😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,268 in Lisbon versus $2,169 in Mouscron.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,348 in Lisbon versus $3,132 in Mouscron.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,429 in Lisbon versus $4,094 in Mouscron.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 5% more expensive than in Mouscron, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon64% above, Mouscron57% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Mouscron
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.55€15.13
$22.47€19.37
-21.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.5€55.6
$79.9€68.9
-19.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.65€10.04
$11.43€9.86
1.92%
Cappuccino
$3.26€2.81
$4.57€3.94
-28.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.15
$3.14€2.70
-20.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67€1.44
$3.04€2.62
-45.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47€2.99
$5.40€4.66
-35.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58€3.08
$4.70€4.05
-23.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Mouscron
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18€1.02
$1.28€1.10
-7.81%
White Bread(500g)
$1.95€1.68
$2.80€2.42
-30.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56€1.35
$2.32€2.00
-32.76%
Eggs
$4.01€3.46
$4.06€3.50
-1.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.27€11.45
$12.12€10.45
9.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.42€7.26
$12.91€11.13
-34.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.23€15.72
$19.49€16.80
-6.46%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32€2.00
$2.83€2.44
-18.02%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73€1.49
$2.27€1.96
-23.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93€1.67
$2.28€1.96
-15.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.64€2.28
$2.37€2.04
11.39%
Potato(1kg)
$1.90€1.64
$2.36€2.03
-19.49%
Onion(1kg)
$2.11€1.82
$1.80€1.55
17.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.24
$1.51€1.30
-4.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80€0.69
$0.91€0.79
-12.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.01€6.04
$13.86€11.95
-49.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.92€5.11
$7.51€6.48
-21.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36€1.18
$2.16€1.86
-37.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15€1.85
$1.87€1.61
14.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Mouscron
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.38€2.05
$3.12€2.69
-23.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.22€39.86
$57.6€49.70
-19.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.19€3.61
$10.50€9.06
-60.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.10€0.95
$2.63€2.27
-58.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.26€14.88
$25.87€22.31
-33.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.25€1.94
$1.97€1.70
14.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K€29.7K
$36.1K€31.2K
-4.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.6K€35.9K
$34.8K€30.0K
19.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Mouscron
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$171€147
$220€189
-22.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.01€16.39
$19.15€16.52
-0.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.28€29.56
$56.1€48.39
-38.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Mouscron
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.65€42.81
$36.86€31.78
34.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.51€16.82
$21.10€18.19
-7.54%
Cinema Ticket
$10.10€8.71
$14.96€12.90
-32.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Mouscron
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$699€603
$715€616
-2.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.8K€15.3K
$16.9K€14.6K
4.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Mouscron
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.2
$99.9€86.1
4.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.97€41.36
$26.65€22.98
80.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.8
$91.6€79.0
11.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128€111
$149€129
-13.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Mouscron
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,661€1,433
$981€846
69.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,228€1,059
$854€736
43.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,915€2,514
$1,454€1,254
100.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,023€1,745
$1,197€1,032
69.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,129€7,010
$4,252€3,666
91.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,635€3,997
$3,023€2,606
53.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Mouscron
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,619€1,396
$4,207€3,628
-61.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
3.52
7.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026
Last update for Mouscron: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,661 in Lisbon and $981 in Mouscron. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mouscron pays 160% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $64.0 in Lisbon vs $80.0 in Mouscron for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $281 vs $332 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 Mouscron: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Mouscron?
Lisbon and Mouscron differ by about 5% in total monthly costs ($2,268 vs $2,169 including rent). Mouscron is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 160% lower in Mouscron. 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 in Mouscron?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,661 in Lisbon versus $981 in Mouscron. 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 Mouscron?
Childcare runs $699 in Lisbon versus $715 in Mouscron. 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 18% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $2,169 in Mouscron versus $2,268 in Lisbon, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Mouscron but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Mouscron the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Mouscron?
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 Mouscron safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Mouscron 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 Mouscron?
Expats usually find Mouscron gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.