Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne, FL and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Melbourne, FL and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,935 in Melbourne, FL versus $2,210 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,015 in Melbourne, FL versus $3,311 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,094 in Melbourne, FL versus $4,411 in Lisbon.

Living in Melbourne, FL is roughly 33% more expensive than Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Melbourne, FL 119% above, Lisbon 65% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Melbourne, FL
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.38 $25.38
$15.91 €13.70
59.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.8 $73.8
$64.8 €55.8
13.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.97 $9.97
$10.51 €9.05
-5.14%
Cappuccino
$4.87 $4.87
$2.87 €2.47
69.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$2.24 €1.93
17.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 $2.09
$1.50 €1.30
39.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.94 $5.94
$3.49 €3.01
70.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.40 $6.40
$3.88 €3.34
64.95%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Melbourne, FL
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.14 €0.98
-21.93%
White Bread (500g)
$3.72 $3.72
$1.75 €1.51
112.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$1.76 €1.51
55.68%
Eggs
$3.94 $3.94
$3.22 €2.77
22.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.63 $11.63
$13.49 €11.62
-13.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.43 $8.43
$7.91 €6.81
6.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.53 $14.53
$15.87 €13.67
-8.44%
Apples (1kg)
$4.80 $4.80
$2.31 €1.99
107.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 $1.49
$1.70 €1.46
-12.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.64 $3.64
$2.01 €1.73
81.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$2.46 €2.12
110.16%
Potato (1kg)
$2.59 $2.59
$1.84 €1.59
40.76%
Onion (1kg)
$3.39 $3.39
$2.00 €1.72
69.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.28 $2.28
$1.93 €1.66
18.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.10 $2.10
$0.79 €0.68
165.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.31 $9.31
$6.61 €5.69
40.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.40 $15.40
$5.72 €4.93
169.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.37 €1.18
25.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 $2.80
$2.97 €2.56
-5.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Melbourne, FL
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.83 $3.83
$2.37 €2.04
61.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.31 $42.31
$45.56 €39.23
-7.13%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.57 $4.57
$4.29 €3.69
6.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 $0.64
$0.82 €0.70
-21.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.19 $22.19
$18.30 €15.76
21.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$2.06 €1.78
-59.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.7K $23.7K
$34.3K €29.5K
-30.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2K $24.2K
$39.3K €33.8K
-38.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Melbourne, FL
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$173 $173
$148 €127
16.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$55.8 $55.8
$20.52 €17.67
171.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.4 $64.4
$39.61 €34.11
62.51%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Melbourne, FL
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$70.4 $70.4
$47.85 €41.20
47.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$2.03 $2.03
$18.92 €16.29
-89.27%
Cinema Ticket
$12.96 $12.96
$9.18 €7.91
41.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Melbourne, FL
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$910 $910
$614 €529
48.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K $15.8K
$16.0K €13.8K
-1.67%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Melbourne, FL
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.09 $47.09
$105 €90.1
-55.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.86 $45.86
$42.06 €36.22
9.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.3 $86.3
$94.0 €80.9
-8.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.8 $93.8
$120 €103
-21.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Melbourne, FL
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,625 $1,625
$1,628 €1,402
-0.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,607 $1,607
$1,255 €1,081
28.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,018 $3,018
$3,030 €2,609
-0.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,293 $2,293
$2,020 €1,740
13.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,493 $2,493
$7,800 €6,716
-68.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,482 $2,482
$4,273 €3,679
-41.90%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Melbourne, FL
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,643 $3,643
$1,603 €1,381
127.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.53
3.81
71.39%

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

Last update for Melbourne, FL: June 1, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,625 in Melbourne, FL and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Melbourne, FL pays 127% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $74.0 in Melbourne, FL vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $361 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
Melbourne, FL vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Melbourne, FL and Lisbon?
Melbourne, FL and Lisbon differ by about 33% in total monthly costs ($2,935 vs $2,210 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Melbourne, FL or Lisbon?
Melbourne, FL pays 127% 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 Melbourne, FL and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,625 in Melbourne, FL versus $1,628 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 Melbourne, FL and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $910 in Melbourne, FL versus $614 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?
Supermarket bills run roughly 34% higher in Melbourne, FL. 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 Melbourne, FL 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 Melbourne, FL or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Melbourne, FL 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: Melbourne, FL or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Melbourne, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Melbourne, FL vs other spots: cost of living compared

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