Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Waitakere

For one person, living is cheaper in Waitakere: $2,065 a month against $2,210 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $1,700 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Lisbon outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Lisbon, Portugal
Waitakere, New Zealand
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,210
/mo nomad
Waitakere
🇳🇿 New Zealand
$2,065
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Waitakere

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lisbon and in Waitakere actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $2,065 in Waitakere.

  • Lisbon $2,210
  • Waitakere $2,065

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,275 in Lisbon versus $2,933 in Waitakere.

  • Lisbon $3,275
  • Waitakere $2,933

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,341 in Lisbon versus $3,801 in Waitakere.

  • Lisbon $4,341
  • Waitakere $3,801

Living in Lisbon is roughly 7% more expensive than in Waitakere, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 62% above, Waitakere 52% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Waitakere
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.65 €14.92
$12.38 NZ$22.01
34.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.7 €55.3
$73.6 NZ$131
-16.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.36 €10.18
$8.61 NZ$15.31
31.94%
Cappuccino
$2.97 €2.66
$3.43 NZ$6.10
-13.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.05
$2.30 NZ$4.08
-0.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.56
$2.43 NZ$4.32
-28.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 €3.05
$6.33 NZ$11.25
-46.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 €2.97
$5.53 NZ$9.82
-40.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Waitakere
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.16 €1.04
$1.45 NZ$2.58
-20.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.91 €1.71
$1.30 NZ$2.31
46.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 €1.36
$2.03 NZ$3.60
-25.62%
Eggs
$4.02 €3.60
$5.28 NZ$9.39
-23.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.94 €11.59
$5.61 NZ$9.97
130.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.77 €6.97
$7.32 NZ$13.01
6.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.76 €15.92
$12.00 NZ$21.34
48.00%
Apples (1kg)
$2.30 €2.06
$2.59 NZ$4.60
-11.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 €1.55
$2.19 NZ$3.90
-21.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.86 €1.66
$3.22 NZ$5.72
-42.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.59 €2.32
$6.20 NZ$11.02
-58.23%
Potato (1kg)
$1.82 €1.63
$2.08 NZ$3.69
-12.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 €1.76
$1.42 NZ$2.52
38.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.47 €1.32
$2.62 NZ$4.66
-43.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 €0.65
$0.94 NZ$1.66
-23.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58 €5.90
$26.32 NZ$46.79
-75.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.61 €5.02
$10.76 NZ$19.12
-47.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 €1.22
$3.95 NZ$7.03
-65.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 €1.91
$4.09 NZ$7.28
-47.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Waitakere
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.33 €2.09
$2.14 NZ$3.81
8.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.68 €40.04
$107 NZ$190
-58.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.85 €3.45
$3.71 NZ$6.60
3.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.07 €0.96
$2.00 NZ$3.55
-46.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.46 €14.75
$26.54 NZ$47.18
-37.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.20 €1.97
$1.75 NZ$3.11
25.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2K €30.6K
$28.5K NZ$50.6K
20.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K €34.7K
$22.7K NZ$40.3K
70.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Waitakere
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$161 €144
$57.0 NZ$101
182.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.41 €16.50
$36.26 NZ$64.5
-49.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.74 €29.34
$55.3 NZ$98.3
-40.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Waitakere
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.55 €39.92
$40.97 NZ$72.8
8.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10 €17.11
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.60 €8.60
$13.75 NZ$24.43
-30.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Waitakere
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$668 €598
$684 NZ$1,217
-2.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.6K €15.8K
$23.0K NZ$40.8K
-23.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Waitakere
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 €91.4
$63.7 NZ$113
60.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.46 €39.85
$38.29 NZ$68.1
16.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.5 €88.3
$93.6 NZ$166
5.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €111
$107 NZ$189
16.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Waitakere
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,608 €1,441
$1,026 NZ$1,823
56.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,190 €1,066
$1,059 NZ$1,882
12.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,812 €2,520
$1,846 NZ$3,281
52.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,013 €1,804
$1,421 NZ$2,526
41.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,839 €7,025
$5,184 NZ$9,216
51.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,576 €4,100
$3,812 NZ$6,777
20.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Waitakere
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,575 €1,411
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
6.83
-43.63%

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

Last update for Lisbon: October 27, 2026

Last update for Waitakere: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Waitakere
$1.1K 11% $131
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$272
Waitakere
$296 8.8% $24
Eating Out
Lisbon
$243
Waitakere
$228 6.2% $15
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$212
Waitakere
$149 30% $64
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$166
Waitakere
$136 18% $30
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$64
Waitakere
$68 7.4% $4.7
Getting Around
Lisbon
$63
Waitakere
$129 104% $66

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,608 in Lisbon and $1,026 in Waitakere. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $62 in Lisbon vs $74 in Waitakere for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $272 vs $296 per month, with Lisbon cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇳🇿 Waitakere
🕒 Local time
01:40 1:40 AM
14:40 2:40 PM
13 h ahead of Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
1,830
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

NZD, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

New Zealand Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 1.78 NZD (1 NZD = 0.563 USD). 1 EUR = 1.98 NZD (1 NZD = 0.504 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Waitakere 19,630 km ≈ 25 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Waitakere

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Waitakere: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Waitakere?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $2,210 in Lisbon and $2,065 in Waitakere, so Waitakere is about 7% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Waitakere?
You’d need roughly $3,315 in Lisbon and $3,097 in Waitakere 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 Waitakere?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,608 in Lisbon versus $1,026 in Waitakere. 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 Waitakere?
Childcare runs $668 in Lisbon versus $684 in Waitakere. 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 8% less for everyday groceries. It’s an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How far does $3,000 go in Lisbon compared to Waitakere?
Either city works on $3,000 a month, though Waitakere gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Waitakere?
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 Waitakere safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Waitakere are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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