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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,745 in Wausau, WI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $2,708 in Wausau, WI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $3,671 in Wausau, WI.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 27% more expensive than Wausau, WI, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 65% above, Wausau, WI 30% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Wausau, WI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.81
$18.67 $18.67
-14.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €56.2
$65.2 $65.2
-0.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.12
$8.39 $8.39
25.27%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.49
$5.13 $5.13
-44.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.95
$3.09 $3.09
-27.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.30
$2.04 $2.04
-26.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.03
$4.97 $4.97
-29.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.37
$5.58 $5.58
-30.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Wausau, WI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.99
$0.81 $0.81
40.74%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.52
$2.90 $2.90
-39.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.52
$4.39 $4.39
-59.91%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.79
$4.30 $4.30
-25.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.71
$8.59 $8.59
57.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.87
$6.46 $6.46
22.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.77
$13.52 $13.52
17.38%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €2.00
$4.31 $4.31
-46.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.48
$1.12 $1.12
51.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.74
$3.97 $3.97
-49.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.13
$4.16 $4.16
-40.87%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.60
$1.87 $1.87
-1.60%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.74
$2.12 $2.12
-5.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.67
$2.01 $2.01
-3.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$1.02 $1.02
-22.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.73
$8.56 $8.56
-22.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.97
$8.73 $8.73
-34.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.18
$1.83 $1.83
-25.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.58
$2.31 $2.31
28.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Wausau, WI
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.06
$1.95 $1.95
21.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.53
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.72
$2.82 $2.82
52.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.71
$1.62 $1.62
-49.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.88
$20.89 $20.89
-12.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.79
$0.83 $0.83
148.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.7K
$30.5K $30.5K
12.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €34.1K
$26.5K $26.5K
48.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Wausau, WI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €128
$164 $164
-9.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.80
$49.02 $49.02
-58.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.37
$64.7 $64.7
-38.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Wausau, WI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.51
$29.66 $29.66
61.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.42
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.97
$6.05 $6.05
51.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Wausau, WI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €533
$1,794 $1,794
-65.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.9K
$24.4K $24.4K
-34.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Wausau, WI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.8
$25.07 $25.07
317.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.49
$45.03 $45.03
-6.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €81.5
$65.7 $65.7
42.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €104
$86.2 $86.2
38.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Wausau, WI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,412
$921 $921
76.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,089
$711 $711
76.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,629
$1,582 $1,582
91.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,753
$1,371 $1,371
47.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,767
$1,680 $1,680
364.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,707
$1,692 $1,692
152.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Wausau, WI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,391
$3,500 $3,500
-54.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
6.55
-41.83%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Wausau, WI: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $921 in Wausau, WI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Wausau, WI pays 118% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $65.0 in Wausau, WI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $297 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 Wausau, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Wausau, WI?
Lisbon and Wausau, WI differ by about 27% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $1,745 including rent). Wausau, WI is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Wausau, WI earns 118% 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 Wausau, WI?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $921 in Wausau, WI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 10% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Wausau, WI?
All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $1,745 in Wausau, WI – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,745 in Wausau, WI versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Wausau, WI but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Wausau, WI the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Wausau, WI?
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 Wausau, WI safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Wausau, 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 Wausau, WI?
Expats usually find Wausau, WI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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