😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $2,208 in Merthyr Tydfil.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $3,061 in Merthyr Tydfil.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $3,915 in Merthyr Tydfil.
😐Monthly costs are close between Lisbon and Merthyr Tydfil; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon65% above, Merthyr Tydfil65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Merthyr Tydfil
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.69
$20.20£15.01
-21.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.7
$62.0£46.07
4.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.04
$8.12£6.04
29.43%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$3.72£2.77
-22.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$2.29£1.70
-2.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$1.74£1.30
-13.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.00
$5.16£3.83
-32.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$4.54£3.37
-14.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Merthyr Tydfil
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.85£1.38
-38.38%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$1.68£1.25
4.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$2.82£2.09
-37.59%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$5.49£4.08
-41.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$14.52£10.80
-7.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$8.93£6.64
-11.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.65
$14.14£10.51
12.23%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$4.08£3.03
-43.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$1.54£1.15
10.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$3.17£2.35
-36.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$5.71£4.24
-56.92%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$1.64£1.22
12.20%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$1.98£1.48
1.01%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$1.05£0.78
83.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$2.06£1.53
-61.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.68
$19.75£14.68
-66.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.92
$11.99£8.91
-52.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.17
$3.47£2.58
-60.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$4.59£3.41
-35.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Merthyr Tydfil
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$3.39£2.52
-30.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.19
$102£75.5
-55.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$8.32£6.18
-48.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$1.45£1.08
-43.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.74
$33.77£25.10
-45.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$1.91£1.42
7.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$37.7K£28.0K
-9.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$44.8K£33.3K
-12.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Merthyr Tydfil
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$380£282
-61.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.65
$18.76£13.95
9.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.08
$47.49£35.30
-16.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Merthyr Tydfil
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.16
$45.79£34.04
4.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.28
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.90
$14.68£10.91
-37.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Merthyr Tydfil
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€528
$1,754£1,304
-64.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$18.3K£13.6K
-12.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Merthyr Tydfil
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.0
$94.1£70.0
11.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.18
$52.9£39.29
-20.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.8
$92.9£69.1
1.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$120£88.9
0.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Merthyr Tydfil
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,400
$812£604
100.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,080
$781£580
60.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,607
$1,181£878
156.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,738
$1,033£768
95.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,709
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,675
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Merthyr Tydfil
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,379
$1,606£1,194
-0.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
5.74
-33.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Merthyr Tydfil: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $812 in Merthyr Tydfil. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Merthyr Tydfil pays 0% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $62.0 in Merthyr Tydfil. Groceries flip the comparison at $269 vs $358, 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 Merthyr Tydfil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Merthyr Tydfil earns 0% less. 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 Merthyr Tydfil?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $812 in Merthyr Tydfil. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Lisbon and Merthyr Tydfil?
A monthly transit pass in Merthyr Tydfil runs roughly 123% less than in Lisbon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 33% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,208 in Merthyr Tydfil versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Merthyr Tydfil but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Merthyr Tydfil the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Merthyr Tydfil?
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 Merthyr Tydfil safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Merthyr Tydfil 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 Merthyr Tydfil?
It comes down to priorities – Merthyr Tydfil wins on affordability, Lisbon on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.