Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Montana Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Montana

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $830 in Montana.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $1,325 in Montana.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $1,820 in Montana.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 176% more expensive than in Montana, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Montana is 38% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Montana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19 €14.18
$10.82 BGN 18.00
49.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3 €55.5
$34.78 BGN 57.9
82.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.32 €9.04
$7.81 BGN 12.99
32.14%
Cappuccino
$2.83 €2.48
$1.48 BGN 2.46
91.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.01
$1.40 BGN 2.33
63.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 €1.38
$0.90 BGN 1.49
75.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 €2.98
$1.39 BGN 2.31
144.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03 €3.53
$1.07 BGN 1.78
276.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Montana
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 €0.96
$1.74 BGN 2.89
-37.36%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.53
$0.94 BGN 1.56
86.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$1.82 BGN 3.03
-3.30%
Eggs
$3.17 €2.77
$2.71 BGN 4.51
16.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.19 €11.56
$9.40 BGN 15.64
40.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.97 €6.98
$3.29 BGN 5.47
142.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.53 €13.60
$12.91 BGN 21.48
20.29%
Apples (1kg)
$2.37 €2.07
$1.26 BGN 2.09
88.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 €1.49
$2.51 BGN 4.18
-31.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.76
$1.92 BGN 3.19
4.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.43 €2.13
$2.00 BGN 3.33
21.50%
Potato (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$0.84 BGN 1.40
109.52%
Onion (1kg)
$2.03 €1.78
$0.79 BGN 1.31
156.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.92 €1.68
$1.36 BGN 2.26
41.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.74
$0.56 BGN 0.92
51.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58 €5.76
$3.60 BGN 5.99
82.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.58 €4.89
$5.77 BGN 9.60
-3.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.17
$0.92 BGN 1.52
44.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.60
$1.70 BGN 2.83
74.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Montana
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €1.99
$0.92 BGN 1.53
147.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.79 €40.10
$35.46 BGN 59.0
29.13%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.23 €3.70
$0.67 BGN 1.12
531.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 €0.71
$0.44 BGN 0.73
84.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.44 €16.15
$10.35 BGN 17.22
78.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.08 €1.82
$1.51 BGN 2.51
37.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K €30.4K
$19.7K BGN 32.8K
75.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K €34.3K
$24.4K BGN 40.6K
60.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Montana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €130
$99.2 BGN 165
49.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46 €17.92
$17.07 BGN 28.40
19.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56 €34.64
$8.91 BGN 14.82
344.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Montana
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.99 €42.03
$20.57 BGN 34.22
133.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60 €16.29
$8.65 BGN 14.40
115.03%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22 €8.08
$5.56 BGN 9.25
65.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Montana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$616 €540
$322 BGN 536
91.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.4K €14.4K
$5,484 BGN 9,123
199.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Montana
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 €90.0
$54.0 BGN 89.8
90.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74 €36.55
$29.94 BGN 49.81
39.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.8 €83.0
$75.0 BGN 125
26.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 €107
$105 BGN 174
16.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Montana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,633 €1,430
$218 BGN 363
648.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,232 €1,079
$159 BGN 265
674.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,098 €2,713
$409 BGN 681
657.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,031 €1,779
$304 BGN 506
567.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,831 €6,858
$1,331 BGN 2,214
488.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,389 €3,844
$1,109 BGN 1,845
295.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Montana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,607 €1,408
$1,018 BGN 1,693
57.94%
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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Montana: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $218 in Montana. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 58% 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 $35.00 in Montana for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $203 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 in Montana?
Lisbon and Montana differ by about 176% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $830 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?
Average pay runs 58% higher in Lisbon, 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 in Montana?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $218 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 $616 in Lisbon versus $322 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 $830 in Montana versus $2,291 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 176% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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