Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Isernia Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Isernia

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,258 in Lisbon versus $1,626 in Isernia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,328 in Lisbon versus $2,389 in Isernia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,397 in Lisbon versus $3,151 in Isernia.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 39% more expensive than Isernia, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 68% above, Isernia 21% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.82 €13.46

$17.16 €14.60

-7.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.4 €54.8

$55.7 €47.44

15.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.37 €8.82

$8.19 €6.97

26.62%

Cappuccino

$2.89 €2.46

$1.40 €1.19

106.43%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 €1.90

$2.32 €1.98

-3.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 €1.32

$1.17 €1.00

32.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.38 €2.88

$5.91 €5.03

-42.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.90 €3.32

$4.74 €4.03

-17.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 €0.96

$1.39 €1.18

-19.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.80 €1.53

$2.02 €1.72

-10.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.75 €1.49

$2.66 €2.27

-34.21%

Eggs

$3.17 €2.70

$2.71 €2.31

16.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.50 €11.49

$14.96 €12.73

-9.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.79 €6.63

$12.64 €10.76

-38.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.65 €13.32

$17.74 €15.10

-11.78%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 €1.94

$1.54 €1.31

48.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 €1.46

$1.92 €1.63

-10.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 €1.65

$1.86 €1.58

3.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 €2.15

$2.23 €1.90

13.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 €1.52

$1.48 €1.26

20.95%

Onion (1kg)

$2.05 €1.74

$1.86 €1.58

10.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.94 €1.65

$1.61 €1.37

20.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 €0.69

$0.44 €0.37

84.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.65 €5.66

$5.88 €5.01

13.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.79 €4.92

$7.72 €6.57

-25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 €1.14

$1.70 €1.45

-21.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 €2.47

$1.62 €1.38

79.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.35 €2.00

$1.79 €1.52

31.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.70 €38.89

$42.74 €36.37

6.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.20 €3.58

$3.57 €3.04

17.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 €0.69

$2.14 €1.82

-62.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.70 €15.91

$28.51 €24.26

-34.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.09 €1.78

$1.99 €1.69

5.03%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.6K €29.5K

$29.8K €25.3K

16.23%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$39.7K €33.7K

$27.2K €23.1K

46.00%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$146 €124

$187 €159

-21.90%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$20.84 €17.73

$13.86 €11.80

50.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.78 €33.85

$31.61 €26.90

25.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.58 €41.35

$55.7 €47.43

-12.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.85 €16.04

$23.39 €19.90

-19.41%

Cinema Ticket

$9.07 €7.72

$8.75 €7.45

3.66%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$618 €526

$627 €533

-1.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.2K €13.8K

$4,101 €3,490

294.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €89.0

$66.5 €56.6

57.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.54 €34.50

$31.36 €26.69

29.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.8 €79.8

$81.4 €69.2

15.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 €104

$88.2 €75.0

39.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,604 €1,365

$752 €640

113.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,260 €1,073

$583 €496

116.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,065 €2,608

$1,233 €1,049

148.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,008 €1,709

$910 €774

120.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,702 €6,555

$2,619 €2,228

194.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,367 €3,716

$1,822 €1,550

139.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,638 €1,394

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.81

4.93

-22.72%

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

Last update for Lisbon: April 13, 2026

Last update for Isernia: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $752 in Isernia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $64 in Lisbon vs $56 in Isernia. Groceries flip the comparison at $268 vs $302, 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 Isernia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lisbon and Isernia differ by about 39% in total monthly costs ($2,258 vs $1,626 including rent). Isernia is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $3,387 in Lisbon and $2,439 in Isernia to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $752 in Isernia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,258 per month in Lisbon versus $1,626 in Isernia – a 39% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Isernia runs roughly 7% less than in Lisbon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,626 in Isernia versus $2,258 in Lisbon, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Isernia but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Isernia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Lisbon and Isernia are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Isernia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.