😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,316 in Lisbon versus $1,431 in Valmiera.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,361 in Lisbon versus $2,071 in Valmiera.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,405 in Lisbon versus $2,710 in Valmiera.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 62% more expensive than in Valmiera, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon69% above, Valmiera4% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Valmiera
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.30€14.89
$16.75€14.42
3.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€54.4
$46.52€40.03
36.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.39€9.80
$9.39€8.08
21.30%
Cappuccino
$3.19€2.75
$3.87€3.33
-17.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45€2.10
$1.62€1.39
51.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.52
$1.19€1.02
47.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.59€3.09
$5.10€4.39
-29.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39€2.92
$4.78€4.11
-29.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Valmiera
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.06
$1.14€0.98
8.77%
White Bread(500g)
$1.98€1.71
$1.55€1.33
27.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.52€1.31
$1.13€0.97
34.51%
Eggs
$4.04€3.48
$3.89€3.35
3.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.54€11.65
$10.82€9.31
25.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.39€7.22
$8.00€6.88
4.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.25€15.70
$13.97€12.02
30.64%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.97
$2.22€1.91
3.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74€1.50
$1.84€1.58
-5.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86€1.60
$2.44€2.10
-23.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.63€2.26
$3.17€2.73
-17.03%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$0.90€0.77
113.33%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09€1.80
$1.00€0.86
109.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.24
$1.81€1.56
-20.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.72
$1.05€0.90
-20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.83
$7.01€6.03
-3.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.71€4.91
$8.25€7.10
-30.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.18
$2.03€1.75
-32.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22€1.91
$2.04€1.76
8.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Valmiera
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.40€2.06
$0.84€0.73
185.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.78€40.25
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.17€3.59
$3.51€3.02
18.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.98
$1.08€0.93
5.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.68€15.21
$18.24€15.70
-3.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.32€2.00
$2.09€1.79
11.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.4K
$28.5K€24.5K
24.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€35.7K
$32.1K€27.6K
29.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Valmiera
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170€147
$381€328
-55.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.34€16.64
$21.64€18.62
-10.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.64€28.95
$19.99€17.20
68.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Valmiera
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.10€41.39
$41.27€35.51
16.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.90€17.12
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.92€8.54
$11.02€9.49
-9.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Valmiera
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$717€617
$641€552
11.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.5K€15.0K
$18.7K€16.1K
-6.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Valmiera
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.2
$72.7€62.5
44.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.95€40.40
$52.5€45.18
-10.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.0
$88.5€76.1
16.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€107
$143€123
-13.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Valmiera
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,677€1,443
$352€303
376.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,271€1,094
$233€200
446.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,985€2,568
$525€452
467.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,992€1,715
$352€303
465.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,826€6,734
$1,421€1,222
450.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,658€4,008
$1,039€894
348.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Valmiera
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,583€1,362
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.79
4.64
-18.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Last update for Valmiera: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,677 in Lisbon and $352 in Valmiera. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $47.00 in Valmiera for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $283 vs $264 per month, with Valmiera 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 Valmiera: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Valmiera?
Lisbon and Valmiera differ by about 62% in total monthly costs ($2,316 vs $1,431 including rent). Valmiera 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 Valmiera?
You'd need roughly $3,474 in Lisbon and $2,147 in Valmiera 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 in Valmiera?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,677 in Lisbon versus $352 in Valmiera. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Valmiera?
All in, you'll spend $2,316 per month in Lisbon versus $1,431 in Valmiera – a 62% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,431 in Valmiera versus $2,316 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Valmiera but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Valmiera the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Valmiera?
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 Valmiera safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Valmiera 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 Valmiera?
Expats usually find Valmiera gentler on the wallet – expenses run 62% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.