😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,527 in Monaghan versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,571 in Monaghan versus $3,311 in Lisbon.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,614 in Monaghan versus $4,411 in Lisbon.
😐Living in Monaghan is roughly 14% more expensive than Lisbon, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Monaghan89% above, Lisbon65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Monaghan
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.21€15.66
$15.91€13.69
14.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.6€50.4
$64.8€55.7
-9.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€8.88
$10.51€9.04
-1.81%
Cappuccino
$3.80€3.27
$2.87€2.47
32.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43€2.09
$2.24€1.93
8.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90€1.64
$1.50€1.29
26.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.84€5.88
$3.49€3.00
95.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.52€5.61
$3.88€3.34
68.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Monaghan
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.11€0.96
$1.14€0.98
-2.63%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88€1.62
$1.75€1.51
7.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.06€1.77
$1.76€1.51
17.05%
Eggs
$4.34€3.74
$3.22€2.77
34.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.22€8.79
$13.49€11.61
-24.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.89€9.36
$7.91€6.81
37.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.08€10.39
$15.87€13.65
-23.88%
Apples(1kg)
$2.98€2.57
$2.31€1.99
29.00%
Banana(1kg)
$2.02€1.73
$1.70€1.46
18.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.86€2.46
$2.01€1.73
42.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.62€3.11
$2.46€2.12
47.15%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21€1.90
$1.84€1.59
20.11%
Onion(1kg)
$1.44€1.24
$2.00€1.72
-28.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36€1.17
$1.93€1.66
-29.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.90€1.64
$0.79€0.68
140.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$18.26€15.71
$6.61€5.68
176.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.81€11.88
$5.72€4.92
141.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.51€3.02
$1.37€1.17
156.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68€3.17
$2.97€2.56
23.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Monaghan
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.47€2.13
$2.37€2.04
4.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$96.5€83.0
$45.56€39.19
111.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.06€4.35
$4.29€3.69
17.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.93€1.66
$0.82€0.70
135.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.95€30.06
$18.30€15.74
90.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.77
$2.06€1.78
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.3K€36.4K
$34.3K€29.5K
23.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€33.7K
$39.3K€33.8K
-0.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monaghan
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$214€184
$148€127
44.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.62€18.60
$20.52€17.65
5.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.8€43.67
$39.61€34.08
28.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Monaghan
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.3€44.95
$47.85€41.16
9.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.92€16.28
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.05€12.08
$9.18€7.90
53.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Monaghan
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,037€892
$614€528
68.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,833€6,738
$16.0K€13.8K
-51.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Monaghan
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.7€77.2
$105€90.0
-14.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.47€33.95
$42.06€36.18
-6.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€86.9
$94.0€80.8
7.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105€90.1
$120€103
-12.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Monaghan
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,471€1,265
$1,628€1,400
-9.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243€1,069
$1,255€1,080
-1.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,401€2,066
$3,030€2,607
-20.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,994€1,715
$2,020€1,738
-1.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,411€3,794
$7,800€6,709
-43.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,865€2,465
$4,273€3,675
-32.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Monaghan
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,154€3,573
$1,603€1,379
159.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.53
3.81
18.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Monaghan: May 31, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,471 in Monaghan and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Monaghan pays 159% 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: $59.0 in Monaghan vs $65.0 in Lisbon. Groceries flip the comparison at $324 vs $269, 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
Monaghan vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Monaghan and Lisbon?
Monaghan and Lisbon differ by about 14% in total monthly costs ($2,527 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: Monaghan or Lisbon?
Monaghan pays 159% 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 Monaghan and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,471 in Monaghan 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 Monaghan and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $1,037 in Monaghan 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 20% higher in Monaghan. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,210 in Lisbon versus $2,527 in Monaghan, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Monaghan. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Monaghan 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 Monaghan or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Monaghan 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: Monaghan or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Monaghan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.