Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and MontanaCost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Montana
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $842 in Montana.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,323 in Montana.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $1,805 in Montana.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 163% more expensive than Montana, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Montana is 37% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Montana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.70
$10.45BGN 17.38
52.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.8
$34.87BGN 58.0
85.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.05
$7.92BGN 13.18
32.70%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$1.46BGN 2.44
96.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$1.38BGN 2.29
62.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$0.87BGN 1.45
72.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.01
$1.32BGN 2.20
164.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$1.04BGN 1.73
273.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Montana
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.70BGN 2.83
-32.94%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$1.00BGN 1.66
75.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$1.81BGN 3.02
-2.76%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$2.65BGN 4.40
21.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.62
$9.49BGN 15.79
42.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$3.25BGN 5.41
143.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.67
$12.84BGN 21.36
23.60%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$1.26BGN 2.10
83.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$2.62BGN 4.36
-35.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.99BGN 3.31
1.01%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$2.10BGN 3.50
17.14%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$0.84BGN 1.39
119.05%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$0.74BGN 1.23
170.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$1.36BGN 2.26
41.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.51BGN 0.85
54.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.69
$3.55BGN 5.91
86.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.93
$5.90BGN 9.81
-3.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$0.91BGN 1.51
50.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$1.71BGN 2.85
73.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Montana
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$0.92BGN 1.53
157.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.23
$35.97BGN 59.9
26.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$0.67BGN 1.11
540.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.43BGN 0.72
90.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.76
$10.60BGN 17.63
72.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$1.51BGN 2.51
36.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$20.1KBGN 33.5K
70.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$24.4KBGN 40.6K
61.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Montana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$99.0BGN 165
49.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.67
$17.04BGN 28.35
20.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.11
$8.88BGN 14.78
346.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Montana
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.20
$20.79BGN 34.58
130.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.29
$9.07BGN 15.09
108.60%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.91
$5.68BGN 9.45
61.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Montana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€529
$324BGN 539
89.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$5,558BGN 9,246
188.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Montana
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.1
$52.9BGN 87.9
97.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.22
$29.33BGN 48.79
43.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.9
$72.5BGN 121
29.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$106BGN 177
12.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Montana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,402
$223BGN 371
629.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,081
$164BGN 273
665.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,609
$414BGN 688
632.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,740
$305BGN 507
563.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,716
$1,352BGN 2,249
476.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,679
$1,090BGN 1,813
292.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Montana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,381
$1,036BGN 1,723
54.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
3.2
19.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Montana: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $223 in Montana. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 55% 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: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $35.00 in Montana for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $204 per month, with Montana 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 Montana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Montana?
Lisbon and Montana differ by about 163% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $842 including rent). Montana is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Montana?
Lisbon pays 55% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Montana?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $223 in Montana. 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 Montana?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $324 in Montana. 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 32% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $842 in Montana versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Montana but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Montana the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Montana?
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 Montana safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Montana 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 Montana?
Expats usually find Montana gentler on the wallet – expenses run 163% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.