😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $2,250 in Liverpool.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $3,290 in Liverpool.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $4,330 in Liverpool.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 2% more expensive than in Liverpool, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon68% above, Liverpool64% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Liverpool
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59€15.32
$25.91£19.40
-32.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€54.8
$110£82.2
-42.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.58€10.09
$10.53£7.88
9.97%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$5.12£3.83
-39.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.17
$2.40£1.80
3.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74€1.52
$1.90£1.42
-8.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.48€3.03
$6.94£5.19
-49.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€3.00
$6.57£4.92
-47.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Liverpool
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15€1.00
$1.81£1.36
-36.46%
White Bread(500g)
$1.91€1.66
$1.69£1.27
13.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50€1.31
$2.18£1.63
-31.19%
Eggs
$3.98€3.47
$3.94£2.95
1.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.58
$8.30£6.21
60.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.98
$8.22£6.15
-2.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.04€15.72
$14.27£10.68
26.42%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35€2.05
$2.90£2.17
-18.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75€1.52
$1.65£1.23
6.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85€1.62
$2.92£2.18
-36.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.22
$2.86£2.14
-10.84%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.61
$2.10£1.57
-12.38%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10€1.83
$1.49£1.12
40.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.29
$1.24£0.93
20.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.71
$1.65£1.24
-50.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10€6.18
$24.35£18.23
-70.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.91€5.15
$10.18£7.62
-41.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.15
$2.92£2.19
-55.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.86
$3.10£2.32
-31.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Liverpool
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.36€2.05
$2.71£2.03
-12.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.62€40.61
$104£77.8
-55.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.55
$5.06£3.79
-19.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.99
$2.68£2.01
-57.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.09€14.89
$23.12£17.31
-26.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.31€2.01
$2.03£1.52
13.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.7K
$39.0K£29.2K
-12.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€36.0K
$42.0K£31.4K
-1.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Liverpool
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169€147
$303£227
-44.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33€16.84
$21.61£16.18
-10.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51€29.20
$42.29£31.66
-20.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Liverpool
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.84€42.55
$33.38£24.99
46.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43€16.93
$17.18£12.86
13.10%
Cinema Ticket
$9.57€8.34
$18.70£14.00
-48.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Liverpool
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696€606
$1,783£1,335
-60.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.4K€15.1K
$16.3K£12.2K
6.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Liverpool
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€91.7
$92.1£69.0
14.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75€41.60
$43.00£32.19
11.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.6
$103£77.0
-2.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€108
$103£76.8
21.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Liverpool
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,662€1,448
$1,201£900
38.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,246€1,086
$858£642
45.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,965€2,583
$2,139£1,601
38.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,049€1,785
$1,303£976
57.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,834€6,825
$3,796£2,842
106.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,464€3,889
$2,647£1,982
68.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Liverpool
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,632€1,421
$3,373£2,525
-51.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
5.15
-26.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Last update for Liverpool: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $1,201 in Liverpool. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Liverpool pays 107% 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 $110 in Liverpool for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $294 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 Liverpool: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Liverpool?
Lisbon and Liverpool differ by about 2% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $2,250 including rent). Liverpool is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 107% lower in Liverpool. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in Liverpool?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $1,201 in Liverpool. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lisbon and Liverpool?
Childcare runs $696 in Lisbon versus $1,783 in Liverpool. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $2,250 in Liverpool versus $2,296 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Liverpool but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Liverpool the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Liverpool?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Lisbon or Liverpool safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Liverpool are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Lisbon or Liverpool?
Expats usually find Liverpool gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.