Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Planken Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Planken

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $92.3 in Planken.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $145 in Planken.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $197 in Planken.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 2312% more expensive than Planken, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Planken is 93% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.17 €13.84

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.6 €55.3

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.38 €8.88

Cappuccino

$2.77 €2.37

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 €1.92

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 €1.35

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.49 €2.99

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.00 €3.43

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 €0.93

White Bread (500g)

$1.74 €1.49

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.74 €1.49

Eggs

$3.18 €2.72

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.43 €11.50

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.99 €6.84

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.09 €13.77

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 €1.95

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 €1.48

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 €1.66

Tomato (1kg)

$2.54 €2.18

Potato (1kg)

$1.83 €1.57

Onion (1kg)

$2.04 €1.75

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 €1.69

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 €0.73

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.85 €5.87

Wine (Bottle)

$5.78 €4.94

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 €1.18

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 €2.48

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.28 €1.95

$7.39 CHF 5.84

-69.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.84 €40.10

$61.3 CHF 48.51

-23.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.08 €3.49

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 €0.70

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.27 €15.64

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.01 €1.72

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.3K €30.2K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$38.5K €32.9K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$145 €124

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$20.96 €17.94

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.05 €34.29

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.79 €41.76

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.69 €16.00

Cinema Ticket

$9.06 €7.76

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$607 €519

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.3K €14.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €89.6

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.95 €35.06

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.6 €80.1

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 €101

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,604 €1,373

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,236 €1,058

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,046 €2,607

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,057 €1,761

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,709 €6,599

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,266 €3,652

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,584 €1,356

$9,747 CHF 7,710

-83.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.81

8.1

-52.96%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026

Last update for Planken: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Planken pays 515% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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 Planken: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lisbon and Planken differ by about 2312% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $92.3 including rent). Planken is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Planken earns 515% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

A monthly transit pass in Planken runs roughly 31% less than in Lisbon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

All in, you'll spend $2,227 per month in Lisbon versus $92.3 in Planken – a 2312% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $92.3 in Planken versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Planken but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Planken the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Lisbon and Planken are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Planken gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2312% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.