😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,217 in Lisbon versus $1,309 in Ioannina.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,245 in Lisbon versus $2,015 in Ioannina.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,272 in Lisbon versus $2,722 in Ioannina.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 69% more expensive than Ioannina, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Ioannina is 2% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Ioannina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.78€13.59
$17.56€15.12
-10.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.5€53.8
$34.21€29.46
82.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.54€9.07
$9.67€8.33
9.00%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.38
$3.86€3.33
-28.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28€1.97
$2.28€1.97
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55€1.33
$0.55€0.48
181.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.55€3.05
$4.53€3.90
-21.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98€3.43
$5.77€4.97
-31.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Ioannina
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.47€1.27
-26.53%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.52
$1.24€1.07
42.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77€1.52
$2.39€2.06
-25.94%
Eggs
$3.12€2.69
$3.45€2.97
-9.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.34€11.49
$10.53€9.07
26.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.88
$8.00€6.89
-0.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.92€13.70
$10.85€9.34
46.73%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.97
$2.06€1.77
10.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.42
$1.87€1.61
-12.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.98€1.70
$1.22€1.05
62.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$2.32€1.99
5.60%
Potato(1kg)
$1.77€1.52
$1.20€1.03
47.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$1.01€0.87
95.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.70
$1.06€0.91
85.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80€0.69
$0.86€0.74
-6.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.54€5.63
$5.46€4.70
19.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.75€4.95
$7.16€6.16
-19.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32€1.13
$1.93€1.66
-31.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99€2.57
$2.69€2.31
11.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Ioannina
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.34€2.01
$1.59€1.37
47.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.85€39.48
$34.86€30.02
31.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.26€3.66
$4.54€3.91
-6.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.84€0.73
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.86€16.24
$7.03€6.06
168.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.07€1.78
$2.09€1.80
-0.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.2K€30.3K
$24.8K€21.3K
42.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.6K€33.2K
$26.5K€22.8K
45.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Ioannina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151€130
$215€185
-29.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.91€18.00
$20.40€17.57
2.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.54€34.05
$31.14€26.82
26.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Ioannina
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.39€41.67
$46.68€40.20
3.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.61€16.02
$45.58€39.25
-59.17%
Cinema Ticket
$9.04€7.79
$9.20€7.92
-1.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Ioannina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$610€525
$350€301
74.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$8,344€7,185
95.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Ioannina
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101€87.2
$70.4€60.6
43.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.58€34.94
$37.99€32.71
6.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.0€80.1
$79.1€68.1
17.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
$115€99.2
3.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Ioannina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,603€1,380
$409€352
291.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,239€1,067
$302€260
310.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,019€2,599
$704€606
329.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,061€1,775
$549€473
275.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,981€6,872
$3,077€2,649
159.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,533€3,903
$2,594€2,234
74.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Ioannina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,628€1,402
$1,124€968
44.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
4.68
-18.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 15, 2026
Last update for Ioannina: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,603 in Lisbon and $409 in Ioannina. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 45% 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 $34.00 in Ioannina for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $242 per month, with Ioannina 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 Ioannina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Ioannina?
Lisbon and Ioannina differ by about 69% in total monthly costs ($2,217 vs $1,309 including rent). Ioannina is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Ioannina?
Lisbon pays 45% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Ioannina?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,603 in Lisbon versus $409 in Ioannina. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lisbon and Ioannina?
Childcare runs $610 in Lisbon versus $350 in Ioannina. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 11% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,309 in Ioannina versus $2,217 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ioannina but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Ioannina the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Ioannina?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Lisbon or Ioannina safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Ioannina are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Lisbon or Ioannina?
Expats usually find Ioannina gentler on the wallet – expenses run 69% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.