😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $2,017 in Oldenburg.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $2,917 in Oldenburg.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $3,817 in Oldenburg.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 10% more expensive than Oldenburg, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon66% above, Oldenburg51% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Oldenburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.84
$11.18€9.57
44.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.3
$78.6€67.3
-17.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.88
$11.47€9.82
-9.50%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.37
$3.84€3.29
-27.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$4.13€3.53
-45.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$3.51€3.00
-55.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€2.99
$5.20€4.45
-32.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.43
$4.27€3.66
-6.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Oldenburg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.31€1.12
-17.56%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.49
$2.21€1.89
-21.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.49
$3.48€2.97
-50.00%
Eggs
$3.18€2.72
$4.10€3.51
-22.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43€11.50
$15.34€13.13
-12.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.84
$15.30€13.10
-47.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€13.77
$19.60€16.78
-17.91%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
$3.18€2.72
-28.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$1.74€1.49
-1.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$2.21€1.89
-12.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
$4.68€4.01
-45.73%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$1.52€1.30
20.39%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$1.61€1.38
26.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98€1.69
$2.03€1.74
-2.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$1.03€0.88
-17.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.87
$9.26€7.92
-26.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€4.94
$7.21€6.17
-19.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$1.07€0.92
28.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
$1.76€1.50
64.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Oldenburg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.95
$3.41€2.92
-33.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€40.10
$67.9€58.2
-31.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.49
$5.22€4.47
-21.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$2.02€1.73
-59.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27€15.64
$51.1€43.74
-64.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.72
$2.05€1.75
-1.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.2K
$31.9K€27.3K
10.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
$34.3K€29.4K
12.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Oldenburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145€124
$292€250
-50.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96€17.94
$39.92€34.17
-47.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05€34.29
$54.4€46.60
-26.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Oldenburg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79€41.76
$36.89€31.58
32.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€16.00
$7.94€6.79
135.39%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06€7.76
$13.97€11.96
-35.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Oldenburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607€519
$678€581
-10.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$10.5K€9,030
54.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Oldenburg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.6
$141€120
-25.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€35.06
$34.26€29.33
19.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€80.1
$117€101
-20.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€101
$115€98.4
3.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Oldenburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,373
$976€836
64.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,058
$695€595
77.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046€2,607
$1,286€1,101
136.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057€1,761
$945€809
117.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709€6,599
$4,405€3,771
74.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,652
$3,220€2,756
32.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Oldenburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584€1,356
$3,732€3,194
-57.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
3.96
-3.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Last update for Oldenburg: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $976 in Oldenburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Oldenburg pays 136% 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 $79.0 in Oldenburg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $357 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 Oldenburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Oldenburg?
Lisbon and Oldenburg differ by about 10% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $2,017 including rent). Oldenburg is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Oldenburg earns 136% 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 Oldenburg?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $976 in Oldenburg. 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 Oldenburg?
Childcare runs $607 in Lisbon versus $678 in Oldenburg. 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 32% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,017 in Oldenburg versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Oldenburg but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Oldenburg the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Oldenburg?
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 Oldenburg safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Oldenburg 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 Oldenburg?
Expats usually find Oldenburg gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.