😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $1,761 in Osnabruck.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $2,810 in Osnabruck.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $3,859 in Osnabruck.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 28% more expensive than Osnabruck, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon68% above, Osnabruck31% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Osnabruck
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94€13.73
$12.06€10.39
32.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4€54.6
$68.8€59.3
-7.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.95
$9.12€7.85
13.82%
Cappuccino
$2.79€2.40
$3.52€3.04
-20.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34€2.01
$3.28€2.82
-28.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$2.70€2.33
-41.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43€2.95
$5.33€4.59
-35.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.37
$4.33€3.73
-9.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Osnabruck
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.16€1.00
-6.90%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.52
$2.36€2.03
-25.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71€1.47
$3.67€3.16
-53.41%
Eggs
$3.15€2.71
$3.93€3.39
-19.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.68€11.79
$15.10€13.01
-9.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.90
$14.61€12.59
-45.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.52€13.37
$19.13€16.48
-18.87%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.98
$3.20€2.76
-28.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.41
$1.74€1.50
-5.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.67
$2.31€1.99
-16.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.51€2.17
$4.96€4.27
-49.40%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.54
$1.58€1.36
13.29%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.59€1.37
26.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.69
$1.93€1.66
2.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$1.20€1.03
-30.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79€5.85
$10.22€8.80
-33.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.67€4.89
$5.61€4.83
1.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$1.08€0.93
28.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.60
$1.62€1.40
86.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Osnabruck
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.95
$3.44€2.97
-34.01%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.44€39.15
$55.4€47.69
-17.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.70
$4.97€4.28
-13.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$2.16€1.86
-60.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.28€15.75
$27.69€23.86
-33.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99€1.71
$1.95€1.68
2.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.2K
$31.8K€27.4K
10.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K€34.1K
$40.9K€35.2K
-3.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Osnabruck
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146€126
$228€196
-35.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45€17.62
$46.16€39.77
-55.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98€33.58
$54.7€47.14
-28.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Osnabruck
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.98€42.21
$35.79€30.84
36.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83€16.22
$26.50€22.83
-28.94%
Cinema Ticket
$9.52€8.21
$13.65€11.76
-30.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Osnabruck
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$608€524
$252€218
140.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.2K
$11.4K€9,788
45.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Osnabruck
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€89.5
$99.6€85.8
4.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12€36.29
$78.5€67.7
-46.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.2€79.5
$101€86.6
-8.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$132€114
-9.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Osnabruck
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621€1,397
$718€619
125.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,268€1,092
$514€443
146.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,048€2,626
$1,533€1,321
98.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,009€1,731
$1,177€1,014
70.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,663€6,602
$3,816€3,288
100.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,329€3,730
$3,431€2,956
26.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Osnabruck
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,585€1,366
$2,220€1,913
-28.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
3.98
-4.27%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026
Last update for Osnabruck: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $718 in Osnabruck. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Osnabruck pays 40% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $69.0 in Osnabruck for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $352 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 Osnabruck: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Osnabruck?
Lisbon and Osnabruck differ by about 28% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $1,761 including rent). Osnabruck is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Osnabruck earns 40% 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 Osnabruck?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $718 in Osnabruck. 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 Osnabruck?
Childcare runs $608 in Lisbon versus $252 in Osnabruck. 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 31% 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 $1,761 in Osnabruck versus $2,263 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Osnabruck but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Osnabruck the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Osnabruck?
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 Osnabruck safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Osnabruck 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 Osnabruck?
Expats usually find Osnabruck gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.