🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $2,434 in Schiedam.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $3,579 in Schiedam.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $4,723 in Schiedam.
🙂Living in Lisbon costs roughly 9% less than in Schiedam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon65% above, Schiedam82% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Schiedam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.69
$17.29€14.88
-7.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.7
$87.0€74.8
-25.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.04
$14.05€12.08
-25.20%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$4.38€3.77
-34.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$3.44€2.96
-34.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$2.81€2.42
-46.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.00
$6.98€6.00
-50.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$5.66€4.87
-31.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Schiedam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.30€1.11
-12.31%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$2.13€1.83
-17.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$2.89€2.49
-39.10%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$4.74€4.08
-32.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$14.67€12.62
-8.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$15.47€13.31
-48.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.65
$16.34€14.06
-2.88%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$2.33€2.01
-0.86%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$2.43€2.09
-30.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.97€1.69
2.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$4.76€4.10
-48.32%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$1.97€1.70
-6.60%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$1.95€1.68
2.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$1.20€1.03
60.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.72€0.62
9.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.68
$13.17€11.33
-49.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.92
$5.99€5.15
-4.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.17
$1.40€1.21
-2.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$2.38€2.05
24.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Schiedam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$2.37€2.04
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.19
$68.8€59.2
-33.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$4.75€4.08
-9.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$2.03€1.74
-59.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.74
$34.30€29.51
-46.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$2.19€1.89
-5.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$28.9K€24.9K
18.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$28.8K€24.8K
36.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Schiedam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$238€204
-37.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.65
$22.85€19.66
-10.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.08
$51.8€44.59
-23.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Schiedam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.16
$23.33€20.07
105.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.28
$23.03€19.81
-17.85%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.90
$15.43€13.28
-40.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Schiedam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€528
$2,110€1,815
-70.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$12.0K€10.3K
34.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Schiedam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.0
$128€110
-18.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.18
$46.45€39.95
-9.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.8
$113€96.9
-16.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$153€131
-21.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Schiedam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,400
$1,720€1,479
-5.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,080
$1,190€1,023
5.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,607
$2,260€1,944
34.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,738
$1,725€1,484
17.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,709
$5,716€4,917
36.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,675
$4,206€3,618
1.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Schiedam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,379
$2,390€2,056
-32.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
3.99
-4.51%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Schiedam: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $1,720 in Schiedam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Schiedam pays 49% 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 $87.0 in Schiedam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $340 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 Schiedam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Schiedam?
Lisbon and Schiedam differ by about 10% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $2,434 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, Schiedam earns 49% 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 Schiedam?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $1,720 in Schiedam. 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 Schiedam?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $2,110 in Schiedam. 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 26% higher in Schiedam. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
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.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Schiedam?
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 Schiedam safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Schiedam 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 Schiedam?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Schiedam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.