.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.22
$2.39 $2.39
-42.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 €1.88
$3.05 $3.05
-30.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Germantown, MD
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.32 €2.07
$2.57 $2.57
-9.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.43 €39.52
$87.0 $87.0
-48.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.95 €3.51
$2.63 $2.63
50.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.05 €0.93
$1.58 $1.58
-33.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.15 €15.26
$22.31 $22.31
-23.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.19 €1.95
$0.92 $0.92
138.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.8K €30.0K
$31.6K $31.6K
6.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.3K €34.0K
$23.6K $23.6K
62.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Germantown, MD
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$164 €146
$213 $213
-23.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.48 €16.43
$50.9 $50.9
-63.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.96 €29.32
$64.6 $64.6
-49.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Germantown, MD
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.87 €40.80
$24.88 $24.88
84.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.68 €16.61
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.75 €8.67
$15.35 $15.35
-36.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Germantown, MD
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$684 €608
$1,351 $1,351
-49.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.6K €15.7K
$42.8K $42.8K
-58.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Germantown, MD
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 €92.3
$45.27 $45.27
129.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.20 €41.09
$39.48 $39.48
17.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.7 €88.7
$90.2 $90.2
10.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 €111
$140 $140
-10.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Germantown, MD
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,589 €1,414
$2,210 $2,210
-28.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,169 €1,040
$1,823 $1,823
-35.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,851 €2,536
$3,997 $3,997
-28.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,993 €1,773
$3,203 $3,203
-37.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,793 €6,932
$5,922 $5,922
31.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,418 €3,930
$2,380 $2,380
85.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Germantown, MD
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,600 €1,423
$5,237 $5,237
-69.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
6.62
-41.84%

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

Last update for Lisbon: October 19, 2026

Last update for Germantown, MD: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Germantown, MD
$1.8K 55.9% $654
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$273
Germantown, MD
$391 43.3% $118
Eating Out
Lisbon
$247
Germantown, MD
$292 18% $45
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$215
Germantown, MD
$328 52.6% $113
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$168
Germantown, MD
$142 15.9% $27
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$65
Germantown, MD
$56 15% $9.8
Getting Around
Lisbon
$63
Germantown, MD
$108 71.4% $45

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,589 in Lisbon versus $2,210 in Germantown, MD. 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 227% higher in Germantown, MD, 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 $79.0 in Germantown, MD. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $273 vs $391 – making Lisbon the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇺🇸 Germantown, MD
🕒 Local time
20:14 8:14 PM
15:14 3:14 PM
5 h behind Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
86,395
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Germantown, MD 5,740 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Germantown, MD

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 Germantown, MD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Germantown, MD cheaper than Lisbon?
Yes – Germantown, MD is pricier by about 43%, 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 $4,710 in Germantown, MD. 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 Germantown, MD?
Groceries cost about 43% more in Germantown, MD, 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 Germantown, MD?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $62.0 in Lisbon and $79.0 in Germantown, MD. 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 Germantown, MD?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Lisbon, where all-in costs run around $2,202, than in Germantown, MD at $3,140. In Lisbon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Germantown, MD it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Lisbon or Germantown, MD 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 Germantown, MD?
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, Germantown, MD makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Lisbon vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?