Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Kilkenny

For one person, living is cheaper in Lisbon: $2,210 a month against $2,340 in Kilkenny, rent and utilities included – about $1,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lisbon, Portugal
Kilkenny, Ireland
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,210
/mo nomad
Kilkenny
🇮🇪 Ireland
$2,340
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Kilkenny

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lisbon and in Kilkenny actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $2,340 in Kilkenny.

  • Lisbon $2,210
  • Kilkenny $2,340

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,275 in Lisbon versus $3,280 in Kilkenny.

  • Lisbon $3,275
  • Kilkenny $3,280

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,341 in Lisbon versus $4,221 in Kilkenny.

  • Lisbon $4,341
  • Kilkenny $4,221

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 6% less than in Kilkenny, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 62% above, Kilkenny 72% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Kilkenny
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.65 €14.95
$16.55 €14.87
0.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.7 €55.5
$67.4 €60.5
-8.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.36 €10.20
$10.02 €9.00
13.37%
Cappuccino
$2.97 €2.67
$4.28 €3.85
-30.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.06
$2.98 €2.68
-23.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.56
$2.18 €1.96
-20.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 €3.06
$6.57 €5.90
-48.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 €2.97
$6.50 €5.84
-49.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Kilkenny
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.16 €1.04
$1.33 €1.20
-12.78%
White Bread (500g)
$1.91 €1.72
$2.35 €2.11
-18.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 €1.36
$1.53 €1.37
-1.31%
Eggs
$4.02 €3.61
$4.38 €3.94
-8.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.94 €11.62
$10.50 €9.43
23.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.77 €6.98
$5.72 €5.14
35.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.76 €15.95
$6.82 €6.13
160.41%
Apples (1kg)
$2.30 €2.07
$2.27 €2.04
1.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 €1.56
$2.23 €2.00
-22.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.86 €1.67
$3.03 €2.72
-38.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.59 €2.33
$2.85 €2.56
-9.12%
Potato (1kg)
$1.82 €1.64
$1.23 €1.11
47.97%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 €1.77
$1.14 €1.03
72.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.47 €1.32
$0.85 €0.76
72.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 €0.65
$1.83 €1.65
-60.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58 €5.91
$20.42 €18.34
-67.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.61 €5.04
$14.18 €12.74
-60.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 €1.22
$3.82 €3.43
-64.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 €1.92
$4.37 €3.93
-51.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Kilkenny
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.33 €2.10
$2.71 €2.44
-14.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.68 €40.14
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.85 €3.46
$5.34 €4.79
-27.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.07 €0.96
$1.41 €1.27
-24.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.46 €14.79
$56.4 €50.7
-70.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.20 €1.98
$2.04 €1.83
7.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2K €30.7K
$38.2K €34.3K
-10.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K €34.8K
$38.4K €34.5K
0.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Kilkenny
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$161 €145
$181 €162
-10.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.41 €16.54
$20.72 €18.62
-11.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.74 €29.41
$51.8 €46.55
-36.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Kilkenny
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.55 €40.02
$69.4 €62.4
-35.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10 €17.16
$22.38 €20.10
-14.66%
Cinema Ticket
$9.60 €8.62
$13.53 €12.16
-29.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Kilkenny
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$668 €600
$877 €788
-23.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.6K €15.8K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Kilkenny
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 €91.6
$102 €91.4
0.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.46 €39.94
$36.88 €33.13
20.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.5 €88.5
$111 €100
-11.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €111
$94.0 €84.5
31.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Kilkenny
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,608 €1,445
$1,534 €1,378
4.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,190 €1,069
$1,252 €1,125
-4.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,812 €2,526
$2,620 €2,353
7.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,013 €1,808
$1,818 €1,633
10.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,839 €7,042
$8,172 €7,341
-4.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,576 €4,110
$2,279 €2,047
100.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Kilkenny
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,575 €1,415
$2,765 €2,484
-43.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
3.68
4.62%

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

Last update for Lisbon: October 27, 2026

Last update for Kilkenny: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Kilkenny
$1.3K 5.2% $62
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$272
Kilkenny
$280 2.7% $7.4
Eating Out
Lisbon
$243
Kilkenny
$280 15.6% $38
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$212
Kilkenny
$253 19.2% $41
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$166
Kilkenny
$155 6.7% $11
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$64
Kilkenny
$96 51.4% $33
Getting Around
Lisbon
$63
Kilkenny
$23 * 63.2% $40

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,608 in Lisbon and $1,534 in Kilkenny. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kilkenny pays 76% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $62 in Lisbon vs $67 in Kilkenny for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $272 vs $280 per month, with Lisbon cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇮🇪 Kilkenny
🕒 Local time
21:20 9:20 PM
21:20 9:20 PM
Same time as Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
26,500
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 0.898 EUR (1 EUR = 1.11 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Kilkenny 1,560 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Kilkenny

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Kilkenny: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lisbon cheaper than Kilkenny?
Lisbon is about 6% cheaper overall, especially in eating out, leisure, and utilities. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or Kilkenny?
On paper, salaries run 43% lower in Lisbon. 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 Kilkenny?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,608 in Lisbon versus $1,534 in Kilkenny. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $668 in Lisbon versus $877 in Kilkenny. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Lisbon or in Kilkenny?
Dining out is cheaper in Lisbon – a meal for two runs $62 versus $67 in Kilkenny. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $3,000 enough for either Lisbon or Kilkenny?
Either city works on $3,000 a month, though Lisbon gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is it better to live in Lisbon or in Kilkenny?
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.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Kilkenny?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Kilkenny are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Lisbon wins on affordability, Kilkenny on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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