Cost of Living Comparison Between Montana and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Montana and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $842 in Montana versus $2,210 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,323 in Montana versus $3,311 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,805 in Montana versus $4,411 in Lisbon.

Living in Montana costs roughly 62% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Montana is 37% below, Lisbon is 65% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montana
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.45 BGN 17.38
$15.91 €13.69
-34.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.87 BGN 58.0
$64.8 €55.7
-46.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.92 BGN 13.18
$10.51 €9.04
-24.64%
Cappuccino
$1.46 BGN 2.44
$2.87 €2.47
-49.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 BGN 2.29
$2.24 €1.93
-38.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 BGN 1.45
$1.50 €1.29
-42.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.32 BGN 2.20
$3.49 €3.00
-62.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04 BGN 1.73
$3.88 €3.34
-73.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montana
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 BGN 2.83
$1.14 €0.98
49.12%
White Bread (500g)
$1.00 BGN 1.66
$1.75 €1.51
-42.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.81 BGN 3.02
$1.76 €1.51
2.84%
Eggs
$2.65 BGN 4.40
$3.22 €2.77
-17.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.49 BGN 15.79
$13.49 €11.61
-29.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.25 BGN 5.41
$7.91 €6.81
-58.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.84 BGN 21.36
$15.87 €13.65
-19.09%
Apples (1kg)
$1.26 BGN 2.10
$2.31 €1.99
-45.45%
Banana (1kg)
$2.62 BGN 4.36
$1.70 €1.46
54.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 BGN 3.31
$2.01 €1.73
-1.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.10 BGN 3.50
$2.46 €2.12
-14.63%
Potato (1kg)
$0.84 BGN 1.39
$1.84 €1.59
-54.35%
Onion (1kg)
$0.74 BGN 1.23
$2.00 €1.72
-63.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.36 BGN 2.26
$1.93 €1.66
-29.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 BGN 0.85
$0.79 €0.68
-35.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.55 BGN 5.91
$6.61 €5.68
-46.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.90 BGN 9.81
$5.72 €4.92
3.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 BGN 1.51
$1.37 €1.17
-33.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71 BGN 2.85
$2.97 €2.56
-42.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Montana
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.92 BGN 1.53
$2.37 €2.04
-61.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.97 BGN 59.9
$45.56 €39.19
-21.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.67 BGN 1.11
$4.29 €3.69
-84.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 BGN 0.72
$0.82 €0.70
-47.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.60 BGN 17.63
$18.30 €15.74
-42.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.51 BGN 2.51
$2.06 €1.78
-26.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.1K BGN 33.5K
$34.3K €29.5K
-41.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.4K BGN 40.6K
$39.3K €33.8K
-37.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montana
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$99.0 BGN 165
$148 €127
-33.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.04 BGN 28.35
$20.52 €17.65
-16.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.88 BGN 14.78
$39.61 €34.08
-77.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montana
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.79 BGN 34.58
$47.85 €41.16
-56.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.07 BGN 15.09
$18.92 €16.28
-52.06%
Cinema Ticket
$5.68 BGN 9.45
$9.18 €7.90
-38.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montana
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$324 BGN 539
$614 €528
-47.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,558 BGN 9,246
$16.0K €13.8K
-65.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montana
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.9 BGN 87.9
$105 €90.0
-49.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.33 BGN 48.79
$42.06 €36.18
-30.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.5 BGN 121
$94.0 €80.8
-22.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 BGN 177
$120 €103
-11.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montana
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$223 BGN 371
$1,628 €1,400
-86.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$164 BGN 273
$1,255 €1,080
-86.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$414 BGN 688
$3,030 €2,607
-86.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$305 BGN 507
$2,020 €1,738
-84.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,352 BGN 2,249
$7,800 €6,709
-82.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,090 BGN 1,813
$4,273 €3,675
-74.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montana
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,036 BGN 1,723
$1,603 €1,379
-35.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.2
3.81
-16.01%

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

Last update for Montana: June 2, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $223 in Montana and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 55% 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: $35.00 in Montana vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $269 per month, with Montana 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
Montana vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Montana and Lisbon?
Montana and Lisbon differ by about 163% in total monthly costs ($842 vs $2,210 including rent). Montana is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Lisbon earns 55% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Montana and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $223 in Montana 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 Montana and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $324 in Montana 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 32% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $842 in Montana versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Montana but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Montana the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Montana 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 Montana or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Montana 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: Montana or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Montana gentler on the wallet – expenses run 163% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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