🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,115 in Mannheim versus $2,291 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,176 in Mannheim versus $3,322 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,236 in Mannheim versus $4,354 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Mannheim costs roughly 8% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mannheim58% above, Lisbon71% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mannheim
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.63€11.91
$16.19€14.15
-15.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.2€49.99
$63.3€55.3
-9.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.82€10.32
$10.32€9.02
14.53%
Cappuccino
$4.28€3.74
$2.83€2.47
51.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47€3.03
$2.29€2.00
51.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84€2.49
$1.58€1.38
79.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.29€4.62
$3.40€2.97
55.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.51€4.82
$4.03€3.52
36.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mannheim
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21€1.06
$1.09€0.95
11.01%
White Bread(500g)
$2.31€2.02
$1.75€1.53
32.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.33€2.91
$1.76€1.54
89.20%
Eggs
$3.96€3.46
$3.17€2.77
24.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.78€12.92
$13.19€11.53
12.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.69€13.71
$7.97€6.96
96.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.91€18.27
$15.53€13.57
34.64%
Apples(1kg)
$3.21€2.80
$2.37€2.07
35.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.83€1.60
$1.71€1.49
7.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.23€1.95
$2.01€1.75
10.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.29€4.62
$2.43€2.12
117.70%
Potato(1kg)
$1.49€1.30
$1.76€1.54
-15.34%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54€1.35
$2.03€1.78
-24.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.96€1.71
$1.92€1.68
2.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21€1.05
$0.85€0.74
42.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.29€8.11
$6.58€5.75
41.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.76€5.03
$5.58€4.87
3.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.01€0.89
$1.33€1.16
-24.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68€1.47
$2.97€2.60
-43.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Mannheim
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.67€3.21
$2.28€1.99
60.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$66.0€57.6
$45.79€40.01
44.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.81€5.07
$4.23€3.69
37.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.27€1.98
$0.81€0.71
180.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.11€29.80
$18.44€16.11
84.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.94€1.70
$2.08€1.82
-6.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4K€27.4K
$34.7K€30.3K
-9.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.0K€34.1K
$39.2K€34.2K
-0.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mannheim
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$329€288
$148€129
122.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.33€32.62
$20.46€17.88
82.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.5€46.72
$39.56€34.56
35.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mannheim
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.79€33.89
$47.99€41.93
-19.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.97€34.05
$18.60€16.25
109.52%
Cinema Ticket
$14.94€13.05
$9.22€8.06
62.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mannheim
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$520€454
$616€538
-15.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,790€8,553
$16.4K€14.4K
-40.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mannheim
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.4€63.2
$103€89.7
-29.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.18€32.48
$41.74€36.47
-10.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112€97.8
$94.8€82.8
18.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127€111
$122€107
4.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mannheim
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$955€835
$1,633€1,426
-41.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$737€644
$1,232€1,077
-40.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,615€1,411
$3,098€2,707
-47.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,394€1,218
$2,031€1,775
-31.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,796€5,064
$7,831€6,842
-25.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,031€3,522
$4,389€3,835
-8.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mannheim
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,775€3,298
$1,607€1,404
134.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.47
3.81
-8.92%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mannheim: July 12, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $955 in Mannheim and $1,633 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mannheim pays 135% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $57.0 in Mannheim vs $63.0 in Lisbon. Groceries flip the comparison at $362 vs $267, with Lisbon 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
Mannheim vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mannheim and in Lisbon?
Mannheim and Lisbon differ by about 8% in total monthly costs ($2,115 vs $2,291 including rent). Mannheim is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mannheim or Lisbon?
Average pay runs 135% higher in Mannheim, 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 Mannheim and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $955 in Mannheim versus $1,633 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 Mannheim and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $520 in Mannheim versus $616 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 35% 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 $2,115 in Mannheim versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mannheim but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Mannheim the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mannheim 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 Mannheim or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mannheim 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: Mannheim or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Mannheim gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.