Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Hasselt Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Hasselt

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,263 per month in Lisbon vs $2,098 in Hasselt, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,315 per month in Lisbon vs $3,078 in Hasselt, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,368 per month in Lisbon vs $4,058 in Hasselt, rent included.

Lisbon costs about 8% more than Hasselt, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Lisbon and Hasselt sit above the global median – Lisbon by 68%, Hasselt by 56%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Hasselt
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94 €13.82
$22.77 €19.74
-30.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4 €54.9
$92.7 €80.3
-31.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 €9.00
$12.54 €10.87
-17.22%
Cappuccino
$2.79 €2.42
$3.97 €3.44
-29.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 €2.03
$3.32 €2.88
-29.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 €1.36
$3.18 €2.76
-50.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.43 €2.97
$5.10 €4.42
-32.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 €3.39
$4.76 €4.13
-17.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Hasselt
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.93
$1.31 €1.14
-17.56%
White Bread (500g)
$1.77 €1.53
$2.86 €2.48
-38.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 €1.48
$2.63 €2.28
-34.98%
Eggs
$3.15 €2.73
$3.62 €3.14
-12.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.68 €11.86
$17.77 €15.40
-23.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.01 €6.94
$10.08 €8.74
-20.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.52 €13.45
$21.68 €18.79
-28.41%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 €1.99
$2.24 €1.94
2.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 €1.42
$2.24 €1.94
-26.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 €1.68
$2.29 €1.98
-15.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.51 €2.18
$2.35 €2.04
6.81%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 €1.55
$2.37 €2.05
-24.47%
Onion (1kg)
$2.01 €1.74
$1.67 €1.45
20.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 €1.70
$0.89 €0.77
121.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 €0.73
$0.88 €0.76
-4.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79 €5.88
$12.82 €11.11
-47.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.67 €4.92
$9.19 €7.96
-38.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 €1.20
$1.77 €1.54
-21.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 €2.61
$1.95 €1.69
54.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Hasselt
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.27 €1.97
$2.84 €2.46
-20.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.44 €39.38
$34.04 €29.50
33.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.72
$5.71 €4.95
-24.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 €0.74
$2.46 €2.13
-65.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.28 €15.84
$36.90 €31.98
-50.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.99 €1.72
$1.92 €1.67
3.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K €30.4K
$35.7K €30.9K
-1.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K €34.3K
$32.5K €28.2K
21.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Hasselt
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$146 €127
$207 €179
-29.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45 €17.72
$20.85 €18.07
-1.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98 €33.78
$51.5 €44.63
-24.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Hasselt
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.98 €42.46
$28.22 €24.46
73.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83 €16.32
$9.50 €8.23
98.21%
Cinema Ticket
$9.52 €8.25
$14.93 €12.94
-36.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Hasselt
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$608 €527
$652 €565
-6.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K €14.3K
$13.7K €11.8K
20.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Hasselt
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 €90.0
$110 €95.0
-5.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12 €36.50
$48.33 €41.88
-12.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.2 €79.9
$115 €99.9
-20.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €104
$136 €118
-11.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Hasselt
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,621 €1,405
$985 €854
64.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,268 €1,099
$840 €728
50.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,048 €2,642
$1,462 €1,267
108.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,009 €1,741
$1,231 €1,067
63.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,663 €6,641
$4,693 €4,067
63.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,329 €3,752
$2,474 €2,144
74.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Hasselt
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,585 €1,374
$3,179 €2,755
-50.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
3.27
16.51%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026

Last update for Hasselt: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,621 in Lisbon versus $985 in Hasselt. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 101% higher in Hasselt, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Lisbon versus $93.0 in Hasselt. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $269 vs $337 – making Lisbon the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Hasselt: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Lisbon and Hasselt compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon, $2,098 in Hasselt – roughly 8% apart. Lisbon costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Hasselt?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,394 per month in Lisbon and $3,147 in Hasselt. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Lisbon and Hasselt?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Hasselt, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lisbon and Hasselt?
Kindergarten costs $608 per month in Lisbon and $652 in Hasselt. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 25% cheaper in Lisbon – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Hasselt, where all-in costs run around $2,098, than in Lisbon at $2,263. In Hasselt 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 Hasselt?
It depends on your priorities. Lisbon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,098 in Hasselt to $2,263 in Lisbon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Lisbon or Hasselt 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 Hasselt?
If budget matters most, go with Hasselt. 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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