😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $1,765 in Whanganui.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $2,744 in Whanganui.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $3,724 in Whanganui.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 28% more expensive than Whanganui, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon68% above, Whanganui31% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Whanganui
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94€13.73
$15.21NZ$25.97
4.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4€54.6
$72.1NZ$123
-12.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.95
$9.00NZ$15.36
15.33%
Cappuccino
$2.79€2.40
$3.42NZ$5.84
-18.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34€2.01
$2.29NZ$3.90
2.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$1.67NZ$2.84
-5.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43€2.95
$4.86NZ$8.29
-29.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.37
$5.38NZ$9.19
-27.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Whanganui
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.67NZ$2.85
-35.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.52
$1.55NZ$2.65
14.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71€1.47
$1.94NZ$3.31
-11.86%
Eggs
$3.15€2.71
$5.75NZ$9.82
-45.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.68€11.79
$7.19NZ$12.27
90.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.90
$9.00NZ$15.37
-11.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.52€13.37
$12.43NZ$21.22
24.86%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.98
$2.46NZ$4.20
-6.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.41
$1.81NZ$3.08
-9.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.67
$2.51NZ$4.29
-22.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.51€2.17
$3.49NZ$5.96
-28.08%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.54
$2.06NZ$3.51
-13.11%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$2.16NZ$3.69
-6.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.69
$2.14NZ$3.66
-7.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.56NZ$0.96
50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79€5.85
$20.04NZ$34.21
-66.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.67€4.89
$9.93NZ$16.95
-42.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$2.55NZ$4.35
-45.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.60
$2.59NZ$4.43
16.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Whanganui
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.95
$2.17NZ$3.71
4.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.44€39.15
$63.4NZ$108
-28.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.70
$2.79NZ$4.76
53.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$1.77NZ$3.02
-51.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.28€15.75
$34.94NZ$59.7
-47.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99€1.71
$1.64NZ$2.80
21.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.2K
$27.2KNZ$46.4K
28.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K€34.1K
$23.3KNZ$39.7K
70.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Whanganui
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146€126
$121NZ$207
20.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45€17.62
$36.68NZ$62.6
-44.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98€33.58
$48.84NZ$83.4
-20.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Whanganui
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.98€42.21
$36.54NZ$62.4
34.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83€16.22
$11.95NZ$20.40
57.57%
Cinema Ticket
$9.52€8.21
$7.26NZ$12.39
31.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Whanganui
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$608€524
$367NZ$626
65.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.2K
$12.0KNZ$20.5K
37.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Whanganui
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€89.5
$70.5NZ$120
47.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12€36.29
$36.23NZ$61.9
16.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.2€79.5
$98.4NZ$168
-6.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$129NZ$220
-7.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Whanganui
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621€1,397
$1,222NZ$2,087
32.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,268€1,092
$716NZ$1,222
77.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,048€2,626
$1,559NZ$2,662
95.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,009€1,731
$1,355NZ$2,314
48.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,663€6,602
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,329€3,730
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Whanganui
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,585€1,366
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
6.69
-43.05%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026
Last update for Whanganui: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $1,222 in Whanganui. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $72.0 in Whanganui for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $281 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 Whanganui: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Whanganui?
Lisbon and Whanganui differ by about 28% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $1,765 including rent). Whanganui 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 Whanganui?
You'd need roughly $3,394 in Lisbon and $2,648 in Whanganui 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 Whanganui?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $1,222 in Whanganui. 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 Whanganui?
Childcare runs $608 in Lisbon versus $367 in Whanganui. 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 5% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $1,765 in Whanganui versus $2,263 in Lisbon, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Whanganui but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Whanganui the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Whanganui?
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 Whanganui safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Whanganui 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 Whanganui?
Expats usually find Whanganui gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.