Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Union City, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Union City, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $2,738 in Union City, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $3,980 in Union City, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $5,222 in Union City, CA.

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 17% less than in Union City, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 68% above, Union City, CA 104% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.94 €13.73

$22.40 $22.40

-28.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.4 €54.6

$76.7 $76.7

-17.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.38 €8.95

$11.17 $11.17

-7.07%

Cappuccino

$2.79 €2.40

$5.61 $5.61

-50.27%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 €2.01

$2.82 $2.82

-17.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 €1.35

$2.93 $2.93

-46.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.43 €2.95

$7.38 $7.38

-53.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 €3.37

$8.92 $8.92

-56.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 €0.93

$1.21 $1.21

-10.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.77 €1.52

$3.67 $3.67

-51.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 €1.47

$5.41 $5.41

-68.39%

Eggs

$3.15 €2.71

$3.86 $3.86

-18.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.68 €11.79

$18.94 $18.94

-27.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.01 €6.90

$9.44 $9.44

-15.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.52 €13.37

$8.87 $8.87

74.97%

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 €1.98

$5.17 $5.17

-55.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 €1.41

$2.57 $2.57

-36.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 €1.67

$2.97 $2.97

-34.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.51 €2.17

$6.45 $6.45

-61.09%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 €1.54

$2.24 $2.24

-20.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 €1.73

$4.11 $4.11

-51.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 €1.69

$2.20 $2.20

-10.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 €0.73

$3.19 $3.19

-73.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.79 €5.85

$11.78 $11.78

-42.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.67 €4.89

$13.20 $13.20

-57.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 €1.20

$1.79 $1.79

-22.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 €2.60

$2.77 $2.77

9.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.27 €1.95

$2.01 $2.01

12.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.44 €39.15

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 €3.70

$3.45 $3.45

24.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.85 €0.73

$1.94 $1.94

-56.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.28 €15.75

$29.62 $29.62

-38.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.99 €1.71

$1.27 $1.27

56.69%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.0K €30.2K

$30.3K $30.3K

15.74%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$39.5K €34.1K

$25.2K $25.2K

56.73%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$146 €126

$196 $196

-25.50%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$20.45 €17.62

$46.17 $46.17

-55.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.98 €33.58

$78.3 $78.3

-50.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.98 €42.21

$42.80 $42.80

14.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.83 €16.22

Cinema Ticket

$9.52 €8.21

$12.32 $12.32

-22.73%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$608 €524

$1,679 $1,679

-63.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.5K €14.2K

$31.9K $31.9K

-48.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$104 €89.5

$22.02 $22.02

371.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.12 €36.29

$35.54 $35.54

18.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.2 €79.5

$101 $101

-9.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 €103

$237 $237

-49.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 €1,397

$1,616 $1,616

0.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,268 €1,092

$1,364 $1,364

-7.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,048 €2,626

$5,391 $5,391

-43.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,009 €1,731

$2,221 $2,221

-9.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,663 €6,602

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,329 €3,730

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,585 €1,366

$7,086 $7,086

-77.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.81

-36.50%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026

Last update for Union City, CA: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $1,616 in Union City, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Union City, CA pays 347% 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 $77.0 in Union City, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $405 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 Union City, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lisbon and Union City, CA differ by about 21% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $2,738 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Union City, CA earns 347% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $1,616 in Union City, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 51% higher in Union City, CA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,263 per month in Lisbon versus $2,738 in Union City, CA – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,263 in Lisbon versus $2,738 in Union City, CA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Union City, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Lisbon and Union City, CA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Union City, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.