Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mouscron and Lisbon

For one person, living is cheaper in Mouscron: $2,078 a month against $2,206 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $1,500 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Lisbon outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Mouscron, Belgium
Lisbon, Portugal
Mouscron
🇧🇪 Belgium
$2,078
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,206
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mouscron and in Lisbon

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mouscron and in Lisbon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,078 in Mouscron versus $2,206 in Lisbon.

  • Mouscron $2,078
  • Lisbon $2,206

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,023 in Mouscron versus $3,276 in Lisbon.

  • Mouscron $3,023
  • Lisbon $3,276

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,968 in Mouscron versus $4,346 in Lisbon.

  • Mouscron $3,968
  • Lisbon $4,346

Living in Mouscron costs roughly 6% less than in Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mouscron 54% above, Lisbon 63% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mouscron
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.50 €20.03
$16.86 €15.01
33.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.8 €68.4
$61.0 €54.4
25.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.30 €11.84
$10.98 €9.78
21.13%
Cappuccino
$4.52 €4.03
$3.05 €2.72
48.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 €2.61
$2.28 €2.03
28.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 €2.59
$1.68 €1.50
73.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.51 €4.90
$3.44 €3.06
60.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59 €4.08
$3.91 €3.48
17.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mouscron
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 €1.25
$1.15 €1.02
21.74%
White Bread (500g)
$2.74 €2.44
$1.89 €1.68
44.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.00 €1.78
$1.50 €1.34
33.33%
Eggs
$3.94 €3.51
$4.12 €3.66
-4.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.63 €10.36
$13.01 €11.58
-10.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.42 €11.06
$8.04 €7.16
54.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.79 €16.73
$17.89 €15.93
5.03%
Apples (1kg)
$2.70 €2.40
$2.27 €2.02
18.94%
Banana (1kg)
$2.14 €1.91
$1.74 €1.55
22.99%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.16 €1.92
$1.82 €1.62
18.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 €1.95
$2.69 €2.39
-18.59%
Potato (1kg)
$2.27 €2.02
$1.77 €1.57
28.25%
Onion (1kg)
$1.75 €1.55
$1.94 €1.72
-9.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.48 €1.32
$1.46 €1.30
1.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.93 €0.83
$0.76 €0.68
22.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.54 €12.06
$6.66 €5.93
103.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.40 €6.59
$5.64 €5.02
31.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10 €1.87
$1.29 €1.15
62.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 €1.60
$2.14 €1.90
-15.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Mouscron
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.19 €2.84
$2.30 €2.05
38.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.9 €47.99
$44.02 €39.19
22.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$10.19 €9.07
$3.98 €3.55
156.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.52 €2.25
$0.64 €0.57
293.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.51 €22.72
$18.93 €16.85
34.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.97 €1.76
$2.28 €2.03
-13.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.6K €31.7K
$33.4K €29.7K
6.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.3K €32.4K
$38.5K €34.3K
-5.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mouscron
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$214 €191
$158 €141
35.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.52 €16.49
$17.54 €15.62
5.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.3 €46.59
$31.18 €27.77
67.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mouscron
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.97 €32.03
$44.64 €39.75
-19.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.25 €17.14
$18.98 €16.90
1.42%
Cinema Ticket
$14.52 €12.93
$9.58 €8.53
51.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mouscron
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$689 €613
$674 €600
2.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €14.3K
$18.7K €16.7K
-14.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mouscron
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.5 €88.6
$102 €91.0
-2.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.76 €22.93
$45.90 €40.87
-43.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.1 €79.3
$102 €91.0
-12.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$143 €128
$122 €109
17.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mouscron
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$920 €819
$1,641 €1,461
-43.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$822 €732
$1,187 €1,057
-30.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,386 €1,234
$2,825 €2,515
-50.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,155 €1,028
$2,018 €1,797
-42.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,115 €3,664
$7,836 €6,977
-47.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,944 €2,621
$4,701 €4,186
-37.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mouscron
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,145 €3,691
$1,687 €1,502
145.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.52
3.82
-7.85%

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

Last update for Mouscron: October 31, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mouscron
$822
Lisbon
$1.2K 44.4% $365
Eating Out
Mouscron
$334
Lisbon
$245 26.6% $89
Groceries & Markets
Mouscron
$321
Lisbon
$275 14.5% $46
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mouscron
$285
Lisbon
$207 27.5% $78
Clothing & Footwear
Mouscron
$161
Lisbon
$168 4% $6.5
Getting Around
Mouscron
$89
Lisbon
$60 32.5% $29
Sport & Entertainment
Mouscron
$65
Lisbon
$64 1.9% $1.2

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $920 in Mouscron and $1,641 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mouscron pays about 2.5 times more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $77 in Mouscron vs $61 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $321 vs $275 per month, with Lisbon cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇪 Mouscron
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🕒 Local time
02:06 2:06 AM
01:06 1:06 AM
1 h behind Mouscron
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
56,626
545,923 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 0.89 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mouscron Lisbon 1,650 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Mouscron
  • Lisbon

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $2,078 in Mouscron and $2,206 in Lisbon, so Mouscron is about 6% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mouscron or Lisbon?
Average pay in Mouscron is about 2.5 times higher, 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: $920 in Mouscron versus $1,641 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 $689 in Mouscron versus $674 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 14% less for everyday groceries. It’s an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How far does $2,500 go in Mouscron compared to Lisbon?
Either city works on $2,500 a month, though Mouscron gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
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 both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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