Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Lexington, KY Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Lexington, KY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,316 in Lisbon versus $2,188 in Lexington, KY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,361 in Lisbon versus $3,254 in Lexington, KY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,405 in Lisbon versus $4,320 in Lexington, KY.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 6% more expensive than in Lexington, KY, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 69% above, Lexington, KY 59% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Lexington, KY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.30 €14.87
$12.86 $12.86
34.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3 €54.4
$56.8 $56.8
11.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.39 €9.79
$9.22 $9.22
23.54%
Cappuccino
$3.19 €2.74
$4.93 $4.93
-35.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 €2.10
$2.51 $2.51
-2.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76 €1.52
$2.05 $2.05
-14.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.59 €3.09
$5.04 $5.04
-28.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 €2.92
$5.91 $5.91
-42.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Lexington, KY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 €1.06
$0.79 $0.79
56.96%
White Bread (500g)
$1.98 €1.71
$2.87 $2.87
-31.01%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.52 €1.31
$4.01 $4.01
-62.09%
Eggs
$4.04 €3.47
$3.63 $3.63
11.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.54 €11.64
$10.41 $10.41
30.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.39 €7.21
$10.08 $10.08
-16.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.25 €15.69
$14.12 $14.12
29.25%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 €1.97
$5.39 $5.39
-57.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 €1.50
$1.48 $1.48
17.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.86 €1.60
$5.78 $5.78
-67.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.63 €2.26
$4.36 $4.36
-39.68%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 €1.65
$4.10 $4.10
-53.17%
Onion (1kg)
$2.09 €1.80
$3.08 $3.08
-32.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 €1.24
$2.17 $2.17
-33.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 €0.72
$3.01 $3.01
-72.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78 €5.83
$8.53 $8.53
-20.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.71 €4.91
$12.76 $12.76
-55.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 €1.18
$2.74 $2.74
-49.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 €1.91
$4.21 $4.21
-47.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Lexington, KY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.40 €2.06
$1.03 $1.03
133.01%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.78 €40.22
$29.57 $29.57
58.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.17 €3.59
$4.86 $4.86
-14.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.14 €0.98
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.68 €15.20
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.32 €2.00
$0.87 $0.87
166.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K €30.4K
$35.9K $35.9K
-1.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K €35.6K
$24.9K $24.9K
66.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Lexington, KY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 €146
$188 $188
-9.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.34 €16.62
$104 $104
-81.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.64 €28.92
$75.7 $75.7
-55.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Lexington, KY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.10 €41.35
$32.10 $32.10
49.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.90 €17.11
$29.70 $29.70
-33.00%
Cinema Ticket
$9.92 €8.53
$15.22 $15.22
-34.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Lexington, KY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$717 €617
$1,619 $1,619
-55.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.5K €15.0K
$25.5K $25.5K
-31.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Lexington, KY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.1
$50.8 $50.8
106.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.95 €40.36
$31.77 $31.77
47.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 €88.9
$116 $116
-10.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €107
$155 $155
-20.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Lexington, KY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,677 €1,441
$1,116 $1,116
50.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,271 €1,093
$938 $938
35.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,985 €2,566
$2,024 $2,024
47.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,992 €1,713
$1,590 $1,590
25.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,826 €6,728
$2,063 $2,063
279.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,658 €4,004
$2,066 $2,066
125.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Lexington, KY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,583 €1,361
$3,943 $3,943
-59.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.79
6.18
-38.67%

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

Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026

Last update for Lexington, KY: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,677 in Lisbon and $1,116 in Lexington, KY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lexington, KY pays 149% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $57.0 in Lexington, KY. Groceries flip the comparison at $283 vs $383, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.

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 Lexington, KY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Lexington, KY?
Lexington, KY wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Lisbon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lexington, KY the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lisbon or in Lexington, KY?
On paper, salaries run 149% lower in Lexington, KY. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lisbon compared to Lexington, KY?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,677 in Lisbon versus $1,116 in Lexington, KY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Lisbon and in Lexington, KY?
Dining out is cheaper in Lexington, KY – a meal for two runs $57.0 versus $63.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Lisbon compared to Lexington, KY?
All in, you'll spend $2,316 per month in Lisbon versus $2,188 in Lexington, KY – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Lisbon or in Lexington, KY?
At $2,188 in Lexington, KY versus $2,316 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lexington, KY but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Lexington, KY the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Lexington, KY?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lexington, KY delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,188 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lexington, KY hard to pass up.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Lexington, KY?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Lexington, KY 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Lexington, KY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Lisbon vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities