😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $2,099 in Rockford, IL.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,289 in Lisbon versus $2,944 in Rockford, IL.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,369 in Lisbon versus $3,788 in Rockford, IL.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 5% more expensive than in Rockford, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon65% above, Rockford, IL57% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Rockford, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.71€13.76
$14.94$14.94
5.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€55.1
$64.3$64.3
-2.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.53€9.23
$9.21$9.21
14.33%
Cappuccino
$2.88€2.53
$5.19$5.19
-44.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.97
$2.01$2.01
11.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56€1.36
$1.40$1.40
11.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.39€2.97
$4.07$4.07
-16.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90€3.41
$6.16$6.16
-36.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Rockford, IL
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.95
$0.67$0.67
61.19%
White Bread(500g)
$1.73€1.51
$2.24$2.24
-22.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$4.37$4.37
-59.73%
Eggs
$3.16€2.77
$1.74$1.74
81.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.64
$8.02$8.02
65.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.87€6.89
$12.73$12.73
-38.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.84€13.88
$15.35$15.35
3.19%
Apples(1kg)
$2.40€2.11
$5.54$5.54
-56.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.49
$1.06$1.06
60.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$4.56$4.56
-55.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.52€2.21
$4.96$4.96
-49.19%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86€1.63
$2.16$2.16
-13.89%
Onion(1kg)
$2.06€1.81
$2.18$2.18
-5.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.00€1.75
$1.46$1.46
36.99%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78€0.68
$2.74$2.74
-71.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.65€5.82
$10.46$10.46
-36.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€5.06
$15.89$15.89
-63.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.21
$1.69$1.69
-18.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.64
$3.46$3.46
-12.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Rockford, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.33€2.04
$1.52$1.52
53.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.45€39.82
$54.3$54.3
-16.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.57
$2.85$2.85
43.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.80€0.70
$1.55$1.55
-48.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.65€16.34
$21.14$21.14
-11.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.00€1.75
$0.80$0.80
150.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K€31.0K
$29.4K$29.4K
20.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.1K€34.2K
$25.7K$25.7K
52.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Rockford, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150€132
$186$186
-19.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.55€18.01
$42.14$42.14
-51.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.45€34.56
$63.9$63.9
-38.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Rockford, IL
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.06€42.11
$43.21$43.21
11.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.70€16.38
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.30€8.15
$14.52$14.52
-35.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Rockford, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$628€550
$511$511
22.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.4K
$4,070$4,070
304.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Rockford, IL
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€89.0
$42.33$42.33
139.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.55€36.40
$45.82$45.82
-9.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.5€81.0
$79.3$79.3
16.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123€107
$94.6$94.6
29.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Rockford, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,426
$1,498$1,498
8.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,233€1,080
$946$946
30.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,126€2,739
$1,494$1,494
109.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,058€1,803
$1,235$1,235
66.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,762€6,801
$1,479$1,479
424.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,386€3,843
$1,448$1,448
202.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Rockford, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,621€1,420
$3,338$3,338
-51.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
5.77
-33.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 21, 2026
Last update for Rockford, IL: July 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $1,498 in Rockford, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Rockford, IL pays 106% 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 $64.0 in Rockford, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $361 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 Rockford, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Rockford, IL?
Lisbon and Rockford, IL differ by about 5% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $2,099 including rent). Rockford, IL is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 106% lower in Rockford, IL. 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 in Rockford, IL?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $1,498 in Rockford, IL. 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 Rockford, IL?
Childcare runs $628 in Lisbon versus $511 in Rockford, IL. 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 34% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is feasible on a $2,500 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Rockford, IL is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Rockford, IL?
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 Rockford, IL safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Rockford, IL 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 Rockford, IL?
Expats usually find Rockford, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.