🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,316 in Lisbon versus $3,032 in Syracuse, NY.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,361 in Lisbon versus $4,109 in Syracuse, NY.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,405 in Lisbon versus $5,186 in Syracuse, NY.
🌍Living in Lisbon costs roughly 24% less than in Syracuse, NY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon69% above, Syracuse, NY121% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Syracuse, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.30€14.89
$17.94$17.94
-3.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€54.4
$75.8$75.8
-16.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.39€9.80
$12.17$12.17
-6.41%
Cappuccino
$3.19€2.75
$6.20$6.20
-48.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45€2.10
$2.77$2.77
-11.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.52
$2.07$2.07
-14.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.59€3.09
$6.99$6.99
-48.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39€2.92
$7.37$7.37
-54.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Syracuse, NY
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.06
$0.89$0.89
39.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.98€1.71
$3.43$3.43
-42.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.52€1.31
$4.37$4.37
-65.22%
Eggs
$4.04€3.48
$3.92$3.92
3.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.54€11.65
$11.16$11.16
21.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.39€7.22
$13.41$13.41
-37.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.25€15.70
$17.82$17.82
2.41%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.97
$6.51$6.51
-64.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74€1.50
$1.36$1.36
27.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86€1.60
$5.25$5.25
-64.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.63€2.26
$6.71$6.71
-60.80%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$3.01$3.01
-36.21%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09€1.80
$3.79$3.79
-44.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.24
$2.94$2.94
-51.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.72
$2.69$2.69
-68.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.83
$14.44$14.44
-53.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.71€4.91
$14.82$14.82
-61.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.18
$3.01$3.01
-54.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22€1.91
$4.65$4.65
-52.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Syracuse, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.40€2.06
$2.83$2.83
-15.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.78€40.25
$114$114
-59.02%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.17€3.59
$3.84$3.84
8.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.98
$2.17$2.17
-47.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.68€15.21
$30.47$30.47
-41.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.32€2.00
$0.99$0.99
134.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.4K
$34.8K$34.8K
1.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€35.7K
$26.1K$26.1K
59.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Syracuse, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170€147
$234$234
-27.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.34€16.64
$57.8$57.8
-66.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.64€28.95
$73.8$73.8
-54.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Syracuse, NY
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.10€41.39
$53.8$53.8
-10.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.90€17.12
$31.57$31.57
-36.97%
Cinema Ticket
$9.92€8.54
$14.74$14.74
-32.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Syracuse, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$717€617
$1,697$1,697
-57.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.5K€15.0K
$17.9K$17.9K
-2.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Syracuse, NY
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.2
$55.5$55.5
88.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.95€40.40
$47.25$47.25
-0.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.0
$94.8$94.8
9.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€107
$121$121
2.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Syracuse, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,677€1,443
$1,696$1,696
-1.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,271€1,094
$1,508$1,508
-15.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,985€2,568
$3,206$3,206
-6.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,992€1,715
$1,977$1,977
0.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,826€6,734
$1,732$1,732
351.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,658€4,008
$1,901$1,901
145.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Syracuse, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,583€1,362
$3,580$3,580
-55.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.79
6.03
-37.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Last update for Syracuse, NY: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,677 in Lisbon and $1,696 in Syracuse, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Syracuse, NY pays 126% 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 $76.0 in Syracuse, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $283 vs $440 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 Syracuse, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Syracuse, NY?
Lisbon and Syracuse, NY differ by about 31% in total monthly costs ($2,316 vs $3,032 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 126% lower in Syracuse, NY. 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 Syracuse, NY?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,677 in Lisbon versus $1,696 in Syracuse, NY. 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 Syracuse, NY?
Childcare runs $717 in Lisbon versus $1,697 in Syracuse, NY. 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 56% higher in Syracuse, NY. 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 Syracuse, NY?
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 Syracuse, NY safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Syracuse, NY 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 Syracuse, NY?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Syracuse, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.