Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Yens Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Yens

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $3,470 in Yens.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $5,210 in Yens.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $6,951 in Yens.

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 34% less than in Yens, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 68% above, Yens 154% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Yens
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59 €15.31
$28.97 CHF 23.81
-39.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9 €54.7
$122 CHF 100
-48.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.58 €10.08
$16.03 CHF 13.17
-27.76%
Cappuccino
$3.10 €2.70
$6.10 CHF 5.01
-49.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 €2.17
$5.04 CHF 4.14
-50.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.52
$4.11 CHF 3.38
-57.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.48 €3.03
$9.18 CHF 7.55
-62.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 €3.00
$8.16 CHF 6.71
-57.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Yens
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 €1.00
$2.24 CHF 1.84
-48.66%
White Bread (500g)
$1.91 €1.66
$3.07 CHF 2.52
-37.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 €1.31
$3.18 CHF 2.62
-52.83%
Eggs
$3.98 €3.47
$7.37 CHF 6.06
-46.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.29 €11.57
$24.52 CHF 20.15
-45.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.01 €6.97
$28.06 CHF 23.06
-71.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.04 €15.70
$39.21 CHF 32.22
-53.99%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 €2.05
$3.60 CHF 2.96
-34.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.52
$2.03 CHF 1.67
-13.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 €1.61
$2.64 CHF 2.17
-29.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.55 €2.22
$4.53 CHF 3.72
-43.71%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.60
$1.70 CHF 1.40
8.24%
Onion (1kg)
$2.10 €1.83
$1.99 CHF 1.64
5.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.49 €1.29
$2.05 CHF 1.69
-27.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 €0.71
$1.31 CHF 1.08
-37.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10 €6.18
$11.27 CHF 9.27
-37.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.91 €5.14
$12.42 CHF 10.21
-52.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 €1.14
$2.35 CHF 1.93
-44.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 €1.85
$3.04 CHF 2.50
-29.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Yens
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.36 €2.05
$4.42 CHF 3.64
-46.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.62 €40.57
$99.3 CHF 81.6
-53.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.08 €3.55
$7.86 CHF 6.46
-48.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.14 €0.99
$4.65 CHF 3.82
-75.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.09 €14.88
$86.8 CHF 71.3
-80.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.31 €2.01
$2.37 CHF 1.95
-2.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K €29.7K
$44.6K CHF 36.7K
-23.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K €36.0K
$39.4K CHF 32.4K
4.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Yens
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 €147
$283 CHF 233
-40.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33 €16.82
$28.77 CHF 23.64
-32.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51 €29.17
$51.4 CHF 42.23
-34.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Yens
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.84 €42.50
$92.7 CHF 76.2
-47.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43 €16.91
$45.86 CHF 37.68
-57.63%
Cinema Ticket
$9.57 €8.33
$24.87 CHF 20.43
-61.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Yens
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$696 €606
$2,953 CHF 2,427
-76.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.4K €15.1K
$31.6K CHF 26.0K
-45.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Yens
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €91.6
$145 CHF 119
-27.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75 €41.56
$61.9 CHF 50.9
-22.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 €87.5
$141 CHF 116
-28.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €108
$203 CHF 167
-38.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Yens
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,662 €1,446
$1,773 CHF 1,457
-6.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,246 €1,085
$1,479 CHF 1,215
-15.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,965 €2,580
$2,925 CHF 2,404
1.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,049 €1,783
$2,547 CHF 2,093
-19.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,834 €6,818
$16.6K CHF 13.7K
-52.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,464 €3,885
$12.2K CHF 10.0K
-63.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Yens
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,632 €1,420
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.78
1.95
93.85%

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

Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026

Last update for Yens: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $1,773 in Yens. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $122 in Yens for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $566 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 Yens: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Yens?
Lisbon and Yens differ by about 51% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $3,470 including rent). Lisbon 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 Yens?
You'd need roughly $3,444 in Lisbon and $5,205 in Yens 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 Yens?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $1,773 in Yens. 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 Yens?
Childcare runs $696 in Lisbon versus $2,953 in Yens. 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 104% higher in Yens. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
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 Yens?
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 Yens safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Yens 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 Yens?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 51% less than in Yens. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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