🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,316 in Lisbon versus $2,321 in Hamilton.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,361 in Lisbon versus $3,399 in Hamilton.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,405 in Lisbon versus $4,477 in Hamilton.
🌍Monthly costs are close between Lisbon and Hamilton; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon69% above, Hamilton69% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Hamilton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.30€14.92
$18.38CA$25.54
-5.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€54.6
$68.1CA$94.7
-7.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.39€9.83
$12.51CA$17.38
-8.95%
Cappuccino
$3.19€2.75
$3.56CA$4.94
-10.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45€2.11
$2.20CA$3.06
11.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.52
$1.74CA$2.42
1.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.59€3.10
$5.18CA$7.20
-30.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39€2.93
$6.50CA$9.04
-47.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Hamilton
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.07
$2.05CA$2.85
-39.51%
White Bread(500g)
$1.98€1.71
$2.22CA$3.09
-10.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.52€1.31
$2.84CA$3.94
-46.48%
Eggs
$4.04€3.49
$3.44CA$4.78
17.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.54€11.68
$7.57CA$10.52
78.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.39€7.23
$10.40CA$14.46
-19.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.25€15.74
$14.04CA$19.52
29.99%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.97
$3.91CA$5.44
-41.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74€1.50
$1.28CA$1.78
35.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86€1.60
$4.27CA$5.93
-56.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.63€2.27
$3.92CA$5.45
-32.91%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$2.64CA$3.66
-27.27%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09€1.81
$1.75CA$2.43
19.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.24
$2.34CA$3.26
-38.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$1.46CA$2.03
-42.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.85
$14.22CA$19.76
-52.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.71€4.93
$13.06CA$18.15
-56.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.19
$2.38CA$3.31
-42.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22€1.91
$4.19CA$5.82
-47.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Hamilton
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.40€2.07
$2.74CA$3.81
-12.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.78€40.35
$87.7CA$122
-46.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.17€3.60
$3.50CA$4.86
19.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.98
$1.33CA$1.85
-14.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.68€15.25
$23.47CA$32.62
-24.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.32€2.00
$1.19CA$1.65
94.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.5K
$28.9KCA$40.2K
22.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€35.7K
$20.1KCA$27.9K
106.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Hamilton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170€147
$151CA$209
13.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.34€16.68
$40.12CA$55.8
-51.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.64€29.01
$51.2CA$71.1
-34.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Hamilton
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.10€41.48
$37.62CA$52.3
27.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.90€17.16
$21.56CA$29.96
-7.70%
Cinema Ticket
$9.92€8.56
$10.27CA$14.27
-3.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Hamilton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$717€619
$615CA$855
16.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.5K€15.1K
$16.6KCA$23.1K
5.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Hamilton
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.4
$50.2CA$69.8
108.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.95€40.49
$34.50CA$47.94
36.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.2
$91.9CA$128
12.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€107
$121CA$168
2.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Hamilton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,677€1,446
$1,320CA$1,834
27.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,271€1,096
$1,211CA$1,683
4.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,985€2,574
$2,063CA$2,867
44.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,992€1,718
$1,928CA$2,680
3.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,826€6,750
$2,814CA$3,910
178.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,658€4,017
$2,808CA$3,902
65.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Hamilton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,583€1,365
$2,912CA$4,047
-45.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.79
4.6
-17.61%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Last update for Hamilton: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,677 in Lisbon and $1,320 in Hamilton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Hamilton pays 84% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $68.0 in Hamilton for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $283 vs $333 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 Hamilton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or Hamilton?
On paper, salaries run 84% lower in Hamilton. 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 Hamilton?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,677 in Lisbon versus $1,320 in Hamilton. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Lisbon runs roughly 87% less than in Hamilton. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do food prices compare in Lisbon and in Hamilton?
Supermarket bills run roughly 18% higher in Hamilton. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Lisbon or in Hamilton?
At $2,316 in Lisbon versus $2,321 in Hamilton, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Hamilton. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisbon or Hamilton more family-friendly?
For families, Lisbon is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Hamilton, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Hamilton?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Hamilton 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 the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Lisbon wins on affordability, Hamilton on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.