Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Houghton, MI

For one person, living is cheaper in Lisbon: $2,202 a month against $2,736 in Houghton, MI, rent and utilities included – about $6,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,202
/mo nomad
Houghton, MI
🇺🇸 United States
$2,736
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Houghton, MI

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lisbon and in Houghton, MI actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,202 in Lisbon versus $2,736 in Houghton, MI.

  • Lisbon $2,202
  • Houghton, MI $2,736

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,274 in Lisbon versus $3,593 in Houghton, MI.

  • Lisbon $3,274
  • Houghton, MI $3,593

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,346 in Lisbon versus $4,449 in Houghton, MI.

  • Lisbon $4,346
  • Houghton, MI $4,449

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 20% less than in Houghton, MI, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 62% above, Houghton, MI 102% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Houghton, MI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.04 €15.15
$13.78 $13.78
23.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.3 €55.4
$39.55 $39.55
57.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.02 €9.80
$10.37 $10.37
6.27%
Cappuccino
$3.12 €2.78
$4.13 $4.13
-24.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 €2.02
$2.78 $2.78
-18.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.55
$1.62 $1.62
7.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.42 €3.04
$5.94 $5.94
-42.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74 €3.33
$7.38 $7.38
-49.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Houghton, MI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 €1.04
$1.00 $1.00
17.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.86 €1.66
$4.18 $4.18
-55.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.54 €1.37
$6.34 $6.34
-75.71%
Eggs
$4.06 €3.61
$3.94 $3.94
3.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.91 €11.49
$12.31 $12.31
4.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.90 €7.03
$10.79 $10.79
-26.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.64 €15.69
$10.97 $10.97
60.80%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 €2.01
$5.09 $5.09
-55.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.55
$1.18 $1.18
48.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 €1.68
$4.25 $4.25
-55.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.56 €2.27
$4.77 $4.77
-46.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 €1.64
$2.80 $2.80
-33.93%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 €1.75
$3.01 $3.01
-34.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 €1.29
$2.21 $2.21
-34.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 €0.69
$1.47 $1.47
-47.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.71 €5.97
$10.18 $10.18
-34.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.67 €5.04
$14.99 $14.99
-62.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.22
$1.95 $1.95
-29.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 €1.88
$3.28 $3.28
-35.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Houghton, MI
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.32 €2.07
$2.03 $2.03
14.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.43 €39.52
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.95 €3.51
$3.02 $3.02
30.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.05 €0.93
$1.49 $1.49
-29.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.15 €15.26
$29.22 $29.22
-41.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.19 €1.95
$0.81 $0.81
170.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.8K €30.0K
$25.1K $25.1K
34.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.3K €34.0K
$25.4K $25.4K
50.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Houghton, MI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$164 €146
$280 $280
-41.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.48 €16.43
$57.6 $57.6
-67.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.96 €29.32
$69.1 $69.1
-52.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Houghton, MI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.87 €40.80
$36.96 $36.96
24.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.68 €16.61
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.75 €8.67
$14.18 $14.18
-31.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Houghton, MI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$684 €608
$1,249 $1,249
-45.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.6K €15.7K
$22.9K $22.9K
-23.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Houghton, MI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 €92.3
$53.7 $53.7
93.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.20 €41.09
$41.58 $41.58
11.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.7 €88.7
$87.0 $87.0
14.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 €111
$108 $108
15.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Houghton, MI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,589 €1,414
$1,833 $1,833
-13.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,169 €1,040
$1,484 $1,484
-21.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,851 €2,536
$2,318 $2,318
22.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,993 €1,773
$1,967 $1,967
1.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,793 €6,932
$1,546 $1,546
403.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,418 €3,930
$1,550 $1,550
185.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Houghton, MI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,600 €1,423
$2,603 $2,603
-38.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
6.57
-41.40%

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

Last update for Lisbon: October 19, 2026

Last update for Houghton, MI: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Houghton, MI
$1.5K 27% $315
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$273
Houghton, MI
$377 38.2% $104
Eating Out
Lisbon
$247
Houghton, MI
$253 2.2% $5.5
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$215
Houghton, MI
$407 89.1% $192
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$168
Houghton, MI
$131 22.4% $38
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$65
Houghton, MI
$65 0.1% $0.1
Getting Around
Lisbon
$63
Houghton, MI
$19 * 70.5% $44

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,589 in Lisbon and $1,833 in Houghton, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Houghton, MI pays 63% 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: $62.0 in Lisbon vs $40.00 in Houghton, MI. Groceries flip the comparison at $273 vs $377, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇺🇸 Houghton, MI
🕒 Local time
16:05 4:05 PM
11:05 11:05 AM
5 h behind Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
8,000
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Houghton, MI 6,250 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Houghton, MI

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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, eating out, and utilities. The 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or Houghton, MI?
On paper, salaries run 63% lower in Houghton, MI. 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: $1,589 in Lisbon versus $1,833 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 in Houghton, MI?
Supermarket bills run roughly 38% 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 and in Houghton, MI?
All in, you'll spend $2,202 per month in Lisbon versus $2,736 in Houghton, MI – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Lisbon or in Houghton, MI?
At $2,202 in Lisbon versus $2,736 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 – expenses run 24% less than in Houghton, MI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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