Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Kuressaare Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Kuressaare

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,296 per month in Lisbon vs $1,523 in Kuressaare, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,376 per month in Lisbon vs $2,262 in Kuressaare, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,457 per month in Lisbon vs $3,002 in Kuressaare, rent included.

Lisbon costs about 51% more than Kuressaare, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Lisbon and Kuressaare sit above the global median – Lisbon by 68%, Kuressaare by 11%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Kuressaare
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59 €15.24
$14.04 €12.17
25.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9 €54.5
$69.2 €59.9
-9.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.58 €10.04
$9.12 €7.91
26.97%
Cappuccino
$3.10 €2.69
$4.09 €3.54
-24.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 €2.16
$3.38 €2.93
-26.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.51
$2.96 €2.56
-41.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.48 €3.02
$6.81 €5.90
-48.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 €2.98
$5.76 €5.00
-40.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Kuressaare
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 €0.99
$1.22 €1.06
-5.74%
White Bread (500g)
$1.91 €1.65
$2.01 €1.75
-4.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 €1.30
$2.45 €2.13
-38.78%
Eggs
$3.98 €3.45
$3.03 €2.63
31.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.29 €11.52
$12.96 €11.23
2.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.01 €6.94
$8.81 €7.64
-9.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.04 €15.64
$15.26 €13.22
18.22%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 €2.04
$1.89 €1.64
24.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.52
$1.53 €1.32
14.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 €1.61
$2.50 €2.17
-26.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.55 €2.21
$3.05 €2.64
-16.39%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.60
$1.11 €0.96
65.77%
Onion (1kg)
$2.10 €1.82
$0.88 €0.76
138.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.49 €1.29
$1.88 €1.63
-20.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 €0.71
$1.25 €1.08
-34.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10 €6.15
$6.90 €5.98
2.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.91 €5.12
$10.65 €9.23
-44.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 €1.14
$1.94 €1.68
-32.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 €1.85
$2.35 €2.03
-9.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Kuressaare
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.36 €2.04
$2.26 €1.96
4.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.62 €40.40
$28.80 €24.96
61.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.08 €3.53
$3.78 €3.28
7.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.14 €0.99
$1.06 €0.92
7.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.09 €14.81
$27.81 €24.10
-38.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.31 €2.00
$1.94 €1.68
19.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K €29.6K
$28.8K €24.9K
18.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K €35.9K
$32.0K €27.7K
29.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Kuressaare
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 €146
$318 €276
-47.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33 €16.75
$11.51 €9.97
67.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51 €29.04
$36.46 €31.60
-8.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Kuressaare
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.84 €42.32
$35.08 €30.40
39.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43 €16.84
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.57 €8.29
$12.19 €10.56
-21.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Kuressaare
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$696 €603
$457 €396
52.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.4K €15.0K
$12.1K €10.5K
42.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Kuressaare
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €91.3
$112 €97.3
-6.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75 €41.38
$50.4 €43.71
-5.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 €87.1
$108 €93.4
-6.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €108
$123 €106
1.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Kuressaare
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,662 €1,440
$513 €445
223.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,246 €1,080
$345 €299
261.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,965 €2,569
$696 €603
326.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,049 €1,775
$515 €446
297.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,834 €6,789
$4,250 €3,683
84.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,464 €3,869
$2,489 €2,157
79.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Kuressaare
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,632 €1,414
$1,306 €1,132
24.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.78
3.93
-3.82%

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

Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026

Last update for Kuressaare: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,662 in Lisbon versus $513 in Kuressaare. 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 25% higher in Lisbon, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Lisbon versus $69.0 in Kuressaare. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $277 vs $290 – 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 Kuressaare: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kuressaare cheaper than Lisbon?
Yes – Lisbon is pricier by about 51%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,444 per month in Lisbon and $2,285 in Kuressaare. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kuressaare, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Lisbon and in Kuressaare?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,296 in Lisbon and $1,523 in Kuressaare. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 62% less in Kuressaare. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Lisbon or in Kuressaare?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kuressaare, where all-in costs run around $1,523, than in Lisbon at $2,296. In Kuressaare it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Lisbon or Kuressaare more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kuressaare – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Kuressaare?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Kuressaare. 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.

Lisbon vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities