Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Salerno Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Salerno

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,268 in Lisbon versus $1,745 in Salerno.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,348 in Lisbon versus $2,693 in Salerno.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,429 in Lisbon versus $3,642 in Salerno.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 30% more expensive than in Salerno, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 64% above, Salerno 27% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Salerno
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.55 €15.12
$14.77 €12.73
18.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.5 €55.6
$45.96 €39.61
40.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.65 €10.04
$11.69 €10.08
-0.34%
Cappuccino
$3.26 €2.81
$2.24 €1.93
45.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 €2.15
$2.74 €2.36
-9.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 €1.44
$1.38 €1.19
21.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.47 €2.99
$5.97 €5.15
-41.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 €3.08
$4.58 €3.95
-21.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Salerno
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 €1.02
$1.54 €1.33
-23.38%
White Bread (500g)
$1.95 €1.68
$1.82 €1.57
7.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 €1.35
$2.42 €2.09
-35.54%
Eggs
$4.01 €3.46
$4.11 €3.54
-2.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.27 €11.44
$16.75 €14.44
-20.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.42 €7.26
$12.71 €10.95
-33.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.23 €15.72
$17.67 €15.23
3.17%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 €2.00
$2.10 €1.81
10.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 €1.49
$2.07 €1.78
-16.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 €1.67
$1.72 €1.48
12.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.64 €2.27
$2.27 €1.96
16.30%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 €1.64
$2.03 €1.75
-6.40%
Onion (1kg)
$2.11 €1.82
$1.72 €1.48
22.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 €1.24
$1.03 €0.89
39.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 €0.69
$0.40 €0.35
100.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.01 €6.04
$6.93 €5.97
1.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.92 €5.11
$5.78 €4.98
2.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 €1.18
$1.65 €1.42
-17.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 €1.85
$2.26 €1.95
-4.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Salerno
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.38 €2.05
$1.72 €1.49
38.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.22 €39.85
$43.44 €37.44
6.40%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.19 €3.61
$6.81 €5.87
-38.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.10 €0.95
$4.14 €3.57
-73.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.26 €14.88
$23.32 €20.10
-25.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.25 €1.94
$2.02 €1.74
11.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K €29.7K
$34.8K €30.0K
-1.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.6K €35.9K
$35.0K €30.2K
18.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Salerno
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$171 €147
$85.4 €73.7
100.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.01 €16.38
$14.21 €12.25
33.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.28 €29.55
$29.82 €25.70
14.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Salerno
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.65 €42.80
$59.3 €51.1
-16.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.51 €16.81
$11.46 €9.88
70.24%
Cinema Ticket
$10.10 €8.71
$11.78 €10.15
-14.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Salerno
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$699 €603
$290 €250
141.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.8K €15.3K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Salerno
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.2
$90.6 €78.1
15.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.97 €41.35
$41.16 €35.48
16.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 €87.8
$110 €95.0
-7.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128 €111
$137 €118
-6.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Salerno
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,661 €1,432
$999 €861
66.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,228 €1,059
$753 €649
63.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,915 €2,513
$1,834 €1,581
58.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,023 €1,744
$1,283 €1,106
57.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,129 €7,007
$5,256 €4,530
54.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,635 €3,996
$2,912 €2,510
59.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Salerno
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,619 €1,396
$1,716 €1,479
-5.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.78
4.25
-11.06%

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

Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026

Last update for Salerno: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,661 in Lisbon and $999 in Salerno. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Salerno pays 6% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $64.0 in Lisbon vs $46.00 in Salerno. Groceries flip the comparison at $281 vs $310, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.

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 Salerno: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Salerno?
Lisbon and Salerno differ by about 30% in total monthly costs ($2,268 vs $1,745 including rent). Salerno 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 6% lower in Salerno. 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 Salerno?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,661 in Lisbon versus $999 in Salerno. 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 Salerno?
Childcare runs $699 in Lisbon versus $290 in Salerno. 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 10% 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 $1,745 in Salerno versus $2,268 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Salerno but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Salerno the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Salerno?
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 Salerno safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Salerno 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 Salerno?
Expats usually find Salerno gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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