😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,280 in Lisbon versus $1,989 in Tervuren.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,294 in Lisbon versus $2,933 in Tervuren.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,307 in Lisbon versus $3,877 in Tervuren.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 15% more expensive than in Tervuren, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon71% above, Tervuren49% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Tervuren
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75€13.64
$23.60€20.44
-33.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5€55.0
$92.5€80.1
-31.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.45€9.05
$11.70€10.13
-10.68%
Cappuccino
$2.91€2.52
$4.13€3.58
-29.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€1.98
$4.05€3.51
-43.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$3.45€2.99
-56.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.56€3.09
$5.23€4.53
-31.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96€3.43
$4.68€4.06
-15.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Tervuren
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.94
$1.41€1.22
-23.40%
White Bread(500g)
$1.76€1.53
$2.34€2.02
-24.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70€1.47
$2.99€2.59
-43.14%
Eggs
$3.25€2.81
$3.45€2.98
-5.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.25€11.47
$11.87€10.28
11.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.70€6.67
$9.93€8.60
-22.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.77€13.66
$17.31€14.99
-8.90%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.97
$2.33€2.01
-2.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66€1.43
$2.25€1.95
-26.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.02€1.75
$2.09€1.81
-3.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47€2.14
$2.34€2.03
5.56%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.55
$2.14€1.85
-16.36%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07€1.79
$1.59€1.38
30.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.71
$0.97€0.84
103.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.72
$1.26€1.09
-34.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55€5.68
$12.58€10.89
-47.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.57€4.82
$7.43€6.43
-25.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.15
$1.98€1.71
-32.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01€2.60
$2.18€1.89
38.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Tervuren
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.97
$2.85€2.47
-20.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.35€40.14
$57.3€49.61
-19.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.66
$6.20€5.37
-31.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$2.65€2.29
-67.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.83€16.31
$35.07€30.37
-46.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02€1.75
$1.85€1.60
9.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.3K
$29.8K€25.8K
17.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K€34.3K
$28.7K€24.8K
38.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Tervuren
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€128
$181€156
-18.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.77
$21.06€18.24
-2.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52€34.23
$47.54€41.17
-16.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Tervuren
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.17€41.72
$38.30€33.17
25.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39€15.92
$16.76€14.52
9.73%
Cinema Ticket
$9.10€7.88
$14.52€12.58
-37.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Tervuren
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$615€532
$660€572
-6.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.1K
$13.4K€11.6K
21.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Tervuren
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€88.0
$105€91.3
-3.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09€36.45
$32.31€27.98
30.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.3€79.9
$116€100
-20.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€106
$132€114
-7.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Tervuren
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,612€1,396
$891€772
80.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254€1,086
$753€652
66.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,069€2,658
$1,366€1,183
124.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,037€1,764
$1,092€945
86.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,751€6,712
$4,058€3,514
91.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,286€3,712
$3,005€2,602
42.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Tervuren
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,602€1,387
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
3.42
11.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026
Last update for Tervuren: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Lisbon and $891 in Tervuren. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $93.0 in Tervuren for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $303 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 Tervuren: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Tervuren?
Lisbon and Tervuren differ by about 15% in total monthly costs ($2,280 vs $1,989 including rent). Tervuren is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Tervuren?
You'd need roughly $3,420 in Lisbon and $2,984 in Tervuren to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in Tervuren?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,612 in Lisbon versus $891 in Tervuren. 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 Tervuren?
Childcare runs $615 in Lisbon versus $660 in Tervuren. 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 14% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,989 in Tervuren versus $2,280 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tervuren but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Tervuren the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Tervuren?
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 Tervuren safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Tervuren 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 Tervuren?
Expats usually find Tervuren gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.