Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Merrillville, IN Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Merrillville, IN

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $2,561 in Merrillville, IN.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $3,739 in Merrillville, IN.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $4,917 in Merrillville, IN.

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 12% less than in Merrillville, IN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 68% above, Merrillville, IN 91% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Merrillville, IN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94 €13.73
$18.32 $18.32
-12.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4 €54.6
$63.7 $63.7
-0.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 €8.95
$9.94 $9.94
4.43%
Cappuccino
$2.79 €2.40
$5.25 $5.25
-46.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 €2.01
$3.18 $3.18
-26.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 €1.35
$2.16 $2.16
-27.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.43 €2.95
$5.15 $5.15
-33.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 €3.37
$6.98 $6.98
-43.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Merrillville, IN
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.93
$0.80 $0.80
35.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.77 €1.52
$3.43 $3.43
-48.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 €1.47
$4.61 $4.61
-62.91%
Eggs
$3.15 €2.71
$4.33 $4.33
-27.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.68 €11.79
$10.16 $10.16
34.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.01 €6.90
$12.51 $12.51
-35.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.52 €13.37
$15.28 $15.28
1.57%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 €1.98
$5.75 $5.75
-60.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 €1.41
$1.16 $1.16
41.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 €1.67
$4.50 $4.50
-56.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.51 €2.17
$4.70 $4.70
-46.60%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 €1.54
$2.14 $2.14
-16.36%
Onion (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$2.09 $2.09
-3.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 €1.69
$1.90 $1.90
3.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 €0.73
$2.60 $2.60
-67.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79 €5.85
$10.58 $10.58
-35.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.67 €4.89
$11.97 $11.97
-52.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 €1.20
$1.83 $1.83
-24.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 €2.60
$3.53 $3.53
-14.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Merrillville, IN
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.27 €1.95
$1.97 $1.97
15.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.44 €39.15
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.70
$2.76 $2.76
55.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 €0.73
$2.21 $2.21
-61.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.28 €15.75
$20.96 $20.96
-12.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.99 €1.71
$0.86 $0.86
131.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K €30.2K
$29.8K $29.8K
17.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K €34.1K
$26.5K $26.5K
49.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Merrillville, IN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$146 €126
$184 $184
-20.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45 €17.62
$48.41 $48.41
-57.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98 €33.58
$62.5 $62.5
-37.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Merrillville, IN
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.98 €42.21
$43.17 $43.17
13.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83 €16.22
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.52 €8.21
$14.45 $14.45
-34.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Merrillville, IN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$608 €524
$1,806 $1,806
-66.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K €14.2K
$23.9K $23.9K
-30.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Merrillville, IN
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 €89.5
$42.73 $42.73
143.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12 €36.29
$44.67 $44.67
-5.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.2 €79.5
$80.0 $80.0
15.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$105 $105
14.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Merrillville, IN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,621 €1,397
$1,580 $1,580
2.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,268 €1,092
$1,351 $1,351
-6.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,048 €2,626
$2,588 $2,588
17.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,009 €1,731
$2,263 $2,263
-11.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,663 €6,602
$2,587 $2,587
196.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,329 €3,730
$2,415 $2,415
79.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Merrillville, IN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,585 €1,366
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
6.55
-41.83%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026

Last update for Merrillville, IN: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $1,580 in Merrillville, IN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $64.0 in Merrillville, IN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $384 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 Merrillville, IN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Merrillville, IN?
Lisbon and Merrillville, IN differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $2,561 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Merrillville, IN?
You'd need roughly $3,394 in Lisbon and $3,841 in Merrillville, IN to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Merrillville, IN?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $1,580 in Merrillville, IN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 43% higher in Merrillville, IN. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Merrillville, IN?
All in, you'll spend $2,263 per month in Lisbon versus $2,561 in Merrillville, IN – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,263 in Lisbon versus $2,561 in Merrillville, IN, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Merrillville, IN. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Merrillville, IN?
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 Merrillville, IN safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Merrillville, IN 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 Merrillville, IN?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Merrillville, IN. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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