😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $998 in Murmansk.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $1,523 in Murmansk.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $2,048 in Murmansk.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 127% more expensive than Murmansk, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Murmansk is 26% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Murmansk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94€13.82
$9.47₽681
68.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4€54.9
$38.66₽2,779
63.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€9.00
$5.44₽391
90.81%
Cappuccino
$2.79€2.42
$1.92₽138
45.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34€2.03
$0.86₽62.0
172.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.36
$0.66₽47.23
137.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43€2.97
$1.41₽101
143.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.39
$2.53₽182
54.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Murmansk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.22₽87.9
-11.48%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.53
$0.76₽54.3
132.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71€1.48
$1.48₽106
15.54%
Eggs
$3.15€2.73
$2.23₽160
41.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.68€11.86
$10.76₽774
27.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.94
$4.74₽341
68.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.52€13.45
$8.67₽624
79.01%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.99
$1.93₽139
18.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.42
$1.86₽133
-11.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.68
$2.30₽166
-15.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.51€2.18
$5.22₽375
-51.92%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.55
$0.99₽71.2
80.81%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01€1.74
$0.67₽47.93
200.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.70
$1.36₽97.5
44.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$1.38₽99.2
-39.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79€5.88
$3.52₽253
92.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.67€4.92
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$1.00₽72.2
39.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.61
$1.93₽139
56.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Murmansk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.97
$0.64₽46.14
254.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.44€39.38
$16.84₽1,211
169.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.72
$2.04₽147
110.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.74
$2.07₽149
-58.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.28€15.84
$4.45₽320
310.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99€1.72
$0.79₽56.8
151.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.4K
$34.4K₽2.5M
1.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K€34.3K
$35.4K₽2.5M
11.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Murmansk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146€127
$108₽7,765
35.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45€17.72
$5.80₽417
252.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98€33.78
$11.60₽834
236.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Murmansk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.98€42.46
$35.21₽2,532
39.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83€16.32
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.52€8.25
$4.08₽294
133.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Murmansk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$608€527
$327₽23.5K
86.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.3K
$6,870₽493.9K
140.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Murmansk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€90.0
$53.2₽3,825
95.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12€36.50
$45.01₽3,236
-6.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.2€79.9
$115₽8,256
-19.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€104
$105₽7,562
14.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Murmansk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621€1,405
$450₽32.3K
260.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,268€1,099
$314₽22.6K
304.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,048€2,642
$630₽45.3K
383.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,009€1,741
$451₽32.4K
345.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,663€6,641
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,329€3,752
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Murmansk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,585€1,374
$1,137₽81.8K
39.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
17.17
-77.81%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026
Last update for Murmansk: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $450 in Murmansk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 39% 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 $39.00 in Murmansk for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $208 per month, with Murmansk 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 Murmansk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Murmansk?
Lisbon and Murmansk differ by about 127% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $998 including rent). Murmansk is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Murmansk?
Lisbon pays 39% 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 Murmansk?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $450 in Murmansk. 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 Murmansk?
Childcare runs $608 in Lisbon versus $327 in Murmansk. 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 29% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $998 in Murmansk versus $2,263 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Murmansk but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Murmansk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Murmansk?
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 Murmansk safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Murmansk 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 Murmansk?
Expats usually find Murmansk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 127% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.