🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $2,539 in Salisbury.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $3,518 in Salisbury.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $4,496 in Salisbury.
🙂Living in Lisbon costs roughly 13% less than in Salisbury, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon65% above, Salisbury90% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Salisbury
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.70
$22.73£16.94
-30.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.8
$90.2£67.2
-28.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.05
$8.89£6.62
18.22%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$4.69£3.49
-38.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$2.28£1.70
-1.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$1.75£1.30
-14.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.01
$5.87£4.37
-40.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$6.22£4.64
-37.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Salisbury
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.63£1.21
-30.06%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$1.11£0.83
57.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$2.87£2.13
-38.68%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$2.93£2.18
9.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$8.73£6.50
54.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$7.45£5.55
6.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.67
$15.06£11.22
5.38%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$1.84£1.37
25.54%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$1.27£0.95
33.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$3.04£2.26
-33.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$4.63£3.45
-46.87%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$1.22£0.91
50.82%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$1.25£0.93
60.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$0.99£0.74
94.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$1.04£0.77
-24.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.69
$16.24£12.10
-59.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.93
$11.27£8.39
-49.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$1.99£1.48
-31.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$1.88£1.40
57.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Salisbury
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$5.55£4.13
-57.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.22
$112£83.1
-59.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$4.68£3.49
-8.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$1.53£1.14
-46.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.76
$15.98£11.90
14.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$1.87£1.39
10.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$27.3K£20.4K
25.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$33.7K£25.1K
16.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Salisbury
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$387£289
-61.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.67
$15.44£11.50
32.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.10
$41.78£31.13
-5.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Salisbury
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.19
$67.1£50.0
-28.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.29
$12.32£9.18
53.57%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.91
$9.39£6.99
-2.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Salisbury
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€529
$1,309£975
-53.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$18.4K£13.7K
-12.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Salisbury
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.1
$72.7£54.2
43.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.21
$20.73£15.44
102.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.9
$89.1£66.4
5.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$117£87.0
2.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Salisbury
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,401
$1,206£899
34.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,081
$1,142£851
9.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,609
$2,037£1,518
48.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,739
$1,521£1,133
32.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,715
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,678
$4,908£3,657
-12.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Salisbury
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,380
$3,677£2,740
-56.40%
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Salisbury: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $1,206 in Salisbury. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Salisbury pays 129% 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: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $90.0 in Salisbury for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $270 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 Salisbury: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Salisbury?
Lisbon and Salisbury differ by about 15% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $2,539 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Salisbury earns 129% less. 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 Salisbury?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $1,206 in Salisbury. 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 Salisbury?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $1,309 in Salisbury. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in Salisbury. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,210 in Lisbon versus $2,539 in Salisbury, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Salisbury. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Salisbury?
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 Salisbury safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Salisbury 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 Salisbury?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Salisbury. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.