😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $2,193 in Mount Isa.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $3,287 in Mount Isa.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $4,382 in Mount Isa.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 2% more expensive than Mount Isa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon66% above, Mount Isa64% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Mount Isa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.84
$16.53A$23.14
-2.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.3
$77.2A$108
-16.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.88
$9.59A$13.43
8.24%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.37
$3.52A$4.93
-21.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$2.62A$3.67
-14.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$2.18A$3.06
-27.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€2.99
$6.32A$8.85
-44.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.43
$7.02A$9.83
-43.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Mount Isa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.48A$2.07
-27.03%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.49
$2.41A$3.38
-27.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.49
$1.97A$2.76
-11.68%
Eggs
$3.18€2.72
$3.17A$4.44
0.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43€11.50
$8.66A$12.12
55.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.84
$8.44A$11.82
-5.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€13.77
$13.65A$19.11
17.88%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
$3.18A$4.45
-28.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$2.75A$3.85
-37.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$2.88A$4.04
-32.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
$4.18A$5.86
-39.23%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$2.47A$3.46
-25.91%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$2.09A$2.93
-2.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98€1.69
$2.09A$2.93
-5.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$1.57A$2.20
-45.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.87
$30.78A$43.09
-77.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€4.94
$15.38A$21.53
-62.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$4.47A$6.25
-69.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
$5.42A$7.59
-46.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Mount Isa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.95
$2.59A$3.62
-11.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€40.10
$65.9A$92.2
-28.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.49
$3.54A$4.95
15.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$1.60A$2.24
-48.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27€15.64
$33.64A$47.09
-45.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.72
$1.15A$1.61
74.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.2K
$28.4KA$39.8K
23.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
$22.1KA$30.9K
74.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Mount Isa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145€124
$186A$260
-21.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96€17.94
$27.58A$38.61
-24.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05€34.29
$42.89A$60.1
-6.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Mount Isa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79€41.76
$48.99A$68.6
-0.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€16.00
$15.98A$22.38
16.96%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06€7.76
$13.14A$18.39
-31.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Mount Isa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607€519
$1,634A$2,288
-62.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$12.0KA$16.9K
35.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Mount Isa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.6
$67.8A$94.9
54.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€35.06
$51.0A$71.3
-19.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€80.1
$97.5A$137
-4.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€101
$109A$152
8.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Mount Isa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,373
$1,286A$1,800
24.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,058
$1,053A$1,474
17.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046€2,607
$2,007A$2,809
51.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057€1,761
$1,675A$2,346
22.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709€6,599
$5,673A$7,942
35.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,652
$5,425A$7,596
-21.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Mount Isa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584€1,356
$4,461A$6,246
-64.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
6.34
-39.91%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Last update for Mount Isa: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $1,286 in Mount Isa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mount Isa pays 182% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $77.0 in Mount Isa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $336 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 Mount Isa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Mount Isa?
Lisbon and Mount Isa differ by about 2% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $2,193 including rent). Mount Isa is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Mount Isa earns 182% 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 Mount Isa?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $1,286 in Mount Isa. 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 Mount Isa?
Childcare runs $607 in Lisbon versus $1,634 in Mount Isa. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 24% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $2,193 in Mount Isa versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mount Isa but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Mount Isa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Mount Isa?
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 Mount Isa safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Mount Isa 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 Mount Isa?
Expats usually find Mount Isa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.