😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $1,967 in Whanganui.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $2,974 in Whanganui.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $3,982 in Whanganui.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 17% more expensive than in Whanganui, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon68% above, Whanganui44% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Whanganui
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59€15.33
$14.39NZ$25.16
22.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€54.8
$67.7NZ$118
-7.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.58€10.10
$8.88NZ$15.53
30.41%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$3.41NZ$5.97
-9.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.17
$2.30NZ$4.02
8.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74€1.52
$1.74NZ$3.04
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.48€3.03
$5.76NZ$10.07
-39.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€3.00
$5.55NZ$9.70
-38.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Whanganui
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15€1.00
$1.40NZ$2.45
-17.86%
White Bread(500g)
$1.91€1.66
$0.98NZ$1.72
94.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50€1.31
$1.16NZ$2.04
29.31%
Eggs
$3.98€3.47
$5.47NZ$9.56
-27.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.59
$5.81NZ$10.16
128.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.98
$9.47NZ$16.56
-15.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.04€15.73
$15.77NZ$27.57
14.39%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35€2.05
$2.24NZ$3.92
4.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75€1.53
$2.01NZ$3.51
-12.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85€1.62
$1.92NZ$3.35
-3.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.22
$3.51NZ$6.13
-27.35%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.61
$1.74NZ$3.04
5.75%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10€1.83
$1.33NZ$2.32
57.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.30
$2.08NZ$3.64
-28.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.71
$0.52NZ$0.92
57.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10€6.19
$24.08NZ$42.10
-70.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.91€5.15
$10.19NZ$17.82
-42.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.15
$2.64NZ$4.61
-50.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.86
$2.34NZ$4.09
-8.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Whanganui
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.36€2.05
$1.66NZ$2.91
42.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.62€40.63
$97.0NZ$170
-51.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.55
$1.93NZ$3.38
111.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.99
$1.84NZ$3.22
-38.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.09€14.90
$34.91NZ$61.0
-51.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.31€2.01
$1.61NZ$2.82
43.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.7K
$25.5KNZ$44.6K
33.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€36.1K
$26.3KNZ$45.9K
57.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Whanganui
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169€147
$201NZ$352
-16.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33€16.85
$32.91NZ$57.5
-41.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51€29.21
$48.14NZ$84.2
-30.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Whanganui
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.84€42.57
$39.64NZ$69.3
23.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43€16.94
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.57€8.34
$5.85NZ$10.22
63.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Whanganui
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696€607
$1,091NZ$1,908
-36.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.4K€15.1K
$13.1KNZ$22.9K
32.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Whanganui
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€91.8
$81.5NZ$142
29.27%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75€41.62
$29.22NZ$51.1
63.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.6
$103NZ$181
-2.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€108
$160NZ$280
-22.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Whanganui
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,662€1,449
$945NZ$1,651
75.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,246€1,086
$855NZ$1,495
45.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,965€2,584
$1,660NZ$2,902
78.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,049€1,786
$1,491NZ$2,606
37.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,834€6,829
$4,176NZ$7,300
87.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,464€3,892
$3,147NZ$5,502
41.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Whanganui
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,632€1,422
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
5.39
-29.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Last update for Whanganui: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $945 in Whanganui. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $68.0 in Whanganui. Groceries flip the comparison at $277 vs $272, with Whanganui cheaper for home cooking.
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 in Whanganui?
Lisbon and Whanganui differ by about 17% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $1,967 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 $3,444 in Lisbon and $2,950 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 in Whanganui?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $945 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 $696 in Lisbon versus $1,091 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?
Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $1,967 in Whanganui versus $2,296 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 17% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.