😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,299 in Nishinomiya.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $2,016 in Nishinomiya.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $2,732 in Nishinomiya.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 70% more expensive than Nishinomiya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Nishinomiya is 3% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Nishinomiya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.70
$6.98¥1,116
127.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.8
$35.32¥5,650
83.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.05
$4.78¥764
119.87%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$3.00¥480
-4.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$1.08¥173
107.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$0.70¥112
114.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.01
$2.84¥454
22.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$3.03¥485
28.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Nishinomiya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.52¥243
-25.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$1.72¥275
1.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$4.79¥766
-63.26%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$2.41¥385
33.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.62
$10.57¥1,691
27.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$7.56¥1,209
4.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.67
$32.07¥5,130
-50.51%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$5.42¥867
-57.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$2.19¥350
-22.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$3.38¥541
-40.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$6.89¥1,102
-64.30%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$1.77¥283
3.95%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$2.65¥423
-24.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$1.32¥211
46.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.84¥135
-5.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.69
$3.38¥540
95.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.93
$9.31¥1,489
-38.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$2.77¥444
-50.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$2.28¥365
30.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Nishinomiya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$1.28¥205
85.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.23
$54.5¥8,712
-16.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$3.44¥550
24.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$2.92¥467
-71.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.76
$17.26¥2,761
6.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$1.23¥196
67.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$23.4K¥3.7M
46.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$17.3K¥2.8M
127.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Nishinomiya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$133¥21.3K
10.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.67
$27.10¥4,335
-24.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.11
$30.40¥4,863
30.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Nishinomiya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.20
$52.8¥8,441
-9.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.29
$13.65¥2,183
38.61%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.91
$12.23¥1,957
-24.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Nishinomiya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€529
$69.8¥11.2K
779.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$10.5K¥1.7M
53.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Nishinomiya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.1
$44.38¥7,098
135.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.22
$28.99¥4,636
45.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.9
$57.2¥9,144
64.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$92.5¥14.8K
29.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Nishinomiya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,402
$461¥73.8K
252.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,081
$335¥53.5K
275.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,609
$860¥137.5K
252.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,740
$657¥105.0K
207.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,716
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,679
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Nishinomiya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,381
$1,959¥313.4K
-18.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
1.78
114.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Nishinomiya: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $461 in Nishinomiya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Nishinomiya pays 22% 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 $35.00 in Nishinomiya. Groceries flip the comparison at $269 vs $378, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.
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 Nishinomiya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Nishinomiya?
Lisbon and Nishinomiya differ by about 70% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $1,299 including rent). Nishinomiya is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Nishinomiya earns 22% 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 Nishinomiya?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $461 in Nishinomiya. 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 Nishinomiya?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $69.8 in Nishinomiya. 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 40% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,299 in Nishinomiya versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Nishinomiya but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Nishinomiya the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Nishinomiya?
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 Nishinomiya safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Nishinomiya 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 Nishinomiya?
Expats usually find Nishinomiya gentler on the wallet – expenses run 70% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.