😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $2,127 in Sioux City, IA.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $3,194 in Sioux City, IA.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $4,261 in Sioux City, IA.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 8% more expensive than in Sioux City, IA, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon71% above, Sioux City, IA59% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Sioux City, IA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.18
$15.96$15.96
1.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.5
$54.2$54.2
16.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.04
$10.54$10.54
-2.09%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$6.03$6.03
-53.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.01
$2.25$2.25
1.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$1.72$1.72
-8.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$4.96$4.96
-31.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.53
$7.20$7.20
-44.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Sioux City, IA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.96
$0.94$0.94
15.96%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$2.52$2.52
-30.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$2.23$2.23
-21.08%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$3.57$3.57
-11.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.56
$8.01$8.01
64.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.98
$7.60$7.60
4.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.60
$16.69$16.69
-6.95%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$4.42$4.42
-46.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$1.62$1.62
5.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$3.62$3.62
-44.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$3.46$3.46
-29.77%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.91$1.91
-7.85%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$3.10$3.10
-34.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$2.30$2.30
-16.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$2.17$2.17
-60.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$8.73$8.73
-24.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.89
$14.71$14.71
-62.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$1.76$1.76
-24.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$3.94$3.94
-24.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Sioux City, IA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$1.83$1.83
24.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.10
$48.10$48.10
-4.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$1.98$1.98
113.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$1.34$1.34
-39.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.15
$19.75$19.75
-6.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$0.76$0.76
173.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.4K
$25.5K$25.5K
35.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$24.3K$24.3K
61.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Sioux City, IA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$146$146
1.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.92
$52.0$52.0
-60.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.64
$74.4$74.4
-46.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Sioux City, IA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€42.03
$98.8$98.8
-51.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.29
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.08
$14.93$14.93
-38.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Sioux City, IA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€540
$1,081$1,081
-42.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$11.9K$11.9K
38.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Sioux City, IA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€90.0
$43.02$43.02
138.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.55
$21.68$21.68
92.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€83.0
$74.1$74.1
27.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$89.3$89.3
36.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Sioux City, IA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,430
$764$764
113.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,079
$955$955
29.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,713
$1,437$1,437
115.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,779
$1,708$1,708
18.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,858
$1,548$1,548
406.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,844
$1,574$1,574
178.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Sioux City, IA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,408
$3,577$3,577
-55.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
6.61
-42.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Last update for Sioux City, IA: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $764 in Sioux City, IA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sioux City, IA pays 123% 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 $54.0 in Sioux City, IA. Groceries flip the comparison at $267 vs $327, 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 Sioux City, IA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Sioux City, IA?
Lisbon and Sioux City, IA differ by about 8% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $2,127 including rent). Sioux City, IA 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 123% lower in Sioux City, IA. 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 Sioux City, IA?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $764 in Sioux City, IA. 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 Sioux City, IA?
Childcare runs $616 in Lisbon versus $1,081 in Sioux City, IA. 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 22% 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 $2,127 in Sioux City, IA versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Sioux City, IA but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Sioux City, IA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Sioux City, IA?
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 Sioux City, IA safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Sioux City, IA 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 Sioux City, IA?
Expats usually find Sioux City, IA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.