Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Herne Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Herne

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,227 per month in Lisbon vs $2,098 in Herne, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,305 per month in Lisbon vs $3,015 in Herne, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,384 per month in Lisbon vs $3,933 in Herne, rent included.

Lisbon costs about 6% more than Herne, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Lisbon and Herne sit above the global median – Lisbon by 66%, Herne by 57%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.17 €13.84

$17.17 €14.70

-5.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.6 €55.3

$75.6 €64.7

-14.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.38 €8.88

$11.62 €9.94

-10.67%

Cappuccino

$2.77 €2.37

$3.71 €3.18

-25.34%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 €1.92

$3.10 €2.65

-27.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 €1.35

$2.63 €2.25

-40.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.49 €2.99

$5.75 €4.92

-39.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.00 €3.43

$3.94 €3.37

1.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 €0.93

$1.17 €1.00

-7.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.74 €1.49

$2.34 €2.00

-25.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.74 €1.49

$3.46 €2.96

-49.71%

Eggs

$3.18 €2.72

$3.93 €3.37

-19.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.43 €11.50

$14.71 €12.59

-8.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.99 €6.84

$14.57 €12.47

-45.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.09 €13.77

$19.20 €16.44

-16.20%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 €1.95

$3.27 €2.80

-30.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 €1.48

$1.74 €1.49

-1.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 €1.66

$2.28 €1.95

-14.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.54 €2.18

$4.98 €4.26

-49.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.83 €1.57

$1.61 €1.38

13.66%

Onion (1kg)

$2.04 €1.75

$1.50 €1.28

36.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 €1.69

$1.84 €1.58

7.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 €0.73

$1.02 €0.87

-16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.85 €5.87

$9.23 €7.90

-25.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.78 €4.94

$6.90 €5.90

-16.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 €1.18

$1.11 €0.95

23.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 €2.48

$1.67 €1.43

73.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.28 €1.95

$3.10 €2.65

-26.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.84 €40.10

$61.7 €52.8

-24.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.08 €3.49

$4.61 €3.95

-11.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 €0.70

$1.92 €1.64

-57.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.27 €15.64

$34.67 €29.68

-47.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.01 €1.72

$2.04 €1.75

-1.47%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.3K €30.2K

$31.5K €27.0K

11.87%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$38.5K €32.9K

$34.8K €29.8K

10.64%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$145 €124

$412 €353

-64.74%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$20.96 €17.94

$34.58 €29.60

-39.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.05 €34.29

$52.9 €45.29

-24.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.79 €41.76

$35.09 €30.04

39.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.69 €16.00

$23.10 €19.77

-19.09%

Cinema Ticket

$9.06 €7.76

$15.44 €13.22

-41.32%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$607 €519

$416 €356

45.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.3K €14.0K

$14.4K €12.3K

13.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €89.6

$92.2 €78.9

13.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.95 €35.06

$47.07 €40.29

-13.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.6 €80.1

$106 €90.6

-11.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 €101

$145 €124

-18.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,604 €1,373

$824 €706

94.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,236 €1,058

$656 €561

88.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,046 €2,607

$1,519 €1,301

100.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,057 €1,761

$931 €797

120.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,709 €6,599

$5,113 €4,377

50.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,266 €3,652

$3,491 €2,988

22.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,584 €1,356

$3,125 €2,675

-49.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.81

3.98

-4.27%

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

Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026

Last update for Herne: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,604 in Lisbon versus $824 in Herne. 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 97% higher in Herne, 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 $65.0 in Lisbon versus $76.0 in Herne. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $271 vs $350 – 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 Herne: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon, $2,098 in Herne – roughly 6% apart. Lisbon costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,341 per month in Lisbon and $3,147 in Herne. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Herne, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,227 in Lisbon and $2,098 in Herne. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 32% less in Herne. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Herne, where all-in costs run around $2,098, than in Lisbon at $2,227. In Herne it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Lisbon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,098 in Herne to $2,227 in Lisbon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Herne. 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.