Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Melbourne, FL Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Melbourne, FL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $3,296 in Melbourne, FL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $4,432 in Melbourne, FL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $5,568 in Melbourne, FL.

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 30% less than in Melbourne, FL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 68% above, Melbourne, FL 141% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Melbourne, FL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59 €15.32
$25.78 $25.78
-31.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9 €54.8
$73.7 $73.7
-14.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.58 €10.09
$9.81 $9.81
18.04%
Cappuccino
$3.10 €2.70
$5.04 $5.04
-38.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 €2.17
$2.94 $2.94
-15.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.52
$1.92 $1.92
-9.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.48 €3.03
$5.15 $5.15
-32.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 €3.00
$7.39 $7.39
-53.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Melbourne, FL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 €1.00
$0.87 $0.87
32.18%
White Bread (500g)
$1.91 €1.66
$4.30 $4.30
-55.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 €1.31
$3.11 $3.11
-51.77%
Eggs
$3.98 €3.47
$5.58 $5.58
-28.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.29 €11.58
$13.00 $13.00
2.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.01 €6.98
$11.36 $11.36
-29.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.04 €15.71
$14.55 $14.55
23.99%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 €2.05
$4.61 $4.61
-49.02%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.52
$1.58 $1.58
10.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 €1.62
$4.48 $4.48
-58.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.55 €2.22
$5.28 $5.28
-51.70%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.61
$2.99 $2.99
-38.46%
Onion (1kg)
$2.10 €1.83
$3.44 $3.44
-38.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.49 €1.29
$2.28 $2.28
-34.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 €0.71
$2.71 $2.71
-69.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10 €6.18
$9.43 $9.43
-24.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.91 €5.14
$15.28 $15.28
-61.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 €1.15
$2.13 $2.13
-38.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 €1.86
$3.27 $3.27
-34.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Melbourne, FL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.36 €2.05
$3.70 $3.70
-36.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.62 €40.60
$42.55 $42.55
9.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.08 €3.55
$10.11 $10.11
-59.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.14 €0.99
$1.91 $1.91
-40.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.09 €14.89
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.31 €2.01
$0.93 $0.93
148.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K €29.7K
$37.4K $37.4K
-8.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K €36.0K
$25.2K $25.2K
64.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Melbourne, FL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 €147
$170 $170
-0.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33 €16.84
$60.6 $60.6
-68.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51 €29.19
$75.9 $75.9
-55.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Melbourne, FL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.84 €42.54
$41.19 $41.19
18.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43 €16.93
$2.76 $2.76
603.99%
Cinema Ticket
$9.57 €8.33
$12.95 $12.95
-26.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Melbourne, FL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$696 €606
$888 $888
-21.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.4K €15.1K
$20.6K $20.6K
-15.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Melbourne, FL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €91.7
$75.9 $75.9
38.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75 €41.59
$57.6 $57.6
-17.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 €87.6
$117 $117
-14.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €108
$102 $102
21.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Melbourne, FL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,662 €1,447
$2,047 $2,047
-18.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,246 €1,085
$1,864 $1,864
-33.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,965 €2,582
$2,802 $2,802
5.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,049 €1,784
$2,582 $2,582
-20.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,834 €6,823
$2,481 $2,481
215.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,464 €3,888
$2,468 $2,468
80.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Melbourne, FL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,632 €1,421
$3,594 $3,594
-54.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.78
6.1
-38.03%

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

Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026

Last update for Melbourne, FL: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $2,047 in Melbourne, FL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Melbourne, FL pays 120% 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: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $74.0 in Melbourne, FL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $408 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 Melbourne, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Melbourne, FL?
Lisbon and Melbourne, FL differ by about 44% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $3,296 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 120% lower in Melbourne, FL. 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 Melbourne, FL?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $2,047 in Melbourne, FL. 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 Melbourne, FL?
Childcare runs $696 in Lisbon versus $888 in Melbourne, FL. 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 47% higher in Melbourne, FL. 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 Melbourne, FL?
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 Melbourne, FL safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Melbourne, FL 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 Melbourne, FL?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Melbourne, FL. 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