😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $2,280 in Kilkenny.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $3,204 in Kilkenny.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $4,127 in Kilkenny.
🌍Monthly costs are close between Lisbon and Kilkenny; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon71% above, Kilkenny71% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Kilkenny
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.17
$16.37€14.32
-1.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.4
$68.3€59.7
-7.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.03
$10.52€9.21
-1.90%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$4.19€3.67
-32.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.00
$2.37€2.07
-3.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$1.78€1.56
-11.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$6.03€5.27
-43.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.52
$7.02€6.14
-42.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Kilkenny
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.95
$1.15€1.00
-5.22%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$2.03€1.77
-13.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.72€1.50
2.33%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$3.13€2.74
1.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.54
$9.14€8.00
44.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.97
$9.09€7.95
-12.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.59
$8.57€7.50
81.21%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$2.34€2.05
1.28%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$1.73€1.52
-1.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$3.57€3.12
-43.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$1.99€1.74
22.11%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.23€1.07
43.09%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$1.18€1.03
72.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$1.07€0.94
79.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$1.05€0.92
-19.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$19.16€16.76
-65.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.88
$13.83€12.10
-59.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$2.82€2.47
-52.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$2.91€2.55
2.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Kilkenny
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$2.27€1.99
0.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.06
$97.9€85.6
-53.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$5.08€4.44
-16.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$1.19€1.04
-31.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.13
$34.68€30.34
-46.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$2.04€1.78
1.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.3K
$36.9K€32.3K
-6.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$22.0K€19.3K
77.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Kilkenny
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$157€138
-5.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.90
$21.88€19.14
-6.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.61
$50.1€43.83
-21.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Kilkenny
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€41.99
$54.5€47.65
-11.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.27
$11.39€9.96
63.30%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.07
$13.67€11.96
-32.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Kilkenny
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€539
$1,011€884
-39.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$7,347€6,428
123.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Kilkenny
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€89.9
$74.7€65.4
37.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.52
$23.13€20.24
80.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€82.9
$83.3€72.9
13.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$80.7€70.6
51.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Kilkenny
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,428
$1,464€1,281
11.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,078
$1,183€1,035
4.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,711
$2,436€2,131
27.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,777
$1,676€1,466
21.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,851
$8,143€7,124
-3.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,840
$2,273€1,989
93.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Kilkenny
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,406
$2,774€2,427
-42.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
4.27
-10.77%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Last update for Kilkenny: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $1,464 in Kilkenny. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kilkenny pays 73% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $68.0 in Kilkenny for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $267 per month, with Lisbon 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 Kilkenny: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or Kilkenny?
On paper, salaries run 73% lower in Kilkenny. 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: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $1,464 in Kilkenny. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $616 in Lisbon versus $1,011 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 Kilkenny – a meal for two runs $68.0 versus $63.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Lisbon or in Kilkenny?
At $2,280 in Kilkenny versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Kilkenny but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Kilkenny the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisbon or Kilkenny more family-friendly?
For families, Kilkenny is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lisbon, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Kilkenny?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Kilkenny are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Kilkenny wins on affordability, Lisbon on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.