Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Markham

For one person, living is cheaper in Lisbon: $2,210 a month against $2,410 in Markham, rent and utilities included – about $2,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lisbon, Portugal
Markham, Canada
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,210
/mo nomad
Markham
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,410
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Markham

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lisbon and in Markham actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $2,410 in Markham.

  • Lisbon $2,210
  • Markham $2,410

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,275 in Lisbon versus $3,495 in Markham.

  • Lisbon $3,275
  • Markham $3,495

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,341 in Lisbon versus $4,580 in Markham.

  • Lisbon $4,341
  • Markham $4,580

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 8% less than in Markham, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 62% above, Markham 77% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Markham
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.65 €14.95
$18.09 CA$25.39
-7.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.7 €55.5
$54.2 CA$76.1
13.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.36 €10.20
$10.73 CA$15.06
5.87%
Cappuccino
$2.97 €2.67
$3.76 CA$5.28
-21.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.06
$1.78 CA$2.50
28.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.56
$1.23 CA$1.73
41.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 €3.06
$3.64 CA$5.11
-6.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 €2.97
$5.72 CA$8.03
-42.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Markham
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.16 €1.04
$2.01 CA$2.83
-42.29%
White Bread (500g)
$1.91 €1.72
$2.30 CA$3.23
-16.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 €1.36
$1.92 CA$2.69
-21.35%
Eggs
$4.02 €3.61
$3.16 CA$4.44
27.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.94 €11.62
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.77 €6.98
$11.99 CA$16.82
-35.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.76 €15.95
$7.16 CA$10.05
148.04%
Apples (1kg)
$2.30 €2.07
$3.75 CA$5.27
-38.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 €1.56
$1.30 CA$1.83
33.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.86 €1.67
$2.36 CA$3.32
-21.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.59 €2.33
$3.31 CA$4.65
-21.75%
Potato (1kg)
$1.82 €1.64
$2.01 CA$2.82
-9.45%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 €1.77
$1.99 CA$2.79
-1.01%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.47 €1.32
$2.79 CA$3.91
-47.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 €0.65
$1.58 CA$2.21
-54.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58 €5.91
$13.44 CA$18.86
-51.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.61 €5.04
$14.79 CA$20.76
-62.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 €1.22
$2.50 CA$3.51
-45.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 €1.92
$3.15 CA$4.42
-32.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Markham
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.33 €2.10
$3.10 CA$4.36
-24.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.68 €40.14
$101 CA$142
-55.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.85 €3.46
$3.34 CA$4.69
15.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.07 €0.96
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.46 €14.79
$18.58 CA$26.07
-11.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.20 €1.98
$1.20 CA$1.68
83.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2K €30.7K
$28.5K CA$40.0K
19.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K €34.8K
$21.6K CA$30.3K
79.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Markham
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$161 €145
$130 CA$182
24.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.41 €16.54
$27.48 CA$38.57
-33.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.74 €29.41
$45.49 CA$63.8
-28.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Markham
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.55 €40.02
$38.54 CA$54.1
15.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10 €17.16
$21.40 CA$30.03
-10.75%
Cinema Ticket
$9.60 €8.62
$10.20 CA$14.32
-5.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Markham
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$668 €600
$526 CA$738
26.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.6K €15.8K
$27.9K CA$39.1K
-36.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Markham
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 €91.6
$43.18 CA$60.6
136.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.46 €39.94
$37.46 CA$52.6
18.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.5 €88.5
$93.7 CA$132
5.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €111
$107 CA$151
15.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Markham
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,608 €1,445
$1,600 CA$2,246
0.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,190 €1,069
$1,354 CA$1,901
-12.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,812 €2,526
$2,679 CA$3,760
4.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,013 €1,808
$2,237 CA$3,139
-9.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,839 €7,042
$6,458 CA$9,063
21.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,576 €4,110
$5,229 CA$7,338
-12.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Markham
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,575 €1,415
$3,216 CA$4,513
-51.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
4.56
-15.57%

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

Last update for Lisbon: October 27, 2026

Last update for Markham: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Markham
$1.4K 13.8% $164
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$272
Markham
$286 * 5% $14
Eating Out
Lisbon
$243
Markham
$264 8.7% $21
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$212
Markham
$203 4.5% $9.5
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$166
Markham
$127 23.6% $39
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$64
Markham
$59 7.5% $4.8
Getting Around
Lisbon
$63
Markham
$117 * 85.2% $54

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,608 in Lisbon and $1,600 in Markham. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Markham pays about 2 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $62 in Lisbon vs $54 in Markham. Groceries flip the comparison at $272 vs $286, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇨🇦 Markham
🕒 Local time
18:38 6:38 PM
14:38 2:38 PM
4 h behind Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
338,503
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 0.898 EUR (1 EUR = 1.11 USD).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.713 USD). 1 EUR = 1.56 CAD (1 CAD = 0.64 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Markham 5,720 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Markham

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 9% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $2,410 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 51% lower in Lisbon. 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: $1,608 in Lisbon versus $1,600 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 $668 in Lisbon versus $526 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 5% higher in Markham. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How far does $3,000 go in Lisbon compared to Markham?
Either city works on $3,000 a month, though Lisbon gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
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.
How do I decide between Lisbon and Markham?
It comes down to priorities – Lisbon wins on affordability, Markham on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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