🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $2,524 in Harlingen, TX.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $3,740 in Harlingen, TX.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $4,956 in Harlingen, TX.
🙂Living in Lisbon costs roughly 12% less than in Harlingen, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon66% above, Harlingen, TX88% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Harlingen, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.84
$18.67$18.67
-13.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.3
$74.4$74.4
-13.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.88
$10.79$10.79
-3.80%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.37
$5.01$5.01
-44.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$2.49$2.49
-9.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$1.96$1.96
-19.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€2.99
$5.95$5.95
-41.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.43
$6.94$6.94
-42.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Harlingen, TX
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.00$1.00
8.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.49
$3.49$3.49
-50.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.49
$4.46$4.46
-60.99%
Eggs
$3.18€2.72
$4.30$4.30
-26.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43€11.50
$12.23$12.23
9.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.84
$11.63$11.63
-31.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€13.77
$15.72$15.72
2.35%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
$5.04$5.04
-54.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$1.62$1.62
6.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$4.14$4.14
-53.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
$4.78$4.78
-46.86%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$2.78$2.78
-34.17%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$2.77$2.77
-26.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98€1.69
$2.11$2.11
-6.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$2.20$2.20
-61.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.87
$9.87$9.87
-30.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€4.94
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$1.78$1.78
-23.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
$3.34$3.34
-13.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Harlingen, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.95
$1.96$1.96
16.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€40.10
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.49
$3.45$3.45
18.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$1.58$1.58
-48.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27€15.64
$29.54$29.54
-38.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.72
$0.90$0.90
123.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.2K
$29.3K$29.3K
20.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
$25.8K$25.8K
48.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Harlingen, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145€124
$187$187
-22.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96€17.94
$53.1$53.1
-60.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05€34.29
$69.0$69.0
-41.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Harlingen, TX
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79€41.76
$43.77$43.77
11.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€16.00
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.06€7.76
$13.30$13.30
-31.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Harlingen, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607€519
$1,280$1,280
-52.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$23.4K$23.4K
-30.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Harlingen, TX
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.6
$51.4$51.4
103.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€35.06
$39.94$39.94
2.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€80.1
$87.9$87.9
6.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€101
$111$111
7.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Harlingen, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,373
$1,615$1,615
-0.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,058
$1,369$1,369
-9.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046€2,607
$2,652$2,652
14.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057€1,761
$2,199$2,199
-6.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709€6,599
$1,884$1,884
309.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,652
$1,859$1,859
129.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Harlingen, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584€1,356
$4,111$4,111
-61.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
6.51
-41.47%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Last update for Harlingen, TX: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $1,615 in Harlingen, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Harlingen, TX pays 160% 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: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $74.0 in Harlingen, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $362 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 Harlingen, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Harlingen, TX?
Lisbon wins on cost – living expenses run 13% lower than in Harlingen, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lisbon the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lisbon or Harlingen, TX?
On paper, Harlingen, TX earns 160% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lisbon vs Harlingen, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $1,615 in Harlingen, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Lisbon and Harlingen, TX?
Childcare runs $607 in Lisbon versus $1,280 in Harlingen, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Lisbon vs Harlingen, TX?
Dining out is cheaper in Lisbon – a meal for two runs $65.0 versus $74.0 in Harlingen, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Lisbon or Harlingen, TX?
At $2,227 in Lisbon versus $2,524 in Harlingen, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Harlingen, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Harlingen, TX?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lisbon delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,227 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lisbon hard to pass up.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Harlingen, TX?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Harlingen, TX 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Harlingen, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.