πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,857 in Mount Vernon, WA versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $3,967 in Mount Vernon, WA versus $3,311 in Lisbon.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,077 in Mount Vernon, WA versus $4,411 in Lisbon.
πLiving in Mount Vernon, WA is roughly 29% more expensive than Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth cities are pricier than the global median: Mount Vernon, WA113% above, Lisbon65% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Mount Vernon, WA
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.41$16.41
$15.91β¬13.70
3.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.9$58.9
$64.8β¬55.8
-9.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.44$12.44
$10.51β¬9.05
18.36%
Cappuccino
$5.75$5.75
$2.87β¬2.47
100.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22$2.22
$2.24β¬1.93
-0.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71$1.71
$1.50β¬1.30
14.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.57$7.57
$3.49β¬3.01
116.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$12.15$12.15
$3.88β¬3.34
213.14%
π Groceries & Markets
Mount Vernon, WA
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.11$1.11
$1.14β¬0.98
-2.63%
White Bread(500g)
$4.29$4.29
$1.75β¬1.51
145.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$8.03$8.03
$1.76β¬1.51
356.25%
Eggs
$4.94$4.94
$3.22β¬2.77
53.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.16$11.16
$13.49β¬11.62
-17.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.72$6.72
$7.91β¬6.81
-15.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.30$8.30
$15.87β¬13.67
-47.70%
Apples(1kg)
$5.06$5.06
$2.31β¬1.99
119.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71$1.71
$1.70β¬1.46
0.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.31$4.31
$2.01β¬1.73
114.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.04$5.04
$2.46β¬2.12
104.88%
Potato(1kg)
$3.37$3.37
$1.84β¬1.59
83.15%
Onion(1kg)
$1.93$1.93
$2.00β¬1.72
-3.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93$1.93
$1.93β¬1.66
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.97$1.97
$0.79β¬0.68
149.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.83$5.83
$6.61β¬5.69
-11.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.17$18.17
$5.72β¬4.93
217.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71$1.71
$1.37β¬1.18
24.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56$2.56
$2.97β¬2.56
-13.80%
π Getting Around
Mount Vernon, WA
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.98$1.98
$2.37β¬2.04
-16.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.43$29.43
$45.56β¬39.23
-35.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.53$2.53
$4.29β¬3.69
-41.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.67$1.67
$0.82β¬0.70
103.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$30.20$30.20
$18.30β¬15.76
65.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.06$1.06
$2.06β¬1.78
-48.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4K$25.4K
$34.3Kβ¬29.5K
-26.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7K$20.7K
$39.3Kβ¬33.8K
-47.21%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mount Vernon, WA
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$230$230
$148β¬127
55.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$45.43$45.43
$20.52β¬17.67
121.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$79.1$79.1
$39.61β¬34.11
99.62%
π Sport & Entertainment
Mount Vernon, WA
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.46$43.46
$47.85β¬41.20
-9.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.92β¬16.29
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.19$15.19
$9.18β¬7.91
65.47%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Mount Vernon, WA
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,108$2,108
$614β¬529
243.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$31.8K$31.8K
$16.0Kβ¬13.8K
98.45%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Mount Vernon, WA
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.24$43.24
$105β¬90.1
-58.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.42$44.42
$42.06β¬36.22
5.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$56.4$56.4
$94.0β¬80.9
-39.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.5$80.5
$120β¬103
-32.72%
π Accommodation & Living
Mount Vernon, WA
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,679$1,679
$1,628β¬1,402
3.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,569$1,569
$1,255β¬1,081
25.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,670$2,670
$3,030β¬2,609
-11.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,430$2,430
$2,020β¬1,740
20.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,684$2,684
$7,800β¬6,716
-65.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,324$2,324
$4,273β¬3,679
-45.61%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Mount Vernon, WA
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,837$3,837
$1,603β¬1,381
139.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.38
3.81
67.45%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mount Vernon, WA: May 31, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,679 in Mount Vernon, WA and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Mount Vernon, WA pays 139% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $59.0 in Mount Vernon, WA vs $65.0 in Lisbon. Groceries flip the comparison at $371 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
Mount Vernon, WA vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mount Vernon, WA and Lisbon?
Mount Vernon, WA and Lisbon differ by about 29% in total monthly costs ($2,857 vs $2,210 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mount Vernon, WA or Lisbon?
Mount Vernon, WA pays 139% 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 Mount Vernon, WA and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,679 in Mount Vernon, WA 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 Mount Vernon, WA and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $2,108 in Mount Vernon, WA 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 38% higher in Mount Vernon, WA. 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 Mount Vernon, WA and Lisbon?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Mount Vernon, WA or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mount Vernon, WA 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: Mount Vernon, WA or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet β expenses run 29% less than in Mount Vernon, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Mount Vernon, WA vs other spots: cost of living compared