Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and GuelphCost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Guelph
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,258 in Lisbon versus $2,651 in Guelph.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,328 in Lisbon versus $3,658 in Guelph.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,397 in Lisbon versus $4,666 in Guelph.
🙂Living in Lisbon costs roughly 15% less than in Guelph, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon68% above, Guelph97% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Guelph
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.82€13.46
$20.52CA$28.11
-22.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.4€54.8
$72.9CA$99.9
-11.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.37€8.82
$11.81CA$16.17
-12.19%
Cappuccino
$2.89€2.46
$3.65CA$5.00
-20.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23€1.90
$1.86CA$2.55
19.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55€1.32
$1.79CA$2.46
-13.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.38€2.88
$5.09CA$6.97
-33.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90€3.32
$5.73CA$7.85
-31.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Guelph
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.12€0.96
$2.08CA$2.85
-46.15%
White Bread(500g)
$1.80€1.53
$2.59CA$3.54
-30.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75€1.49
$3.25CA$4.46
-46.15%
Eggs
$3.17€2.70
$3.17CA$4.34
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.50€11.49
$8.73CA$11.95
54.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.79€6.63
$8.60CA$11.79
-9.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.65€13.32
$25.69CA$35.20
-39.08%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.94
$4.13CA$5.66
-44.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.46
$0.92CA$1.25
85.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93€1.65
$3.28CA$4.50
-41.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.52€2.15
$2.19CA$3.00
15.07%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.52
$2.97CA$4.06
-39.73%
Onion(1kg)
$2.05€1.74
$2.63CA$3.60
-22.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.94€1.65
$2.43CA$3.33
-20.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81€0.69
$1.44CA$1.98
-43.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.65€5.66
$11.19CA$15.33
-40.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.79€4.92
$11.19CA$15.32
-48.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.14
$2.66CA$3.64
-50.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91€2.47
$2.77CA$3.80
5.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Guelph
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.35€2.00
$2.36CA$3.24
-0.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.70€38.89
$61.9CA$84.8
-26.15%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.20€3.58
$2.35CA$3.22
78.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.69
$1.68CA$2.30
-51.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.70€15.91
$33.47CA$45.85
-44.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09€1.78
$1.13CA$1.55
84.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6K€29.5K
$25.0KCA$34.3K
38.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7K€33.7K
$21.5KCA$29.4K
84.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Guelph
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146€124
$131CA$180
11.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.84€17.73
$54.3CA$74.3
-61.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.78€33.85
$62.2CA$85.2
-36.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Guelph
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.58€41.35
$54.3CA$74.4
-10.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.85€16.04
$18.60CA$25.49
1.34%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07€7.72
$11.03CA$15.11
-17.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Guelph
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$618€526
$933CA$1,278
-33.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.2K€13.8K
$11.0KCA$15.1K
46.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Guelph
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.0
$62.0CA$85.0
68.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.54€34.50
$39.19CA$53.7
3.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.8€79.8
$85.4CA$117
9.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123€104
$125CA$171
-1.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Guelph
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,365
$1,473CA$2,018
8.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,260€1,073
$1,467CA$2,009
-14.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,065€2,608
$2,115CA$2,898
44.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,008€1,709
$2,000CA$2,739
0.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,702€6,555
$4,855CA$6,651
58.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,367€3,716
$5,029CA$6,890
-13.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Guelph
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,638€1,394
$3,330CA$4,562
-50.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
6.55
-41.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 13, 2026
Last update for Guelph: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $1,473 in Guelph. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Guelph pays 103% 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: $64 in Lisbon vs $73 in Guelph for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $351 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 Guelph: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Guelph cheaper than Lisbon?
Lisbon is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or Guelph?
On paper, Guelph earns 103% 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 Guelph?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $1,473 in Guelph. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Lisbon and Guelph?
Supermarket bills run roughly 31% higher in Guelph. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Lisbon or Guelph?
Dining out is cheaper in Lisbon – a meal for two runs $64.0 versus $73.0 in Guelph. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for Lisbon or Guelph?
At $2,258 in Lisbon versus $2,651 in Guelph, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Guelph. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisbon or Guelph more family-friendly?
For families, Lisbon is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Guelph, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Guelph?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Guelph 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 17% less than in Guelph. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.