Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Markham Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Markham

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,268 in Lisbon versus $2,532 in Markham.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,348 in Lisbon versus $3,625 in Markham.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,429 in Lisbon versus $4,718 in Markham.

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 10% less than in Markham, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 64% above, Markham 84% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Markham
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.55 €15.12
$18.31 CA$25.40
-4.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.5 €55.6
$53.3 CA$74.0
20.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.65 €10.04
$10.75 CA$14.91
8.37%
Cappuccino
$3.26 €2.81
$3.74 CA$5.19
-12.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 €2.15
$1.76 CA$2.44
41.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 €1.44
$1.38 CA$1.91
21.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.47 €2.99
$4.59 CA$6.37
-24.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 €3.08
$6.87 CA$9.52
-47.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Markham
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 €1.02
$2.05 CA$2.84
-42.44%
White Bread (500g)
$1.95 €1.68
$2.22 CA$3.08
-12.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 €1.35
$2.04 CA$2.82
-23.53%
Eggs
$4.01 €3.46
$3.10 CA$4.29
29.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.27 €11.44
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.42 €7.26
$12.38 CA$17.17
-31.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.23 €15.72
$7.37 CA$10.22
147.35%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 €2.00
$3.81 CA$5.29
-39.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 €1.49
$1.30 CA$1.81
33.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 €1.67
$2.37 CA$3.29
-18.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.64 €2.27
$3.35 CA$4.64
-21.19%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 €1.64
$2.14 CA$2.97
-11.21%
Onion (1kg)
$2.11 €1.82
$1.94 CA$2.69
8.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 €1.24
$2.93 CA$4.07
-50.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 €0.69
$1.54 CA$2.14
-48.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.01 €6.04
$13.94 CA$19.34
-49.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.92 €5.11
$15.42 CA$21.39
-61.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 €1.18
$2.49 CA$3.45
-45.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 €1.85
$3.32 CA$4.61
-35.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Markham
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.38 €2.05
$2.99 CA$4.15
-20.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.22 €39.85
$94.2 CA$131
-50.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.19 €3.61
$3.35 CA$4.64
25.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.10 €0.95
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.26 €14.88
$18.94 CA$26.27
-8.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.25 €1.94
$1.12 CA$1.55
100.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K €29.7K
$29.1K CA$40.3K
18.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.6K €35.9K
$18.6K CA$25.9K
123.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Markham
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$171 €147
$132 CA$183
29.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.01 €16.38
$27.57 CA$38.24
-31.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.28 €29.55
$46.96 CA$65.1
-27.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Markham
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.65 €42.80
$43.80 CA$60.8
13.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.51 €16.81
$21.39 CA$29.66
-8.79%
Cinema Ticket
$10.10 €8.71
$10.34 CA$14.34
-2.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Markham
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$699 €603
$900 CA$1,248
-22.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.8K €15.3K
$28.0K CA$38.9K
-36.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Markham
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.2
$44.36 CA$61.5
135.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.97 €41.35
$38.94 CA$54.0
23.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 €87.8
$97.6 CA$135
4.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128 €111
$98.0 CA$136
30.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Markham
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,661 €1,432
$1,629 CA$2,260
1.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,228 €1,059
$1,419 CA$1,968
-13.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,915 €2,513
$2,805 CA$3,891
3.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,023 €1,744
$2,330 CA$3,232
-13.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,129 €7,007
$6,175 CA$8,564
31.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,635 €3,996
$5,495 CA$7,621
-15.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Markham
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,619 €1,396
$3,213 CA$4,456
-49.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.78
4.56
-17.11%

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

Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026

Last update for Markham: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,661 in Lisbon and $1,629 in Markham. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Markham pays 98% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $64.0 in Lisbon vs $53.0 in Markham. Groceries flip the comparison at $281 vs $291, 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 Markham: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Markham?
Lisbon and Markham differ by about 12% in total monthly costs ($2,268 vs $2,532 including rent). Lisbon 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 98% lower in Markham. 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 Markham?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,661 in Lisbon versus $1,629 in Markham. 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 Markham?
Childcare runs $699 in Lisbon versus $900 in Markham. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Markham. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Lisbon is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Markham?
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 Markham safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Markham 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 Markham?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Markham. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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