🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,967 in Mouscron versus $2,280 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,834 in Mouscron versus $3,294 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,702 in Mouscron versus $4,307 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Mouscron costs roughly 14% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mouscron48% above, Lisbon71% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mouscron
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.66€11.04
$15.75€13.74
-19.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.8€51.3
$63.5€55.3
-7.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.95€8.67
$10.45€9.11
-4.78%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.47
$2.91€2.54
-2.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33€2.03
$2.29€2.00
1.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35€2.05
$1.50€1.31
56.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.17€3.63
$3.56€3.11
17.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57€3.11
$3.96€3.46
-9.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mouscron
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.33€1.16
$1.08€0.94
23.15%
White Bread(500g)
$2.76€2.40
$1.76€1.54
56.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.71€2.36
$1.70€1.48
59.41%
Eggs
$4.17€3.64
$3.25€2.83
28.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.14€15.81
$13.25€11.55
36.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.49€10.02
$7.70€6.72
49.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.19€14.98
$15.77€13.75
9.00%
Apples(1kg)
$2.92€2.54
$2.28€1.99
28.07%
Banana(1kg)
$2.42€2.11
$1.66€1.44
45.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25€1.96
$2.02€1.76
11.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.27€2.85
$2.47€2.16
32.39%
Potato(1kg)
$2.89€2.52
$1.79€1.56
61.45%
Onion(1kg)
$2.34€2.04
$2.07€1.80
13.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.41€1.23
$1.97€1.72
-28.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.71
$0.83€0.73
-1.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.50€10.90
$6.55€5.71
90.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.22€6.29
$5.57€4.85
29.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68€1.47
$1.33€1.16
26.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02€1.76
$3.01€2.62
-32.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Mouscron
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.97€2.59
$2.27€1.98
30.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$57.6€50.2
$46.35€40.41
24.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.94€5.17
$4.23€3.69
40.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.68€2.33
$0.85€0.74
215.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$47.00€40.97
$18.83€16.41
149.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89€1.65
$2.02€1.76
-6.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K€31.4K
$35.0K€30.5K
3.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.8K€28.6K
$39.6K€34.6K
-17.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mouscron
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$205€178
$148€129
38.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.04€21.83
$20.52€17.89
22.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.9€44.35
$39.52€34.46
28.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mouscron
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.94€33.07
$48.17€42.00
-21.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.75€14.60
$18.39€16.03
-8.92%
Cinema Ticket
$15.06€13.13
$9.10€7.93
65.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mouscron
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$655€571
$615€536
6.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.4K€11.7K
$16.3K€14.2K
-17.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mouscron
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$111€96.8
$102€88.6
9.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.65€43.28
$42.09€36.69
17.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117€102
$92.3€80.5
26.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$228€199
$122€106
87.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mouscron
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$870€758
$1,612€1,405
-46.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$739€644
$1,254€1,093
-41.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,378€1,201
$3,069€2,676
-55.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,086€947
$2,037€1,776
-46.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,133€3,603
$7,751€6,757
-46.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,280€2,859
$4,286€3,737
-23.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mouscron
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,193€3,655
$1,602€1,396
161.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.27
3.81
-14.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mouscron: July 27, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $870 in Mouscron and $1,612 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mouscron pays 162% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $59.0 in Mouscron vs $63.0 in Lisbon. Groceries flip the comparison at $342 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
Mouscron vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mouscron and in Lisbon?
Mouscron and Lisbon differ by about 16% in total monthly costs ($1,967 vs $2,280 including rent). Mouscron is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mouscron or Lisbon?
Average pay runs 162% higher in Mouscron, 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 Mouscron and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $870 in Mouscron versus $1,612 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 Mouscron and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $655 in Mouscron versus $615 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 28% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $1,967 in Mouscron versus $2,280 in Lisbon, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Mouscron but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Mouscron the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mouscron 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 Mouscron or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mouscron 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: Mouscron or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Mouscron gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.