Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Houghton, MI Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Houghton, MI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,258 in Lisbon versus $2,494 in Houghton, MI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,328 in Lisbon versus $3,605 in Houghton, MI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,397 in Lisbon versus $4,716 in Houghton, MI.

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 9% less than in Houghton, MI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 68% above, Houghton, MI 85% above.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Lisbon
Houghton, MI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.82 โ‚ฌ13.46
$12.77 $12.77
23.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.4 โ‚ฌ54.8
$39.89 $39.89
61.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.37 โ‚ฌ8.82
$10.17 $10.17
1.97%
Cappuccino
$2.89 โ‚ฌ2.46
$4.08 $4.08
-29.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 โ‚ฌ1.90
$2.73 $2.73
-18.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 โ‚ฌ1.32
$1.56 $1.56
-0.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.38 โ‚ฌ2.88
$5.96 $5.96
-43.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90 โ‚ฌ3.32
$6.88 $6.88
-43.31%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Houghton, MI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 โ‚ฌ0.96
$1.09 $1.09
2.75%
White Bread (500g)
$1.80 โ‚ฌ1.53
$3.60 $3.60
-50.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.75 โ‚ฌ1.49
$4.48 $4.48
-60.94%
Eggs
$3.17 โ‚ฌ2.70
$4.07 $4.07
-22.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.50 โ‚ฌ11.49
$12.41 $12.41
8.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.79 โ‚ฌ6.63
$11.49 $11.49
-32.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.65 โ‚ฌ13.32
$15.28 $15.28
2.42%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 โ‚ฌ1.94
$5.04 $5.04
-54.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 โ‚ฌ1.46
$1.56 $1.56
9.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 โ‚ฌ1.65
$4.36 $4.36
-55.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.52 โ‚ฌ2.15
$4.82 $4.82
-47.72%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 โ‚ฌ1.52
$2.76 $2.76
-35.14%
Onion (1kg)
$2.05 โ‚ฌ1.74
$2.80 $2.80
-26.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.94 โ‚ฌ1.65
$2.03 $2.03
-4.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81 โ‚ฌ0.69
$2.18 $2.18
-62.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.65 โ‚ฌ5.66
$9.32 $9.32
-28.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.79 โ‚ฌ4.92
$15.07 $15.07
-61.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 โ‚ฌ1.14
$1.78 $1.78
-25.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 โ‚ฌ2.47
$3.42 $3.42
-14.91%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Lisbon
Houghton, MI
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.35 โ‚ฌ2.00
$1.96 $1.96
19.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.70 โ‚ฌ38.89
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.20 โ‚ฌ3.58
$3.49 $3.49
20.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 โ‚ฌ0.69
$1.59 $1.59
-49.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.70 โ‚ฌ15.91
$28.62 $28.62
-34.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.09 โ‚ฌ1.78
$0.84 $0.84
148.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6K โ‚ฌ29.5K
$30.1K $30.1K
14.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7K โ‚ฌ33.7K
$26.1K $26.1K
52.13%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Houghton, MI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$146 โ‚ฌ124
$186 $186
-21.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.84 โ‚ฌ17.73
$53.5 $53.5
-61.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.78 โ‚ฌ33.85
$66.7 $66.7
-40.38%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Houghton, MI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.58 โ‚ฌ41.35
$42.63 $42.63
13.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.85 โ‚ฌ16.04
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.07 โ‚ฌ7.72
$13.27 $13.27
-31.65%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Houghton, MI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$618 โ‚ฌ526
$1,322 $1,322
-53.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.2K โ‚ฌ13.8K
$23.2K $23.2K
-30.44%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Houghton, MI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 โ‚ฌ89.0
$51.8 $51.8
101.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.54 โ‚ฌ34.50
$40.51 $40.51
0.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.8 โ‚ฌ79.8
$87.0 $87.0
7.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 โ‚ฌ104
$110 $110
11.56%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Houghton, MI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,604 โ‚ฌ1,365
$1,612 $1,612
-0.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,260 โ‚ฌ1,073
$1,340 $1,340
-5.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,065 โ‚ฌ2,608
$2,600 $2,600
17.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,008 โ‚ฌ1,709
$2,266 $2,266
-11.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,702 โ‚ฌ6,555
$1,552 $1,552
396.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,367 โ‚ฌ3,716
$1,586 $1,586
175.29%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Houghton, MI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,638 โ‚ฌ1,394
$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

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.

Houghton, 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.

Dining 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.

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