๐A single person spends $2,258 per month in Lisbon vs $2,286 in Kingston, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $3,328 per month in Lisbon vs $3,230 in Kingston, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $4,397 per month in Lisbon vs $4,173 in Kingston, rent included.
๐Lisbon is about 1% cheaper than Kingston, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both Lisbon and Kingston sit above the global median โ Lisbon by 68%, Kingston by 70%.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Lisbon
Kingston
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.82โฌ13.46
$16.72CA$22.91
-5.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.4โฌ54.8
$74.2CA$102
-13.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.37โฌ8.82
$11.28CA$15.46
-8.07%
Cappuccino
$2.89โฌ2.46
$3.69CA$5.06
-21.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23โฌ1.90
$1.90CA$2.60
17.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55โฌ1.32
$1.44CA$1.97
7.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.38โฌ2.88
$6.04CA$8.28
-44.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90โฌ3.32
$6.45CA$8.83
-39.53%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Kingston
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.12โฌ0.96
$2.58CA$3.53
-56.59%
White Bread(500g)
$1.80โฌ1.53
$2.54CA$3.47
-29.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75โฌ1.49
$4.17CA$5.71
-58.03%
Eggs
$3.17โฌ2.70
$2.91CA$3.99
8.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.50โฌ11.49
$10.68CA$14.63
26.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.79โฌ6.63
$11.42CA$15.64
-31.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.65โฌ13.32
$11.41CA$15.63
37.16%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28โฌ1.94
$3.56CA$4.87
-35.96%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71โฌ1.46
$1.32CA$1.80
29.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93โฌ1.65
$4.01CA$5.50
-51.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.52โฌ2.15
$4.86CA$6.66
-48.15%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79โฌ1.52
$3.54CA$4.85
-49.44%
Onion(1kg)
$2.05โฌ1.74
$2.41CA$3.30
-14.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.94โฌ1.65
$2.97CA$4.07
-34.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81โฌ0.69
$1.62CA$2.22
-50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.65โฌ5.66
$13.87CA$19.00
-52.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.79โฌ4.92
$12.45CA$17.06
-53.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33โฌ1.14
$2.29CA$3.13
-41.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91โฌ2.47
$3.30CA$4.53
-11.82%
๐ Getting Around
Lisbon
Kingston
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.35โฌ2.00
$2.52CA$3.46
-6.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.70โฌ38.89
$58.0CA$79.5
-21.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.20โฌ3.58
$3.27CA$4.48
28.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81โฌ0.69
$1.57CA$2.16
-48.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.70โฌ15.91
$32.56CA$44.60
-42.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09โฌ1.78
$1.08CA$1.49
93.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6Kโฌ29.5K
$24.6KCA$33.7K
40.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7Kโฌ33.7K
$21.4KCA$29.3K
85.68%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Kingston
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146โฌ124
$130CA$178
12.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.84โฌ17.73
$44.36CA$60.8
-53.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.78โฌ33.85
$78.7CA$108
-49.47%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Kingston
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.58โฌ41.35
$32.36CA$44.33
50.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.85โฌ16.04
$9.29CA$12.73
102.91%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07โฌ7.72
$11.18CA$15.32
-18.87%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Kingston
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$618โฌ526
$446CA$611
38.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.2Kโฌ13.8K
$11.7KCA$16.0K
38.31%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Kingston
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105โฌ89.0
$46.10CA$63.2
126.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.54โฌ34.50
$35.95CA$49.25
12.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.8โฌ79.8
$95.1CA$130
-1.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123โฌ104
$92.3CA$126
32.86%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Kingston
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604โฌ1,365
$1,289CA$1,766
24.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,260โฌ1,073
$1,189CA$1,630
5.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,065โฌ2,608
$2,130CA$2,918
43.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,008โฌ1,709
$1,679CA$2,301
19.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,702โฌ6,555
$3,450CA$4,726
123.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,367โฌ3,716
$2,513CA$3,443
73.75%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Kingston
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,638โฌ1,394
$3,086CA$4,228
-46.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
6.69
-43.05%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 13, 2026
Last update for Kingston: April 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $1,604 in Lisbon versus $1,289 in Kingston. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐ฐSalaries run about 88% higher in Kingston, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $64 in Lisbon versus $74 in Kingston. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $268 vs $359 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 Kingston: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Lisbon and Kingston compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,258 in Lisbon, $2,286 in Kingston โ roughly 1% apart. Kingston costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Kingston?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,387 per month in Lisbon and $3,429 in Kingston. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Lisbon and Kingston?
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.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Kingston?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,258 in Lisbon and $2,286 in Kingston. The difference isn't just one category โ it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Lisbon and Kingston?
Public transport costs about 27% less in Lisbon. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Lisbon, where all-in costs run around $2,258, than in Kingston at $2,286. In Lisbon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kingston it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Kingston?
It depends on your priorities. Lisbon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,258 in Lisbon to $2,286 in Kingston. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Lisbon or Kingston safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Lisbon and Kingston?
If budget matters most, go with Lisbon. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kingston makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.