Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Gulbene

For one person, living is cheaper in Gulbene: $1,289 a month against $2,202 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $11,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,202
/mo nomad
Gulbene
🇱🇻 Latvia
$1,289
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Gulbene

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

A single person spends $2,202 per month in Lisbon vs $1,289 in Gulbene, rent included.

  • Lisbon $2,202
  • Gulbene $1,289

A couple spends around $3,274 per month in Lisbon vs $1,973 in Gulbene, rent included.

  • Lisbon $3,274
  • Gulbene $1,973

A family of three spends $4,346 per month in Lisbon vs $2,657 in Gulbene, rent included.

  • Lisbon $4,346
  • Gulbene $2,657

Lisbon costs about 71% more than Gulbene, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Lisbon sits 62% above the global median, while Gulbene is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Gulbene
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.04 €15.15
$16.73 €14.88
1.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.3 €55.4
$68.5 €60.9
-9.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.02 €9.80
$9.45 €8.41
16.61%
Cappuccino
$3.12 €2.78
$3.82 €3.40
-18.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 €2.02
$1.59 €1.41
42.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.55
$1.20 €1.07
45.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.42 €3.04
$5.57 €4.95
-38.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74 €3.33
$5.18 €4.61
-27.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Gulbene
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 €1.04
$1.19 €1.06
-1.68%
White Bread (500g)
$1.86 €1.66
$1.50 €1.33
24.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.54 €1.37
$2.54 €2.26
-39.37%
Eggs
$4.06 €3.61
$3.72 €3.30
9.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.91 €11.49
$10.70 €9.52
20.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.90 €7.03
$8.74 €7.77
-9.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.64 €15.69
$13.98 €12.43
26.18%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 €2.01
$2.09 €1.86
8.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.55
$1.77 €1.57
-1.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 €1.68
$2.56 €2.27
-26.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.56 €2.27
$3.25 €2.89
-21.23%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 €1.64
$0.88 €0.79
110.23%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 €1.75
$0.95 €0.84
107.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 €1.29
$1.77 €1.57
-18.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 €0.69
$0.98 €0.87
-21.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.71 €5.97
$6.53 €5.81
2.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.67 €5.04
$8.02 €7.14
-29.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.22
$2.01 €1.79
-31.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 €1.88
$2.02 €1.79
4.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Gulbene
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.32 €2.07
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.43 €39.52
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.95 €3.51
$3.41 €3.03
15.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.05 €0.93
$0.99 €0.88
6.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.15 €15.26
$17.96 €15.97
-4.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.19 €1.95
$2.12 €1.89
3.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.8K €30.0K
$27.3K €24.3K
23.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.3K €34.0K
$29.7K €26.4K
28.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Gulbene
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$164 €146
$368 €328
-55.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.48 €16.43
$19.94 €17.74
-7.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.96 €29.32
$19.84 €17.65
66.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Gulbene
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.87 €40.80
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.68 €16.61
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.75 €8.67
$11.06 €9.83
-11.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Gulbene
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$684 €608
$674 €599
1.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.6K €15.7K
$18.4K €16.4K
-4.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Gulbene
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 €92.3
$70.2 €62.4
47.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.20 €41.09
$51.0 €45.33
-9.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.7 €88.7
$86.2 €76.7
15.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 €111
$136 €121
-8.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Gulbene
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,589 €1,414
$190 €169
736.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,169 €1,040
$168 €149
596.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,851 €2,536
$352 €313
710.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,993 €1,773
$332 €295
500.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,793 €6,932
$681 €605
1044.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,418 €3,930
$568 €505
677.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Gulbene
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,600 €1,423
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
4.77
-19.29%

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

Last update for Lisbon: October 19, 2026

Last update for Gulbene: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Gulbene
$168 85.6% $1K
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$273
Gulbene
$271 0.9% $2.5
Eating Out
Lisbon
$247
Gulbene
$257 4% $9.9
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$215
Gulbene
$408 89.7% $193
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$168
Gulbene
$155 8.2% $14
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$65
Gulbene
$22 * 66.2% $43
Getting Around
Lisbon
$63
Gulbene
$8.3 * 86.7% $55

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,589 in Lisbon versus $190 in Gulbene. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $62.0 in Lisbon versus $69.0 in Gulbene. Groceries tell a different story – $273 in Lisbon vs $271 in Gulbene – so Gulbene wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇱🇻 Gulbene
🕒 Local time
22:54 10:54 PM
00:54 12:54 AM
2 h ahead of Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
7,500
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
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).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Gulbene 3,310 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Gulbene

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 Gulbene: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Lisbon and in Gulbene compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,202 in Lisbon, $1,289 in Gulbene – roughly 71% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Gulbene?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,302 per month in Lisbon and $1,934 in Gulbene. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Lisbon and Gulbene?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Gulbene, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Gulbene?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,202 in Lisbon and $1,289 in Gulbene. That's a gap of about 71%.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lisbon and Gulbene?
Kindergarten costs $684 per month in Lisbon and $674 in Gulbene. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Gulbene, where all-in costs run around $1,289, than in Lisbon at $2,202. In Gulbene it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Gulbene?
It depends on your priorities. Lisbon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,289 in Gulbene to $2,202 in Lisbon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Lisbon or Gulbene safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Lisbon and Gulbene?
If budget matters most, go with Gulbene. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lisbon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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