🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,995 in Livingston versus $2,322 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,119 in Livingston versus $3,409 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,243 in Livingston versus $4,496 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Livingston costs roughly 14% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Livingston46% above, Lisbon69% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Livingston
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.29£14.87
$17.10€14.63
18.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102£74.5
$64.1€54.8
58.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51£7.71
$11.71€10.02
-10.25%
Cappuccino
$5.06£3.71
$3.14€2.69
61.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75£2.02
$2.51€2.14
9.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42£1.77
$1.66€1.42
45.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.79£4.98
$3.51€3.01
93.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.69£4.90
$3.37€2.88
98.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Livingston
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.46£1.07
$1.16€0.99
25.86%
White Bread(500g)
$1.87£1.37
$2.02€1.73
-7.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.29£1.68
$1.58€1.35
44.94%
Eggs
$3.54£2.60
$4.05€3.46
-12.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.61£7.04
$12.81€10.96
-24.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.35£6.86
$8.02€6.86
16.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.69£10.77
$17.03€14.57
-13.74%
Apples(1kg)
$2.99£2.19
$2.38€2.03
25.63%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71£1.25
$1.83€1.57
-6.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.82£2.07
$1.99€1.71
41.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.56£2.61
$2.67€2.28
33.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.64£1.20
$1.90€1.63
-13.68%
Onion(1kg)
$1.45£1.06
$1.97€1.69
-26.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.22£0.90
$1.43€1.23
-14.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.54£1.13
$0.91€0.78
69.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$22.73£16.66
$6.82€5.84
233.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.89£7.98
$5.73€4.90
90.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.96£2.17
$1.33€1.14
122.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17£2.32
$2.13€1.83
48.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Livingston
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$2.40€2.05
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$45.94€39.30
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.53£4.05
$4.25€3.63
30.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.58£1.16
$1.11€0.95
42.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.52£20.90
$17.99€15.39
58.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.04£1.49
$2.20€1.88
-7.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.3K£28.8K
$35.2K€30.1K
11.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.1K£30.8K
$40.0K€34.2K
5.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Livingston
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$379£278
$171€146
121.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.63£12.92
$19.61€16.78
-10.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.08£30.84
$33.19€28.39
26.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Livingston
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$47.96€41.02
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.88€17.01
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.09£8.86
$10.12€8.66
19.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Livingston
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,259£923
$700€599
79.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.2K£13.3K
$17.4K€14.8K
4.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Livingston
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.9£68.8
$109€93.4
-14.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.68£36.42
$47.84€40.92
3.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111£81.4
$106€90.9
4.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.5£72.9
$126€108
-21.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Livingston
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$861£631
$1,708€1,461
-49.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$769£564
$1,265€1,082
-39.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,909£1,400
$2,973€2,543
-35.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,535£1,125
$2,000€1,711
-23.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$8,013€6,855
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,525€3,871
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Livingston
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,031£2,955
$1,663€1,422
142.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.15
3.73
38.07%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Livingston: August 15, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: August 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $861 in Livingston and $1,708 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Livingston pays 142% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $102 in Livingston vs $64.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $305 vs $277 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 in Lisbon?
Livingston and Lisbon differ by about 16% in total monthly costs ($1,995 vs $2,322 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?
Average pay runs 142% higher in Livingston, 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 in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $861 in Livingston versus $1,708 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 10% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Livingston or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $1,995 per month in Livingston versus $2,322 in Lisbon – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,995 in Livingston versus $2,322 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 16% 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