๐A single person spends $2,258 per month in Lisbon vs $2,314 in Isle of Islay, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $3,328 per month in Lisbon vs $3,486 in Isle of Islay, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $4,397 per month in Lisbon vs $4,658 in Isle of Islay, rent included.
๐Lisbon is about 2% cheaper than Isle of Islay, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Both Lisbon and Isle of Islay sit above the global median โ Lisbon by 68%, Isle of Islay by 72%.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Lisbon
Isle of Islay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.82โฌ13.43
$20.71ยฃ15.30
-23.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.4โฌ54.7
$95.0ยฃ70.2
-32.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.37โฌ8.80
$10.39ยฃ7.68
-0.19%
Cappuccino
$2.89โฌ2.46
$4.41ยฃ3.26
-34.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23โฌ1.90
$2.22ยฃ1.64
0.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55โฌ1.31
$1.32ยฃ0.98
17.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.38โฌ2.87
$5.72ยฃ4.23
-40.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90โฌ3.31
$5.82ยฃ4.30
-32.99%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Isle of Islay
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.12โฌ0.95
$2.09ยฃ1.54
-46.41%
White Bread(500g)
$1.80โฌ1.53
$1.50ยฃ1.11
20.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75โฌ1.48
$2.49ยฃ1.84
-29.72%
Eggs
$3.17โฌ2.69
$4.72ยฃ3.49
-32.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.50โฌ11.46
$8.04ยฃ5.94
67.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.79โฌ6.61
$9.55ยฃ7.06
-18.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.65โฌ13.29
$15.72ยฃ11.62
-0.45%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28โฌ1.94
$3.09ยฃ2.29
-26.21%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71โฌ1.46
$2.44ยฃ1.80
-29.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93โฌ1.64
$2.71ยฃ2.00
-28.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.52โฌ2.14
$4.61ยฃ3.41
-45.34%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79โฌ1.52
$2.16ยฃ1.60
-17.13%
Onion(1kg)
$2.05โฌ1.74
$1.87ยฃ1.38
9.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.94โฌ1.64
$1.26ยฃ0.93
53.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81โฌ0.69
$2.10ยฃ1.55
-61.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.65โฌ5.65
$19.10ยฃ14.12
-65.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.79โฌ4.91
$12.11ยฃ8.95
-52.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33โฌ1.13
$3.17ยฃ2.34
-58.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91โฌ2.47
$2.96ยฃ2.19
-1.69%
๐ Getting Around
Lisbon
Isle of Islay
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.35โฌ1.99
$3.42ยฃ2.52
-31.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.70โฌ38.80
$88.3ยฃ65.3
-48.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.20โฌ3.57
$4.85ยฃ3.59
-13.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81โฌ0.69
$1.53ยฃ1.13
-47.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.70โฌ15.88
$23.37ยฃ17.27
-19.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09โฌ1.78
$1.89ยฃ1.39
10.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6Kโฌ29.4K
$38.6Kยฃ28.5K
-10.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7Kโฌ33.7K
$47.8Kยฃ35.3K
-17.08%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Isle of Islay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146โฌ124
$236ยฃ175
-38.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.84โฌ17.69
$14.48ยฃ10.70
43.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.78โฌ33.77
$47.06ยฃ34.78
-15.47%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Isle of Islay
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.58โฌ41.25
$46.24ยฃ34.17
5.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.85โฌ16.00
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.07โฌ7.70
$12.71ยฃ9.40
-28.64%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Isle of Islay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$618โฌ525
$1,602ยฃ1,184
-61.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.2Kโฌ13.7K
$16.1Kยฃ11.9K
0.31%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Isle of Islay
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105โฌ88.8
$97.6ยฃ72.1
7.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.54โฌ34.42
$65.8ยฃ48.62
-38.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.8โฌ79.6
$138ยฃ102
-31.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123โฌ104
$120ยฃ88.7
2.12%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Isle of Islay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604โฌ1,362
$1,230ยฃ909
30.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,260โฌ1,070
$1,005ยฃ742
25.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,065โฌ2,602
$2,022ยฃ1,494
51.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,008โฌ1,705
$1,695ยฃ1,253
18.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,702โฌ6,539
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,367โฌ3,707
-
-
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Isle of Islay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,638โฌ1,391
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
5.9
-35.42%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 13, 2026
Last update for Isle of Islay: April 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $1,604 in Lisbon versus $1,230 in Isle of Islay. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $64 in Lisbon versus $95 in Isle of Islay. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $268 vs $334 โ making Lisbon the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Isle of Islay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Isle of Islay cheaper than Lisbon?
Yes โ Isle of Islay is pricier by about 2%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,387 per month in Lisbon and $3,472 in Isle of Islay. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Lisbon, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Lisbon or Isle of Islay?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $64.0 in Lisbon and $95.0 in Isle of Islay. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafรฉ pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Lisbon vs Isle of Islay?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,258 in Lisbon and $2,314 in Isle of Islay. The difference isn't just one category โ it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for Lisbon or Isle of Islay?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Lisbon, where all-in costs run around $2,258, than in Isle of Islay at $2,314. In Lisbon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Isle of Islay it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Lisbon or Isle of Islay more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Lisbon โ lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Isle of Islay?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Lisbon. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Isle of Islay makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.