Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Solothurn Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Solothurn

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $2,824 in Solothurn.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $4,426 in Solothurn.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $6,029 in Solothurn.

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 22% less than in Solothurn, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 65% above, Solothurn 111% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Solothurn
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.69
$30.88 CHF 24.35
-48.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.7
$143 CHF 113
-54.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.04
$20.70 CHF 16.32
-49.23%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$6.63 CHF 5.23
-56.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$5.61 CHF 4.42
-60.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$5.13 CHF 4.04
-70.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.00
$6.64 CHF 5.24
-47.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$6.24 CHF 4.92
-37.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Solothurn
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$2.26 CHF 1.78
-49.56%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$3.43 CHF 2.70
-48.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$3.39 CHF 2.67
-48.08%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$7.47 CHF 5.89
-56.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.61
$29.54 CHF 23.29
-54.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$30.76 CHF 24.25
-74.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.65
$38.99 CHF 30.74
-59.30%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$4.22 CHF 3.33
-45.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$2.90 CHF 2.28
-41.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$3.12 CHF 2.46
-35.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$4.34 CHF 3.42
-43.32%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$1.93 CHF 1.52
-4.66%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$2.02 CHF 1.59
-0.99%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$2.50 CHF 1.97
-22.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$1.06 CHF 0.84
-25.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.68
$11.30 CHF 8.91
-41.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.92
$10.27 CHF 8.09
-44.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.17
$2.65 CHF 2.09
-48.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$2.43 CHF 1.92
22.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Solothurn
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$3.60 CHF 2.84
-34.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.19
$98.1 CHF 77.4
-53.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$7.67 CHF 6.05
-44.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$4.19 CHF 3.30
-80.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.74
$73.1 CHF 57.6
-74.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$2.30 CHF 1.82
-10.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$38.3K CHF 30.2K
-10.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$37.8K CHF 29.8K
4.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Solothurn
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$100 CHF 78.9
47.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.65
$30.95 CHF 24.40
-33.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.08
$57.8 CHF 45.53
-31.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Solothurn
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.16
$74.0 CHF 58.3
-35.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.28
$24.25 CHF 19.12
-21.98%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.90
$24.39 CHF 19.23
-62.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Solothurn
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €528
$3,424 CHF 2,700
-82.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$19.8K CHF 15.6K
-18.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Solothurn
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.0
$140 CHF 111
-25.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.18
$42.53 CHF 33.53
-1.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.8
$99.3 CHF 78.3
-5.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$188 CHF 148
-36.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Solothurn
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,400
$1,265 CHF 997
28.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,080
$1,065 CHF 840
17.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,607
$1,854 CHF 1,462
63.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,738
$1,755 CHF 1,384
15.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,709
$10.3K CHF 8,088
-23.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,675
$5,092 CHF 4,014
-16.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Solothurn
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,379
$7,149 CHF 5,636
-77.57%
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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Solothurn: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $1,265 in Solothurn. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Solothurn pays 346% 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 $143 in Solothurn for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 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 Solothurn?
Lisbon and Solothurn differ by about 28% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $2,824 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, Solothurn earns 346% 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 Solothurn?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $1,265 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 $614 in Lisbon versus $3,424 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 124% 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 28% less than in Solothurn. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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