😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,243 in Lisbon versus $1,998 in Gisborne.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $2,928 in Gisborne.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,387 in Lisbon versus $3,857 in Gisborne.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 12% more expensive than Gisborne, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon67% above, Gisborne49% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Gisborne
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.73€13.42
$15.32NZ$25.88
2.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.2€53.9
$79.1NZ$134
-20.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€8.80
$9.45NZ$15.97
9.21%
Cappuccino
$2.81€2.40
$3.38NZ$5.72
-16.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33€1.99
$2.35NZ$3.97
-0.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51€1.29
$2.10NZ$3.54
-28.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.37€2.87
$7.43NZ$12.56
-54.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.34
$6.43NZ$10.87
-39.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Gisborne
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.92
$1.88NZ$3.18
-42.55%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.49
$1.93NZ$3.26
-9.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75€1.50
$1.87NZ$3.16
-6.42%
Eggs
$3.10€2.64
$6.22NZ$10.51
-50.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.28€11.33
$8.24NZ$13.92
61.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.85€6.70
$9.41NZ$15.91
-16.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.05€13.69
$12.98NZ$21.94
23.65%
Apples(1kg)
$2.39€2.04
$2.81NZ$4.75
-14.95%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.47
$2.28NZ$3.85
-24.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97€1.68
$2.97NZ$5.03
-33.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.17
$4.49NZ$7.59
-43.21%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
$2.07NZ$3.49
-13.53%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97€1.68
$1.94NZ$3.28
1.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.96€1.67
$2.17NZ$3.67
-9.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.71
$1.11NZ$1.87
-24.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.82€5.82
$23.80NZ$40.23
-71.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.85€4.99
$8.46NZ$14.30
-30.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.18
$2.61NZ$4.42
-47.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92€2.49
$3.70NZ$6.26
-21.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Gisborne
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.29€1.95
$2.10NZ$3.55
9.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.88€39.99
$64.9NZ$110
-27.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.12€3.51
$2.66NZ$4.50
54.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.69
$1.85NZ$3.13
-56.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.94€16.16
$35.00NZ$59.2
-45.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09€1.78
$1.68NZ$2.83
24.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K€30.0K
$27.8KNZ$47.0K
26.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7K€33.9K
$22.5KNZ$38.1K
76.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Gisborne
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150€128
$144NZ$243
4.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.49€17.48
$36.23NZ$61.2
-43.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.15€33.40
$51.8NZ$87.5
-24.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Gisborne
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.65€42.35
$36.96NZ$62.5
34.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.47€15.76
$12.26NZ$20.72
50.65%
Cinema Ticket
$9.20€7.84
$10.91NZ$18.44
-15.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Gisborne
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$624€533
$724NZ$1,224
-13.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9K€13.6K
$12.0KNZ$20.2K
32.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Gisborne
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€87.2
$67.8NZ$115
50.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.88€34.87
$37.04NZ$62.6
10.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.7€81.6
$95.0NZ$161
0.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121€103
$117NZ$197
3.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Gisborne
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,653€1,410
$954NZ$1,613
73.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,233€1,051
$860NZ$1,454
43.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,043€2,596
$1,425NZ$2,408
113.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,059€1,756
$1,335NZ$2,256
54.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,879€6,720
$4,373NZ$7,391
80.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,303€3,671
$3,442NZ$5,817
25.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Gisborne
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,566€1,336
$4,434NZ$7,494
-64.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
6.74
-43.47%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 21, 2026
Last update for Gisborne: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,653 in Lisbon and $954 in Gisborne. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Gisborne pays 183% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $63 in Lisbon vs $79 in Gisborne for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $270 vs $313 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 Gisborne: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gisborne cheaper than Lisbon?
Gisborne is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or Gisborne?
On paper, Gisborne earns 183% less. 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 Gisborne?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,653 in Lisbon versus $954 in Gisborne. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Lisbon vs Gisborne?
All in, you'll spend $2,243 per month in Lisbon versus $1,998 in Gisborne – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Gisborne runs roughly 38% less than in Lisbon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Lisbon or Gisborne?
At $1,998 in Gisborne versus $2,243 in Lisbon, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Gisborne but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Gisborne the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisbon or Gisborne more family-friendly?
For families, Gisborne is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lisbon, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Gisborne?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Gisborne 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 Gisborne gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.