๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,258 in Lisbon versus $2,494 in Houghton, MI.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,328 in Lisbon versus $3,605 in Houghton, MI.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,397 in Lisbon versus $4,716 in Houghton, MI.
๐Living in Lisbon costs roughly 9% less than in Houghton, MI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon68% above, Houghton, MI85% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Lisbon
Houghton, MI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.82โฌ13.46
$12.77$12.77
23.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.4โฌ54.8
$39.89$39.89
61.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.37โฌ8.82
$10.17$10.17
1.97%
Cappuccino
$2.89โฌ2.46
$4.08$4.08
-29.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23โฌ1.90
$2.73$2.73
-18.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55โฌ1.32
$1.56$1.56
-0.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.38โฌ2.88
$5.96$5.96
-43.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90โฌ3.32
$6.88$6.88
-43.31%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Houghton, MI
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.12โฌ0.96
$1.09$1.09
2.75%
White Bread(500g)
$1.80โฌ1.53
$3.60$3.60
-50.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75โฌ1.49
$4.48$4.48
-60.94%
Eggs
$3.17โฌ2.70
$4.07$4.07
-22.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.50โฌ11.49
$12.41$12.41
8.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.79โฌ6.63
$11.49$11.49
-32.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.65โฌ13.32
$15.28$15.28
2.42%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28โฌ1.94
$5.04$5.04
-54.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71โฌ1.46
$1.56$1.56
9.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93โฌ1.65
$4.36$4.36
-55.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.52โฌ2.15
$4.82$4.82
-47.72%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79โฌ1.52
$2.76$2.76
-35.14%
Onion(1kg)
$2.05โฌ1.74
$2.80$2.80
-26.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.94โฌ1.65
$2.03$2.03
-4.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81โฌ0.69
$2.18$2.18
-62.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.65โฌ5.66
$9.32$9.32
-28.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.79โฌ4.92
$15.07$15.07
-61.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33โฌ1.14
$1.78$1.78
-25.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91โฌ2.47
$3.42$3.42
-14.91%
๐ Getting Around
Lisbon
Houghton, MI
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.35โฌ2.00
$1.96$1.96
19.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.70โฌ38.89
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.20โฌ3.58
$3.49$3.49
20.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81โฌ0.69
$1.59$1.59
-49.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.70โฌ15.91
$28.62$28.62
-34.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09โฌ1.78
$0.84$0.84
148.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6Kโฌ29.5K
$30.1K$30.1K
14.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7Kโฌ33.7K
$26.1K$26.1K
52.13%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Houghton, MI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146โฌ124
$186$186
-21.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.84โฌ17.73
$53.5$53.5
-61.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.78โฌ33.85
$66.7$66.7
-40.38%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Houghton, MI
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.58โฌ41.35
$42.63$42.63
13.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.85โฌ16.04
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.07โฌ7.72
$13.27$13.27
-31.65%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Houghton, MI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$618โฌ526
$1,322$1,322
-53.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.2Kโฌ13.8K
$23.2K$23.2K
-30.44%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Houghton, MI
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105โฌ89.0
$51.8$51.8
101.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.54โฌ34.50
$40.51$40.51
0.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.8โฌ79.8
$87.0$87.0
7.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123โฌ104
$110$110
11.56%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Houghton, MI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604โฌ1,365
$1,612$1,612
-0.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,260โฌ1,073
$1,340$1,340
-5.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,065โฌ2,608
$2,600$2,600
17.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,008โฌ1,709
$2,266$2,266
-11.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,702โฌ6,555
$1,552$1,552
396.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,367โฌ3,716
$1,586$1,586
175.29%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Houghton, MI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,638โฌ1,394
$2,606$2,606
-37.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
6.51
-41.47%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 13, 2026
Last update for Houghton, MI: April 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $1,612 in Houghton, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐHoughton, MI pays 59% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $64 in Lisbon vs $40 in Houghton, MI. Groceries flip the comparison at $268 vs $392, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.
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 Houghton, MI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Houghton, MI cheaper than Lisbon?
Lisbon is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or Houghton, MI?
On paper, Houghton, MI earns 59% 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 Houghton, MI?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $1,612 in Houghton, MI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Lisbon and Houghton, MI?
Supermarket bills run roughly 46% higher in Houghton, MI. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Lisbon vs Houghton, MI?
All in, you'll spend $2,258 per month in Lisbon versus $2,494 in Houghton, MI โ a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for Lisbon or Houghton, MI?
At $2,258 in Lisbon versus $2,494 in Houghton, MI, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Houghton, MI. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisbon or Houghton, MI more family-friendly?
For families, Lisbon is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Houghton, MI, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Houghton, MI?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Houghton, MI 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 โ expenses run 10% less than in Houghton, MI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.