Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Hertfordshire Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Hertfordshire

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $2,490 in Hertfordshire.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $3,804 in Hertfordshire.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $5,118 in Hertfordshire.

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 11% less than in Hertfordshire, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 65% above, Hertfordshire 86% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Hertfordshire
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.70
$26.80 £19.96
-40.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.8
$80.6 £60.0
-19.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.05
$10.93 £8.14
-3.84%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$4.59 £3.42
-37.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$1.87 £1.40
19.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$1.60 £1.19
-6.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.01
$5.30 £3.95
-34.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$5.41 £4.03
-28.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Hertfordshire
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$1.06 £0.79
7.55%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$1.61 £1.20
8.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$2.09 £1.56
-15.79%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$3.04 £2.27
5.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.61
$10.14 £7.55
33.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$7.37 £5.49
7.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.67
$17.48 £13.02
-9.21%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$2.39 £1.78
-3.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$2.07 £1.54
-17.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$3.24 £2.41
-37.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$2.53 £1.88
-2.77%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$0.92 £0.69
100.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$1.74 £1.30
14.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$1.26 £0.94
53.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$1.80 £1.34
-56.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.69
$16.37 £12.20
-59.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.93
$11.46 £8.54
-50.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.18
$2.01 £1.50
-31.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$2.09 £1.55
42.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Hertfordshire
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$3.28 £2.45
-27.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.22
$87.0 £64.8
-47.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$4.53 £3.37
-5.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$1.68 £1.25
-51.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.76
$22.90 £17.06
-20.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$1.88 £1.40
9.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$37.8K £28.1K
-9.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$42.3K £31.5K
-7.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Hertfordshire
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$165 £123
-10.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.67
$17.15 £12.78
19.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.10
$35.98 £26.81
10.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Hertfordshire
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.19
$46.29 £34.49
3.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.29
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.91
$12.20 £9.09
-24.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Hertfordshire
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €529
$1,762 £1,313
-65.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$18.1K £13.5K
-11.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Hertfordshire
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.1
$48.27 £35.96
116.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.21
$53.7 £39.98
-21.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.9
$69.4 £51.7
35.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$91.1 £67.9
31.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Hertfordshire
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,401
$1,823 £1,358
-10.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,081
$1,380 £1,028
-9.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,609
$2,928 £2,181
3.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,739
$2,349 £1,750
-14.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,715
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,678
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Hertfordshire
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,380
$3,281 £2,444
-51.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
5.93
-35.75%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Hertfordshire: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $1,823 in Hertfordshire. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hertfordshire pays 105% 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 $81.0 in Hertfordshire for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $287 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 Hertfordshire: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hertfordshire cheaper than Lisbon?
Lisbon is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or Hertfordshire?
On paper, Hertfordshire earns 105% less. 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 Hertfordshire?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $1,823 in Hertfordshire. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Lisbon or Hertfordshire?
Dining out is cheaper in Lisbon – a meal for two runs $65.0 versus $81.0 in Hertfordshire. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Lisbon vs Hertfordshire?
All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $2,490 in Hertfordshire – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $3,000 enough to cover costs in Lisbon or Hertfordshire?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Lisbon is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is Lisbon or Hertfordshire more family-friendly?
For families, Lisbon is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Hertfordshire, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Hertfordshire?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Hertfordshire 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Hertfordshire. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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