😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,280 in Lisbon versus $1,737 in Whanganui.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,294 in Lisbon versus $2,690 in Whanganui.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,307 in Lisbon versus $3,643 in Whanganui.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 31% more expensive than in Whanganui, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon71% above, Whanganui31% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Whanganui
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75€13.64
$14.88NZ$25.23
5.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5€55.0
$71.0NZ$120
-10.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.45€9.05
$9.25NZ$15.68
12.97%
Cappuccino
$2.91€2.52
$3.23NZ$5.48
-9.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€1.98
$2.36NZ$4.00
-2.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$1.75NZ$2.97
-14.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.56€3.09
$4.88NZ$8.28
-27.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96€3.43
$5.55NZ$9.41
-28.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Whanganui
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.94
$1.68NZ$2.85
-35.71%
White Bread(500g)
$1.76€1.53
$1.55NZ$2.64
13.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70€1.47
$1.97NZ$3.33
-13.71%
Eggs
$3.25€2.81
$5.93NZ$10.05
-45.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.25€11.47
$7.18NZ$12.16
84.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.70€6.67
$9.05NZ$15.34
-14.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.77€13.66
$12.55NZ$21.28
25.66%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.97
$2.45NZ$4.16
-6.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66€1.43
$1.88NZ$3.19
-11.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.02€1.75
$2.44NZ$4.14
-17.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47€2.14
$3.50NZ$5.93
-29.43%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.55
$2.16NZ$3.65
-17.13%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07€1.79
$2.23NZ$3.77
-7.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.71
$2.10NZ$3.57
-6.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.72
$0.55NZ$0.94
50.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55€5.68
$20.38NZ$34.54
-67.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.57€4.82
$10.08NZ$17.08
-44.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.15
$2.44NZ$4.14
-45.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01€2.60
$2.70NZ$4.58
11.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Whanganui
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.97
$2.08NZ$3.53
9.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.35€40.14
$63.7NZ$108
-27.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.66
$2.65NZ$4.50
59.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$1.78NZ$3.02
-52.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.83€16.31
$34.95NZ$59.3
-46.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02€1.75
$1.65NZ$2.79
22.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.3K
$26.6KNZ$45.1K
31.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K€34.3K
$23.3KNZ$39.6K
69.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Whanganui
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€128
$117NZ$198
26.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.77
$37.25NZ$63.1
-44.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52€34.23
$47.56NZ$80.6
-16.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Whanganui
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.17€41.72
$36.77NZ$62.3
31.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39€15.92
$11.93NZ$20.22
54.15%
Cinema Ticket
$9.10€7.88
$7.12NZ$12.07
27.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Whanganui
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$615€532
$367NZ$622
67.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.1K
$11.8KNZ$20.1K
37.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Whanganui
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€88.0
$68.8NZ$117
47.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09€36.45
$36.45NZ$61.8
15.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.3€79.9
$97.0NZ$164
-4.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€106
$128NZ$217
-4.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Whanganui
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,612€1,396
$1,211NZ$2,053
33.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254€1,086
$735NZ$1,246
70.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,069€2,658
$1,541NZ$2,612
99.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,037€1,764
$1,372NZ$2,325
48.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,751€6,712
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,286€3,712
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Whanganui
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,602€1,387
-
-
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Whanganui: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Lisbon and $1,211 in Whanganui. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $71.0 in Whanganui for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $283 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 in Whanganui?
Lisbon and Whanganui differ by about 31% in total monthly costs ($2,280 vs $1,737 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 $3,420 in Lisbon and $2,606 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: $1,612 in Lisbon versus $1,211 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 $615 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 6% 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 $1,737 in Whanganui versus $2,280 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 31% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.