Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Redwood City, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Redwood City, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $4,123 in Redwood City, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $6,195 in Redwood City, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $8,268 in Redwood City, CA.

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 44% less than in Redwood City, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 68% above, Redwood City, CA 201% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.59 €15.32

$25.05 $25.05

-29.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.9 €54.8

$109 $109

-42.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.58 €10.09

$13.28 $13.28

-12.80%

Cappuccino

$3.10 €2.70

$5.58 $5.58

-44.44%

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

$2.49 €2.17

$3.17 $3.17

-21.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 €1.52

$2.28 $2.28

-23.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.48 €3.03

$7.91 $7.91

-56.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 €3.00

$8.96 $8.96

-61.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 €1.00

$1.52 $1.52

-24.34%

White Bread (500g)

$1.91 €1.66

$5.19 $5.19

-63.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 €1.31

$4.93 $4.93

-69.57%

Eggs

$3.98 €3.47

$7.56 $7.56

-47.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.29 €11.58

$15.34 $15.34

-13.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.01 €6.98

$10.56 $10.56

-24.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.04 €15.72

$19.70 $19.70

-8.43%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 €2.05

$6.13 $6.13

-61.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 €1.52

$2.89 $2.89

-39.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 €1.62

$4.42 $4.42

-58.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.55 €2.22

$6.49 $6.49

-60.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 €1.61

$3.02 $3.02

-39.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.10 €1.83

$3.78 $3.78

-44.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.49 €1.29

$2.84 $2.84

-47.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 €0.71

$2.71 $2.71

-69.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.10 €6.18

$11.89 $11.89

-40.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.91 €5.15

$20.32 $20.32

-70.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 €1.15

$2.67 $2.67

-50.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 €1.86

$3.54 $3.54

-39.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.36 €2.05

$4.70 $4.70

-49.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.62 €40.61

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.08 €3.55

$4.05 $4.05

0.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.14 €0.99

$1.23 $1.23

-7.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.09 €14.89

$39.52 $39.52

-56.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.31 €2.01

$1.43 $1.43

61.54%

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

$34.1K €29.7K

$36.9K $36.9K

-7.60%

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

$41.4K €36.0K

$26.2K $26.2K

57.74%

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

$169 €147

$238 $238

-29.12%

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

$19.33 €16.84

$53.2 $53.2

-63.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.51 €29.20

$69.4 $69.4

-51.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.84 €42.55

$236 $236

-79.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.43 €16.93

$30.21 $30.21

-35.68%

Cinema Ticket

$9.57 €8.34

$17.94 $17.94

-46.66%

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

$696 €606

$2,854 $2,854

-75.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.4K €15.1K

$43.2K $43.2K

-59.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €91.7

$44.29 $44.29

137.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.75 €41.60

$24.99 $24.99

91.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 €87.6

$98.5 $98.5

2.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 €108

$117 $117

6.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,662 €1,448

$4,232 $4,232

-60.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,246 €1,086

$2,483 $2,483

-49.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,965 €2,583

$5,740 $5,740

-48.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,049 €1,785

$4,574 $4,574

-55.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,834 €6,825

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,464 €3,889

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,632 €1,421

$8,169 $8,169

-80.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.78

6.46

-41.49%

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

Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026

Last update for Redwood City, CA: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $4,232 in Redwood City, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Redwood City, CA pays 401% 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 $109 in Redwood City, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $495 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 Redwood City, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lisbon and Redwood City, CA differ by about 80% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $4,123 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 401% lower in Redwood City, CA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $4,232 in Redwood City, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 79% higher in Redwood City, CA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,296 per month in Lisbon versus $4,123 in Redwood City, CA – a 80% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Lisbon is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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 Redwood City, CA 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 Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 80% less than in Redwood City, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.