Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Upper Hutt Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Upper Hutt

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $1,880 in Upper Hutt.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $2,957 in Upper Hutt.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $4,035 in Upper Hutt.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 18% more expensive than Upper Hutt, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 66% above, Upper Hutt 40% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Upper Hutt
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17 €13.84
$17.15 NZ$29.33
-5.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6 €55.3
$85.8 NZ$147
-24.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 €8.88
$9.84 NZ$16.82
5.49%
Cappuccino
$2.77 €2.37
$3.60 NZ$6.15
-23.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 €1.92
$2.34 NZ$4.00
-3.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 €1.35
$2.17 NZ$3.72
-27.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €2.99
$7.19 NZ$12.30
-51.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00 €3.43
$6.49 NZ$11.10
-38.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Upper Hutt
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.93
$1.76 NZ$3.01
-38.64%
White Bread (500g)
$1.74 €1.49
$2.07 NZ$3.54
-15.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 €1.49
$1.91 NZ$3.27
-8.90%
Eggs
$3.18 €2.72
$6.25 NZ$10.68
-49.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.43 €11.50
$8.31 NZ$14.20
61.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.99 €6.84
$9.35 NZ$15.98
-14.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.09 €13.77
$12.17 NZ$20.81
32.21%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 €1.95
$2.54 NZ$4.34
-10.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 €1.48
$1.82 NZ$3.11
-5.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 €1.66
$2.55 NZ$4.37
-23.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.54 €2.18
$3.39 NZ$5.80
-25.07%
Potato (1kg)
$1.83 €1.57
$2.10 NZ$3.59
-12.86%
Onion (1kg)
$2.04 €1.75
$1.63 NZ$2.78
25.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.98 €1.69
$2.15 NZ$3.68
-7.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.73
$1.24 NZ$2.12
-31.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85 €5.87
$20.06 NZ$34.30
-65.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.78 €4.94
$10.71 NZ$18.31
-46.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.18
$2.45 NZ$4.19
-44.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 €2.48
$2.68 NZ$4.58
8.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Upper Hutt
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €1.95
$2.07 NZ$3.54
10.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.84 €40.10
$65.2 NZ$112
-28.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.08 €3.49
$2.66 NZ$4.55
53.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$1.86 NZ$3.18
-55.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.27 €15.64
$47.96 NZ$82.0
-61.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.01 €1.72
$1.74 NZ$2.97
15.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K €30.2K
$27.0K NZ$46.1K
30.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K €32.9K
$23.4K NZ$40.0K
64.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Upper Hutt
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$145 €124
$157 NZ$269
-7.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96 €17.94
$32.61 NZ$55.8
-35.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05 €34.29
$47.99 NZ$82.1
-16.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Upper Hutt
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.79 €41.76
$37.36 NZ$63.9
30.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69 €16.00
$12.14 NZ$20.76
53.95%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06 €7.76
$8.99 NZ$15.37
0.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Upper Hutt
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$607 €519
$731 NZ$1,250
-16.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K €14.0K
$12.9K NZ$22.0K
26.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Upper Hutt
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €89.6
$73.4 NZ$126
42.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95 €35.06
$52.6 NZ$89.9
-22.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.6 €80.1
$106 NZ$180
-11.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €101
$127 NZ$217
-6.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Upper Hutt
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,604 €1,373
$978 NZ$1,673
63.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,236 €1,058
$780 NZ$1,334
58.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,046 €2,607
$1,578 NZ$2,698
93.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,057 €1,761
$1,437 NZ$2,458
43.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,709 €6,599
$4,238 NZ$7,247
81.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,266 €3,652
$3,228 NZ$5,519
32.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Upper Hutt
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,584 €1,356
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
6.69
-43.05%

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

Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026

Last update for Upper Hutt: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $978 in Upper Hutt. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $86.0 in Upper Hutt for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $302 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 Upper Hutt: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Upper Hutt?
Lisbon and Upper Hutt differ by about 18% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $1,880 including rent). Upper Hutt 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 Upper Hutt?
You'd need roughly $3,341 in Lisbon and $2,820 in Upper Hutt 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 Upper Hutt?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $978 in Upper Hutt. 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 Upper Hutt?
Childcare runs $607 in Lisbon versus $731 in Upper Hutt. 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 12% 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 $1,880 in Upper Hutt versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Upper Hutt but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Upper Hutt the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Upper Hutt?
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 Upper Hutt safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Upper Hutt 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 Upper Hutt?
Expats usually find Upper Hutt gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Lisbon vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities