Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Waukesha, WI Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Waukesha, WI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,243 in Lisbon versus $2,427 in Waukesha, WI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $3,513 in Waukesha, WI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,387 in Lisbon versus $4,598 in Waukesha, WI.

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 8% less than in Waukesha, WI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 67% above, Waukesha, WI 81% above.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Lisbon
Waukesha, WI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.73 โ‚ฌ13.42
$16.06 $16.06
-2.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.2 โ‚ฌ53.9
$66.2 $66.2
-4.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.32 โ‚ฌ8.80
$11.21 $11.21
-7.94%
Cappuccino
$2.81 โ‚ฌ2.40
$5.28 $5.28
-46.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 โ‚ฌ1.99
$2.89 $2.89
-19.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 โ‚ฌ1.29
$2.13 $2.13
-29.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.37 โ‚ฌ2.87
$5.03 $5.03
-33.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 โ‚ฌ3.34
$7.10 $7.10
-44.93%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Waukesha, WI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 โ‚ฌ0.92
$0.81 $0.81
33.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 โ‚ฌ1.49
$3.24 $3.24
-45.99%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.75 โ‚ฌ1.50
$2.87 $2.87
-39.02%
Eggs
$3.10 โ‚ฌ2.64
$4.38 $4.38
-29.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.28 โ‚ฌ11.33
$8.76 $8.76
51.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.85 โ‚ฌ6.70
$11.25 $11.25
-30.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.05 โ‚ฌ13.69
$15.20 $15.20
5.59%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 โ‚ฌ2.04
$5.58 $5.58
-57.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 โ‚ฌ1.47
$1.11 $1.11
54.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.97 โ‚ฌ1.68
$4.28 $4.28
-53.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.55 โ‚ฌ2.17
$2.86 $2.86
-10.84%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 โ‚ฌ1.53
$1.58 $1.58
13.29%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 โ‚ฌ1.68
$2.45 $2.45
-19.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.96 โ‚ฌ1.67
$1.73 $1.73
13.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 โ‚ฌ0.71
$1.40 $1.40
-40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.82 โ‚ฌ5.82
$8.68 $8.68
-21.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.85 โ‚ฌ4.99
$10.88 $10.88
-46.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 โ‚ฌ1.18
$1.69 $1.69
-18.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 โ‚ฌ2.49
$2.01 $2.01
45.27%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Lisbon
Waukesha, WI
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.29 โ‚ฌ1.95
$1.97 $1.97
16.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.88 โ‚ฌ39.99
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.12 โ‚ฌ3.51
$2.85 $2.85
44.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 โ‚ฌ0.69
$1.37 $1.37
-40.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.94 โ‚ฌ16.16
$21.02 $21.02
-9.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.09 โ‚ฌ1.78
$0.79 $0.79
164.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K โ‚ฌ30.0K
$29.9K $29.9K
17.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7K โ‚ฌ33.9K
$26.5K $26.5K
49.97%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Waukesha, WI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$150 โ‚ฌ128
$180 $180
-17.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.49 โ‚ฌ17.48
$48.08 $48.08
-57.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.15 โ‚ฌ33.40
$64.6 $64.6
-39.42%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Waukesha, WI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.65 โ‚ฌ42.35
$42.24 $42.24
17.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.47 โ‚ฌ15.76
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.20 โ‚ฌ7.84
$12.15 $12.15
-24.28%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Waukesha, WI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$624 โ‚ฌ533
$1,318 $1,318
-52.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.9K โ‚ฌ13.6K
$24.3K $24.3K
-34.42%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Waukesha, WI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 โ‚ฌ87.2
$43.73 $43.73
133.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.88 โ‚ฌ34.87
$45.93 $45.93
-10.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.7 โ‚ฌ81.6
$76.8 $76.8
24.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 โ‚ฌ103
$87.2 $87.2
38.83%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Waukesha, WI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,653 โ‚ฌ1,410
$1,594 $1,594
3.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,233 โ‚ฌ1,051
$1,350 $1,350
-8.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,043 โ‚ฌ2,596
$1,701 $1,701
78.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,059 โ‚ฌ1,756
$2,207 $2,207
-6.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,879 โ‚ฌ6,720
$2,279 $2,279
245.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,303 โ‚ฌ3,671
$2,259 $2,259
90.51%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Waukesha, WI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,566 โ‚ฌ1,336
$4,276 $4,276
-63.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
6.53
-41.65%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lisbon: April 21, 2026

Last update for Waukesha, WI: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,653 in Lisbon and $1,594 in Waukesha, WI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Waukesha, WI pays 173% 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 in Lisbon vs $66 in Waukesha, WI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $270 vs $331 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 Waukesha, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Waukesha, WI?
Lisbon and Waukesha, WI differ by about 8% in total monthly costs ($2,243 vs $2,427 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable โ€“ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Waukesha, WI earns 173% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Waukesha, WI?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,653 in Lisbon versus $1,594 in Waukesha, WI. 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 23% higher in Waukesha, WI. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Waukesha, WI?
All in, you'll spend $2,243 per month in Lisbon versus $2,427 in Waukesha, WI โ€“ a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Lisbon is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Waukesha, WI?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ€“ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Lisbon or Waukesha, WI safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Waukesha, WI 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 Waukesha, WI?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet โ€“ expenses run 8% less than in Waukesha, WI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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