🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,206 in Livingston versus $2,263 in Lisbon.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,384 in Livingston versus $3,315 in Lisbon.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,562 in Livingston versus $4,368 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Livingston costs roughly 3% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Livingston64% above, Lisbon68% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Livingston
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.37£15.14
$15.94€13.73
27.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$95.0£70.6
$63.4€54.6
49.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.91£7.37
$10.38€8.95
-4.53%
Cappuccino
$4.86£3.61
$2.79€2.40
74.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74£2.04
$2.34€2.01
17.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19£1.63
$1.57€1.35
39.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.98£5.19
$3.43€2.95
103.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.76£5.02
$3.91€3.37
72.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Livingston
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71£1.27
$1.08€0.93
58.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74£1.29
$1.77€1.52
-1.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.14£1.59
$1.71€1.47
25.15%
Eggs
$3.60£2.68
$3.15€2.71
14.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.80£8.03
$13.68€11.79
-21.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.12£6.78
$8.01€6.90
13.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.44£12.22
$15.52€13.37
5.93%
Apples(1kg)
$3.14£2.33
$2.29€1.98
37.12%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64£1.22
$1.64€1.41
-
Oranges(1kg)
$2.60£1.93
$1.94€1.67
34.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.73£2.77
$2.51€2.17
48.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76£1.31
$1.79€1.54
-1.68%
Onion(1kg)
$1.44£1.07
$2.01€1.73
-28.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.14£0.85
$1.97€1.69
-42.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.73£1.28
$0.84€0.73
105.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$19.00£14.13
$6.79€5.85
179.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.76£8.00
$5.67€4.89
89.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.59£1.92
$1.39€1.20
86.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.36£2.50
$3.02€2.60
11.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Livingston
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.24£2.41
$2.27€1.95
42.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$76.6£56.9
$45.44€39.15
68.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.31£3.95
$4.29€3.70
23.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.27£0.94
$0.85€0.73
49.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.37£16.63
$18.28€15.75
22.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99£1.48
$1.99€1.71
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K£29.0K
$35.0K€30.2K
11.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.9K£29.6K
$39.5K€34.1K
0.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Livingston
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$385£286
$146€126
163.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.70£13.16
$20.45€17.62
-13.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.03£33.48
$38.98€33.58
15.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Livingston
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.4£44.93
$48.98€42.21
23.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$33.88£25.19
$18.83€16.22
79.93%
Cinema Ticket
$10.82£8.05
$9.52€8.21
13.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Livingston
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,254£933
$608€524
106.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.3K£13.6K
$16.5K€14.2K
10.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Livingston
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$107£79.9
$104€89.5
3.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.8£40.73
$42.12€36.29
30.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115£85.5
$92.2€79.5
24.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.9£61.6
$120€103
-30.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Livingston
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$879£653
$1,621€1,397
-45.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$784£583
$1,268€1,092
-38.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,960£1,457
$3,048€2,626
-35.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,557£1,157
$2,009€1,731
-22.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,663€6,602
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,329€3,730
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Livingston
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,491£2,596
$1,585€1,366
120.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.7
3.81
49.61%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Livingston: June 7, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $879 in Livingston and $1,621 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Livingston pays 120% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $95.0 in Livingston vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $314 vs $269 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
Livingston vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Livingston and Lisbon?
Livingston and Lisbon differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($2,206 vs $2,263 including rent). Livingston is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Livingston or Lisbon?
Livingston pays 120% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Livingston and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $879 in Livingston versus $1,621 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Livingston and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $1,254 in Livingston versus $608 in Lisbon. 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 17% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $2,206 in Livingston versus $2,263 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Livingston but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Livingston the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Livingston and Lisbon?
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 Livingston or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Livingston and Lisbon 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: Livingston or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Livingston gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Livingston vs other spots: cost of living compared