🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $2,830 in Solothurn.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $4,520 in Solothurn.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $6,211 in Solothurn.
🌍Living in Lisbon costs roughly 19% less than in Solothurn, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon71% above, Solothurn112% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Solothurn
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.18
$31.23CHF 25.30
-48.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.5
$144CHF 116
-55.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.04
$21.30CHF 17.25
-51.55%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$6.53CHF 5.29
-56.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.01
$5.64CHF 4.57
-59.40%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$5.39CHF 4.37
-70.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$6.88CHF 5.57
-50.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.53
$6.34CHF 5.14
-36.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Solothurn
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.96
$2.22CHF 1.80
-50.90%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$3.26CHF 2.64
-46.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$3.26CHF 2.64
-46.01%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$7.20CHF 5.84
-55.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.56
$30.06CHF 24.35
-56.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.98
$31.44CHF 25.47
-74.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.60
$39.66CHF 32.12
-60.84%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$4.16CHF 3.37
-43.03%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$2.89CHF 2.34
-40.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$2.99CHF 2.42
-32.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$4.21CHF 3.41
-42.28%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.93CHF 1.56
-8.81%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$2.01CHF 1.63
1.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$2.54CHF 2.06
-24.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$1.06CHF 0.86
-19.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$11.01CHF 8.92
-40.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.89
$9.73CHF 7.88
-42.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$2.61CHF 2.11
-49.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$2.40CHF 1.94
23.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Solothurn
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$3.66CHF 2.97
-37.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.10
$97.0CHF 78.6
-52.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$7.59CHF 6.15
-44.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$4.18CHF 3.39
-80.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.15
$75.1CHF 60.8
-75.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$2.33CHF 1.89
-10.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.4K
$37.2KCHF 30.2K
-6.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$38.8KCHF 31.5K
0.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Solothurn
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$96.9CHF 78.5
52.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.92
$30.30CHF 24.54
-32.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.64
$59.1CHF 47.86
-33.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Solothurn
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€42.03
$73.0CHF 59.2
-34.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.29
$24.77CHF 20.06
-24.91%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.08
$25.00CHF 20.25
-63.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Solothurn
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€540
$3,422CHF 2,772
-81.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$19.5KCHF 15.8K
-15.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Solothurn
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€90.0
$140CHF 113
-26.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.55
$43.89CHF 35.55
-4.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€83.0
$99.3CHF 80.4
-4.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$187CHF 151
-34.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Solothurn
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,430
$1,278CHF 1,035
27.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,079
$1,083CHF 877
13.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,713
$1,859CHF 1,506
66.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,779
$1,753CHF 1,420
15.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,858
$9,830CHF 7,962
-20.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,844
$4,937CHF 3,999
-11.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Solothurn
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,408
$6,802CHF 5,510
-76.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
2.09
82.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Last update for Solothurn: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $1,278 in Solothurn. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Solothurn pays 323% 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: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $144 in Solothurn for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $604 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 Solothurn: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Solothurn?
Lisbon and Solothurn differ by about 23% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $2,830 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, salaries run 323% lower in Solothurn. 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 Solothurn?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $1,278 in Solothurn. 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 Solothurn?
Childcare runs $616 in Lisbon versus $3,422 in Solothurn. 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 126% higher in Solothurn. 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 Solothurn?
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 Solothurn safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Solothurn 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 Solothurn?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Solothurn. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.