Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Thompson Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Thompson

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,280 in Lisbon versus $1,825 in Thompson.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,294 in Lisbon versus $2,799 in Thompson.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,307 in Lisbon versus $3,773 in Thompson.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 25% more expensive than in Thompson, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 71% above, Thompson 37% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Thompson
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75 €13.74
$17.18 CA$24.11
-8.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5 €55.3
$70.9 CA$99.6
-10.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.45 €9.11
$11.13 CA$15.63
-6.11%
Cappuccino
$2.91 €2.54
$3.87 CA$5.43
-24.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.00
$2.06 CA$2.89
11.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.31
$1.73 CA$2.43
-13.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.56 €3.11
$5.53 CA$7.76
-35.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 €3.46
$5.72 CA$8.02
-30.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Thompson
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.94
$2.10 CA$2.95
-48.57%
White Bread (500g)
$1.76 €1.54
$2.67 CA$3.75
-34.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 €1.48
$3.50 CA$4.91
-51.43%
Eggs
$3.25 €2.83
$3.52 CA$4.94
-7.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.25 €11.55
$11.34 CA$15.91
16.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 €6.72
$11.84 CA$16.62
-34.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.77 €13.75
$14.42 CA$20.24
9.36%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 €1.99
$4.03 CA$5.66
-43.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 €1.44
$1.38 CA$1.94
20.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.02 €1.76
$3.64 CA$5.11
-44.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.47 €2.16
$3.84 CA$5.39
-35.68%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 €1.56
$2.38 CA$3.35
-24.79%
Onion (1kg)
$2.07 €1.80
$2.56 CA$3.60
-19.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 €1.72
$2.50 CA$3.50
-21.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 €0.73
$1.79 CA$2.52
-53.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55 €5.71
$13.85 CA$19.45
-52.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.57 €4.85
$12.45 CA$17.47
-55.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.16
$2.81 CA$3.95
-52.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 €2.62
$3.00 CA$4.21
0.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Thompson
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.27 €1.98
$2.33 CA$3.27
-2.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.35 €40.41
$62.6 CA$87.9
-25.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.23 €3.69
$3.25 CA$4.56
30.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 €0.74
$1.45 CA$2.03
-41.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.83 €16.41
$25.62 CA$35.95
-26.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.02 €1.76
$1.13 CA$1.58
78.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K €30.5K
$25.1K CA$35.3K
39.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K €34.6K
$20.4K CA$28.6K
94.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Thompson
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €129
$143 CA$200
3.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.89
$43.01 CA$60.4
-52.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52 €34.46
$61.9 CA$86.8
-36.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Thompson
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.17 €42.00
$41.37 CA$58.1
16.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39 €16.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.10 €7.93
$11.43 CA$16.04
-20.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Thompson
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$615 €536
$742 CA$1,041
-17.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K €14.2K
$11.7K CA$16.4K
39.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Thompson
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 €88.6
$54.8 CA$77.0
85.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09 €36.69
$39.99 CA$56.1
5.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.3 €80.5
$87.2 CA$122
5.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 €106
$106 CA$149
15.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Thompson
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,612 €1,405
$700 CA$983
130.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,254 €1,093
$699 CA$981
79.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,069 €2,676
$1,149 CA$1,612
167.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,037 €1,776
$1,145 CA$1,607
77.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,751 €6,757
$4,532 CA$6,361
71.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,286 €3,737
$3,120 CA$4,379
37.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Thompson
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,602 €1,396
$1,552 CA$2,179
3.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
6.46
-41.02%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026

Last update for Thompson: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Lisbon and $700 in Thompson. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 3% 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 $71.0 in Thompson for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $363 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 Thompson: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Thompson?
Lisbon and Thompson differ by about 25% in total monthly costs ($2,280 vs $1,825 including rent). Thompson is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Thompson?
Average pay runs 3% higher in Lisbon, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in Thompson?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,612 in Lisbon versus $700 in Thompson. 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 Thompson?
Childcare runs $615 in Lisbon versus $742 in Thompson. 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 36% 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 $1,825 in Thompson versus $2,280 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Thompson but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Thompson the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Thompson?
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 Thompson safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Thompson 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 Thompson?
Expats usually find Thompson gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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