😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $1,864 in Thompson.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $2,795 in Thompson.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $3,725 in Thompson.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 21% more expensive than Thompson, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon68% above, Thompson39% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Thompson
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94€13.73
$16.89CA$23.59
-5.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4€54.6
$70.6CA$98.6
-10.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.95
$11.22CA$15.67
-7.49%
Cappuccino
$2.79€2.40
$3.71CA$5.18
-24.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34€2.01
$1.98CA$2.77
18.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$1.63CA$2.28
-3.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43€2.95
$5.50CA$7.68
-37.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.37
$5.88CA$8.21
-33.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Thompson
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$2.13CA$2.98
-49.30%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.52
$2.60CA$3.63
-31.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71€1.47
$3.53CA$4.93
-51.56%
Eggs
$3.15€2.71
$3.40CA$4.75
-7.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.68€11.79
$11.37CA$15.88
20.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.90
$11.53CA$16.10
-30.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.52€13.37
$14.63CA$20.44
6.08%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.98
$4.13CA$5.76
-44.55%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.41
$1.37CA$1.91
19.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.67
$3.62CA$5.06
-46.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.51€2.17
$3.65CA$5.10
-31.23%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.54
$2.42CA$3.38
-26.03%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$2.45CA$3.42
-17.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.69
$2.52CA$3.52
-21.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$1.72CA$2.41
-51.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79€5.85
$14.00CA$19.55
-51.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.67€4.89
$12.36CA$17.27
-54.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$2.92CA$4.08
-52.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.60
$3.05CA$4.26
-0.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Thompson
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.95
$2.39CA$3.33
-5.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.44€39.15
$63.0CA$88.0
-27.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.70
$3.19CA$4.45
34.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$1.44CA$2.01
-40.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.28€15.75
$25.94CA$36.23
-29.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99€1.71
$1.17CA$1.64
70.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.2K
$25.4KCA$35.5K
37.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K€34.1K
$21.0KCA$29.4K
88.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Thompson
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146€126
$145CA$202
0.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45€17.62
$44.24CA$61.8
-53.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98€33.58
$61.9CA$86.5
-37.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Thompson
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.98€42.21
$41.95CA$58.6
16.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83€16.22
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.52€8.21
$11.63CA$16.24
-18.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Thompson
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$608€524
$741CA$1,035
-17.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.2K
$11.7KCA$16.3K
41.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Thompson
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€89.5
$54.3CA$75.8
91.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12€36.29
$39.75CA$55.5
5.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.2€79.5
$85.0CA$119
8.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$108CA$150
11.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Thompson
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621€1,397
$699CA$977
131.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,268€1,092
$694CA$970
82.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,048€2,626
$1,154CA$1,612
164.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,009€1,731
$1,144CA$1,598
75.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,663€6,602
$4,971CA$6,942
54.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,329€3,730
$3,897CA$5,443
11.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Thompson
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,585€1,366
$1,556CA$2,173
1.84%
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Thompson: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $699 in Thompson. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 2% 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 $269 vs $361 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 Thompson?
Lisbon and Thompson differ by about 21% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $1,864 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?
Lisbon pays 2% more on average, 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 Thompson?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $699 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 $608 in Lisbon versus $741 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 34% 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 $1,864 in Thompson versus $2,263 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 21% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.