😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,258 in Lisbon versus $1,557 in Valenciennes.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,328 in Lisbon versus $2,539 in Valenciennes.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,397 in Lisbon versus $3,521 in Valenciennes.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 45% more expensive than Valenciennes, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon68% above, Valenciennes16% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Valenciennes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.82€13.46
$15.43€13.13
2.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.4€54.8
$62.5€53.2
3.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.37€8.82
$12.83€10.92
-19.17%
Cappuccino
$2.89€2.46
$2.36€2.01
22.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23€1.90
$1.69€1.44
31.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55€1.32
$1.13€0.96
37.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.38€2.88
$4.50€3.83
-24.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90€3.32
$3.55€3.02
9.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Valenciennes
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.12€0.96
$1.32€1.12
-15.15%
White Bread(500g)
$1.80€1.53
$1.69€1.43
6.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75€1.49
$1.80€1.53
-2.78%
Eggs
$3.17€2.70
$3.42€2.91
-7.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.50€11.49
$14.21€12.09
-5.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.79€6.63
$13.37€11.38
-41.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.65€13.32
$23.63€20.11
-33.77%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.94
$2.55€2.17
-10.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.46
$2.23€1.90
-23.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93€1.65
$2.36€2.01
-18.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.52€2.15
$3.14€2.67
-19.75%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.52
$1.99€1.69
-10.05%
Onion(1kg)
$2.05€1.74
$1.64€1.39
25.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.94€1.65
$1.50€1.28
29.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81€0.69
$0.22€0.19
268.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.65€5.66
$12.79€10.89
-48.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.79€4.92
$4.66€3.97
24.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.14
$2.32€1.97
-42.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91€2.47
$3.06€2.60
-4.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Valenciennes
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.35€2.00
$1.82€1.55
29.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.70€38.89
$49.35€42.00
-7.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.20€3.58
$2.61€2.22
60.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.69
$0.97€0.83
-16.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.70€15.91
$27.34€23.26
-31.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09€1.78
$2.09€1.78
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6K€29.5K
$38.2K€32.5K
-9.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7K€33.7K
$36.8K€31.3K
7.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Valenciennes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146€124
$193€164
-24.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.84€17.73
$16.85€14.34
23.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.78€33.85
$23.22€19.76
71.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Valenciennes
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.58€41.35
$28.05€23.87
73.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.85€16.04
$18.42€15.67
2.33%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07€7.72
$14.43€12.28
-37.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Valenciennes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$618€526
$346€294
78.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.2K€13.8K
$8,568€7,291
88.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Valenciennes
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.0
$88.8€75.6
17.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.54€34.50
$34.08€29.00
18.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.8€79.8
$86.2€73.3
8.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123€104
$106€89.9
16.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Valenciennes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,365
$459€390
249.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,260€1,073
$504€429
149.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,065€2,608
$1,121€954
173.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,008€1,709
$1,072€913
87.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,702€6,555
$2,812€2,393
173.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,367€3,716
$2,288€1,947
90.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Valenciennes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,638€1,394
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
3.69
3.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 13, 2026
Last update for Valenciennes: April 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $459 in Valenciennes. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $64 in Lisbon vs $63 in Valenciennes. Groceries flip the comparison at $268 vs $328, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.
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 Valenciennes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Valenciennes?
Lisbon and Valenciennes differ by about 45% in total monthly costs ($2,258 vs $1,557 including rent). Valenciennes 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 Valenciennes?
You'd need roughly $3,387 in Lisbon and $2,335 in Valenciennes 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 Valenciennes?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $459 in Valenciennes. 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 Valenciennes?
Childcare runs $618 in Lisbon versus $346 in Valenciennes. 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 22% 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 $1,557 in Valenciennes versus $2,258 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Valenciennes but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Valenciennes the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Valenciennes?
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 Valenciennes safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Valenciennes 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 Valenciennes?
Expats usually find Valenciennes gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.