😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $2,042 in Remscheid.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $3,059 in Remscheid.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $4,076 in Remscheid.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 12% more expensive than in Remscheid, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon68% above, Remscheid49% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Remscheid
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59€15.33
$15.85€13.82
10.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€54.8
$71.2€62.0
-11.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.58€10.10
$11.38€9.92
1.76%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$3.57€3.11
-13.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.17
$2.24€1.96
11.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74€1.52
$2.21€1.92
-21.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.48€3.03
$4.67€4.07
-25.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€3.00
$3.56€3.10
-3.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Remscheid
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15€1.00
$1.32€1.15
-12.88%
White Bread(500g)
$1.91€1.66
$2.22€1.94
-13.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50€1.31
$3.39€2.95
-55.75%
Eggs
$3.98€3.47
$3.69€3.22
7.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.59
$14.56€12.69
-8.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.98
$10.58€9.22
-24.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.04€15.73
$18.99€16.55
-5.00%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35€2.05
$3.48€3.03
-32.47%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75€1.53
$2.08€1.81
-15.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85€1.62
$2.23€1.94
-17.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.22
$4.04€3.52
-36.88%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.61
$1.38€1.20
33.33%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10€1.83
$1.23€1.07
70.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.30
$1.53€1.34
-2.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.71
$1.08€0.94
-24.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10€6.19
$9.48€8.26
-25.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.91€5.15
$5.84€5.09
1.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.15
$0.98€0.86
33.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.86
$1.56€1.36
36.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Remscheid
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.36€2.05
$3.18€2.77
-25.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.62€40.63
$79.4€69.2
-41.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.55
$4.88€4.25
-16.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.99
$2.65€2.31
-56.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.09€14.90
$34.63€30.19
-50.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.31€2.01
$2.11€1.84
9.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.7K
$31.4K€27.4K
8.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€36.1K
$39.4K€34.3K
5.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Remscheid
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169€147
$397€346
-57.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33€16.85
$37.20€32.42
-48.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51€29.21
$42.59€37.13
-21.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Remscheid
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.84€42.57
$40.79€35.56
19.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43€16.94
$23.46€20.45
-17.18%
Cinema Ticket
$9.57€8.34
$13.64€11.89
-29.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Remscheid
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696€607
$484€422
43.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.4K€15.1K
$9,583€8,353
81.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Remscheid
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€91.8
$98.9€86.2
6.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75€41.62
$35.27€30.75
35.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.6
$112€97.9
-10.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€108
$128€111
-2.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Remscheid
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,662€1,449
$721€628
130.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,246€1,086
$721€629
72.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,965€2,584
$1,635€1,425
81.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,049€1,786
$1,070€933
91.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,834€6,829
$5,948€5,184
31.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,464€3,892
$3,289€2,867
35.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Remscheid
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,632€1,422
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
3.95
-4.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Last update for Remscheid: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $721 in Remscheid. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $71.0 in Remscheid for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $322 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 Remscheid: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Remscheid?
Lisbon and Remscheid differ by about 12% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $2,042 including rent). Remscheid is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Remscheid?
You'd need roughly $3,444 in Lisbon and $3,063 in Remscheid to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in Remscheid?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $721 in Remscheid. 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 Remscheid?
Childcare runs $696 in Lisbon versus $484 in Remscheid. 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 16% 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 $2,042 in Remscheid versus $2,296 in Lisbon, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Remscheid but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Remscheid the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Remscheid?
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 Remscheid safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Remscheid 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 Remscheid?
Expats usually find Remscheid gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.