Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Ithaca, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Ithaca, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,291 per month in Lisbon vs $2,256 in Ithaca, NY, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,322 per month in Lisbon vs $3,448 in Ithaca, NY, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,354 per month in Lisbon vs $4,640 in Ithaca, NY, rent included.

Lisbon costs about 2% more than Ithaca, NY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Lisbon and Ithaca, NY sit above the global median – Lisbon by 71%, Ithaca, NY by 69%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.19 €14.17

$19.77 $19.77

-18.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.3 €55.4

$70.9 $70.9

-10.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.32 €9.03

$11.03 $11.03

-6.44%

Cappuccino

$2.83 €2.48

$4.96 $4.96

-42.94%

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

$2.29 €2.00

$2.86 $2.86

-19.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 €1.38

$1.92 $1.92

-17.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.40 €2.98

$4.93 $4.93

-31.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 €3.52

$5.91 $5.91

-31.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 €0.95

$1.00 $1.00

9.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.75 €1.53

$4.03 $4.03

-56.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 €1.54

$5.44 $5.44

-67.65%

Eggs

$3.17 €2.77

$4.08 $4.08

-22.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.19 €11.54

$13.87 $13.87

-4.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.97 €6.97

$6.50 $6.50

22.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.53 €13.59

$15.45 $15.45

0.52%

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 €2.07

$4.57 $4.57

-48.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 €1.49

$1.59 $1.59

7.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 €1.76

$4.64 $4.64

-56.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.43 €2.13

$4.75 $4.75

-48.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.76 €1.54

$7.12 $7.12

-75.28%

Onion (1kg)

$2.03 €1.78

$3.41 $3.41

-40.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.92 €1.68

$2.83 $2.83

-32.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 €0.74

$1.76 $1.76

-51.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.58 €5.76

$9.16 $9.16

-28.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.58 €4.88

$14.22 $14.22

-60.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 €1.17

$1.86 $1.86

-28.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 €2.60

$3.94 $3.94

-24.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.28 €1.99

$1.46 $1.46

56.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.79 €40.06

$44.80 $44.80

2.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.23 €3.70

$4.97 $4.97

-14.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 €0.71

$1.36 $1.36

-40.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.44 €16.13

$27.29 $27.29

-32.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.08 €1.82

$0.94 $0.94

121.28%

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

$34.7K €30.3K

$30.2K $30.2K

14.98%

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

$39.2K €34.3K

$25.5K $25.5K

53.33%

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

$148 €130

$139 $139

6.35%

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

$20.46 €17.90

$46.49 $46.49

-55.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.56 €34.61

$65.4 $65.4

-39.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.99 €41.99

$43.00 $43.00

11.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.60 €16.27

Cinema Ticket

$9.22 €8.07

$10.94 $10.94

-15.72%

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

$616 €539

$1,564 $1,564

-60.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.4K €14.4K

$28.2K $28.2K

-41.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$103 €89.9

$44.01 $44.01

133.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.74 €36.52

$39.25 $39.25

6.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.8 €82.9

$80.9 $80.9

17.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 €107

$101 $101

20.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,633 €1,428

$1,649 $1,649

-1.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,232 €1,078

$1,058 $1,058

16.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,098 €2,711

$2,647 $2,647

17.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,031 €1,777

$1,866 $1,866

8.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,831 €6,851

$2,200 $2,200

255.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,389 €3,840

$2,150 $2,150

104.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,607 €1,406

$3,399 $3,399

-52.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.81

6.28

-39.33%

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

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Last update for Ithaca, NY: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,633 in Lisbon versus $1,649 in Ithaca, NY. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 111% higher in Ithaca, NY, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Lisbon versus $71.0 in Ithaca, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $267 vs $390 – 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 Ithaca, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon, $2,256 in Ithaca, NY – roughly 2% apart. Lisbon costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,437 per month in Lisbon and $3,384 in Ithaca, NY. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ithaca, NY, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Lisbon and $71.0 in Ithaca, NY. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,291 in Lisbon and $2,256 in Ithaca, NY. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,291 in Lisbon and $2,256 in Ithaca, NY. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Lisbon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,256 in Ithaca, NY to $2,291 in Lisbon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Ithaca, NY. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lisbon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.