😐A single person spends $2,316 per month in Lisbon vs $2,280 in Kingston, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,361 per month in Lisbon vs $3,118 in Kingston, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,405 per month in Lisbon vs $3,957 in Kingston, rent included.
😐Lisbon costs about 2% more than Kingston, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Lisbon and Kingston sit above the global median – Lisbon by 69%, Kingston by 66%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Kingston
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.30€14.89
$15.20CA$21.03
13.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€54.4
$64.2CA$88.8
-1.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.39€9.80
$11.49CA$15.90
-0.87%
Cappuccino
$3.19€2.75
$3.47CA$4.81
-8.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45€2.10
$2.10CA$2.91
16.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.52
$1.32CA$1.82
33.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.59€3.09
$6.02CA$8.32
-40.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39€2.92
$6.21CA$8.60
-45.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Kingston
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.06
$2.05CA$2.83
-39.51%
White Bread(500g)
$1.98€1.71
$2.59CA$3.59
-23.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.52€1.31
$3.28CA$4.54
-53.66%
Eggs
$4.04€3.48
$3.07CA$4.25
31.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.54€11.65
$10.53CA$14.57
28.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.39€7.22
$11.43CA$15.82
-26.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.25€15.70
$10.14CA$14.03
79.98%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.97
$3.05CA$4.22
-24.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74€1.50
$1.14CA$1.58
52.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86€1.60
$3.59CA$4.96
-48.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.63€2.26
$3.67CA$5.07
-28.34%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$3.29CA$4.55
-41.64%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09€1.80
$2.27CA$3.15
-7.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.24
$2.72CA$3.77
-47.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.72
$1.64CA$2.27
-48.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.83
$13.44CA$18.60
-49.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.71€4.91
$12.04CA$16.66
-52.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.18
$2.24CA$3.10
-38.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22€1.91
$3.27CA$4.52
-32.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Kingston
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.40€2.06
$2.61CA$3.60
-8.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.78€40.25
$57.9CA$80.1
-19.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.17€3.59
$3.34CA$4.62
24.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.98
$1.51CA$2.09
-24.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.68€15.21
$32.10CA$44.41
-44.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.32€2.00
$1.07CA$1.48
116.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.4K
$28.7KCA$39.8K
22.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€35.7K
$19.8KCA$27.4K
109.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Kingston
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170€147
$121CA$168
40.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.34€16.64
$39.59CA$54.8
-51.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.64€28.95
$66.1CA$91.5
-49.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Kingston
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.10€41.39
$28.84CA$39.91
66.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.90€17.12
$8.82CA$12.21
125.62%
Cinema Ticket
$9.92€8.54
$10.65CA$14.73
-6.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Kingston
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$717€617
$537CA$743
33.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.5K€15.0K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Kingston
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.2
$53.2CA$73.5
97.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.95€40.40
$33.59CA$46.48
39.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.0
$83.0CA$115
24.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€107
$87.9CA$122
40.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Kingston
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,677€1,443
$1,559CA$2,158
7.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,271€1,094
$1,230CA$1,702
3.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,985€2,568
$2,393CA$3,311
24.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,992€1,715
$1,605CA$2,221
24.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,826€6,734
$3,500CA$4,843
123.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,658€4,008
$2,531CA$3,503
84.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Kingston
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,583€1,362
$3,064CA$4,240
-48.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.79
4.61
-17.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Last update for Kingston: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,677 in Lisbon versus $1,559 in Kingston. 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 94% higher in Kingston, 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 $64.0 in Kingston. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $283 vs $333 – 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 in Kingston compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,316 in Lisbon, $2,280 in Kingston – roughly 2% apart. Lisbon costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Kingston?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,474 per month in Lisbon and $3,420 in Kingston. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Lisbon and Kingston?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kingston, 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 $2,316 in Lisbon and $2,280 in Kingston. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Lisbon and in Kingston?
Public transport costs about 24% less in Kingston. 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 Kingston, where all-in costs run around $2,280, than in Lisbon at $2,316. In Kingston it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon 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 $2,280 in Kingston to $2,316 in Lisbon. 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 – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Lisbon and Kingston?
If budget matters most, go with Kingston. 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.