Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Thun Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Thun

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $3,525 in Thun.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $5,293 in Thun.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $7,060 in Thun.

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 37% less than in Thun, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 65% above, Thun 163% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Thun
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.70
$28.21 CHF 22.26
-43.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.8
$124 CHF 97.7
-47.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.05
$17.30 CHF 13.66
-39.25%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$5.89 CHF 4.65
-51.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$4.75 CHF 3.75
-52.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$4.83 CHF 3.81
-68.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.01
$8.48 CHF 6.69
-58.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$7.67 CHF 6.05
-49.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Thun
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$2.22 CHF 1.75
-48.65%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$3.40 CHF 2.69
-48.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$4.13 CHF 3.26
-57.38%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$7.32 CHF 5.78
-56.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.61
$26.79 CHF 21.15
-49.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$28.73 CHF 22.68
-72.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.67
$41.10 CHF 32.44
-61.39%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$3.56 CHF 2.81
-35.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$2.15 CHF 1.70
-20.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$2.79 CHF 2.20
-27.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$6.33 CHF 4.99
-61.14%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$2.23 CHF 1.76
-17.49%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$2.16 CHF 1.71
-7.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$2.54 CHF 2.01
-24.02%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$1.11 CHF 0.87
-28.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.69
$11.10 CHF 8.76
-40.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.93
$12.65 CHF 9.98
-54.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.18
$1.90 CHF 1.50
-27.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$2.29 CHF 1.80
29.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Thun
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$3.83 CHF 3.02
-38.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.22
$100.0 CHF 78.9
-54.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$7.90 CHF 6.23
-45.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$3.30 CHF 2.61
-75.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.76
$66.2 CHF 52.3
-72.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$2.24 CHF 1.77
-8.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$40.3K CHF 31.8K
-14.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$40.8K CHF 32.2K
-3.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Thun
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$366 CHF 289
-59.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.67
$59.6 CHF 47.00
-65.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.10
$59.2 CHF 46.75
-33.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Thun
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.19
$86.5 CHF 68.3
-44.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.29
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.91
$24.60 CHF 19.42
-62.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Thun
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €529
$3,030 CHF 2,391
-79.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$33.9K CHF 26.7K
-52.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Thun
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.1
$153 CHF 120
-31.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.21
$69.8 CHF 55.1
-39.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.9
$176 CHF 139
-46.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$186 CHF 147
-35.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Thun
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,401
$1,687 CHF 1,331
-3.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,081
$1,473 CHF 1,162
-14.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,609
$2,870 CHF 2,265
5.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,739
$2,499 CHF 1,972
-19.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,715
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,678
$7,647 CHF 6,035
-44.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Thun
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,380
$6,206 CHF 4,898
-74.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
2.5
52.40%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Thun: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $1,687 in Thun. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Thun pays 287% 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 $124 in Thun for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $597 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 Thun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Thun?
Lisbon and Thun differ by about 60% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $3,525 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, Thun earns 287% 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 Thun?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $1,687 in Thun. 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 Thun?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $3,030 in Thun. 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 121% higher in Thun. 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 Thun?
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 Thun safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Thun 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 Thun?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 60% less than in Thun. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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