πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $998 in Murmansk versus $2,263 in Lisbon.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,523 in Murmansk versus $3,315 in Lisbon.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,048 in Murmansk versus $4,368 in Lisbon.
πLiving in Murmansk costs roughly 56% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Murmansk is 26% below, Lisbon is 68% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Murmansk
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.47β½681
$15.94β¬13.82
-40.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.66β½2,779
$63.4β¬54.9
-38.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.44β½391
$10.38β¬9.00
-47.59%
Cappuccino
$1.92β½138
$2.79β¬2.42
-31.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86β½62.0
$2.34β¬2.03
-63.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66β½47.23
$1.57β¬1.36
-57.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.41β½101
$3.43β¬2.97
-58.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53β½182
$3.91β¬3.39
-35.29%
π Groceries & Markets
Murmansk
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22β½87.9
$1.08β¬0.93
12.96%
White Bread(500g)
$0.76β½54.3
$1.77β¬1.53
-57.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.48β½106
$1.71β¬1.48
-13.45%
Eggs
$2.23β½160
$3.15β¬2.73
-29.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.76β½774
$13.68β¬11.86
-21.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.74β½341
$8.01β¬6.94
-40.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.67β½624
$15.52β¬13.45
-44.14%
Apples(1kg)
$1.93β½139
$2.29β¬1.99
-15.72%
Banana(1kg)
$1.86β½133
$1.64β¬1.42
13.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30β½166
$1.94β¬1.68
18.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.22β½375
$2.51β¬2.18
107.97%
Potato(1kg)
$0.99β½71.2
$1.79β¬1.55
-44.69%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67β½47.93
$2.01β¬1.74
-66.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36β½97.5
$1.97β¬1.70
-30.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.38β½99.2
$0.84β¬0.73
64.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.52β½253
$6.79β¬5.88
-48.16%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$5.67β¬4.92
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.00β½72.2
$1.39β¬1.20
-28.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93β½139
$3.02β¬2.61
-36.09%
π Getting Around
Murmansk
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.64β½46.14
$2.27β¬1.97
-71.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.84β½1,211
$45.44β¬39.38
-62.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.04β½147
$4.29β¬3.72
-52.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07β½149
$0.85β¬0.74
143.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.45β½320
$18.28β¬15.84
-75.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.79β½56.8
$1.99β¬1.72
-60.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4Kβ½2.5M
$35.0Kβ¬30.4K
-1.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4Kβ½2.5M
$39.5Kβ¬34.3K
-10.55%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Murmansk
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$108β½7,765
$146β¬127
-26.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.80β½417
$20.45β¬17.72
-71.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.60β½834
$38.98β¬33.78
-70.24%
π Sport & Entertainment
Murmansk
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.21β½2,532
$48.98β¬42.46
-28.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.83β¬16.32
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.08β½294
$9.52β¬8.25
-57.14%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Murmansk
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$327β½23.5K
$608β¬527
-46.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,870β½493.9K
$16.5Kβ¬14.3K
-58.39%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Murmansk
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.2β½3,825
$104β¬90.0
-48.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.01β½3,236
$42.12β¬36.50
6.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115β½8,256
$92.2β¬79.9
24.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105β½7,562
$120β¬104
-12.38%
π Accommodation & Living
Murmansk
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$450β½32.3K
$1,621β¬1,405
-72.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$314β½22.6K
$1,268β¬1,099
-75.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$630β½45.3K
$3,048β¬2,642
-79.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$451β½32.4K
$2,009β¬1,741
-77.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,663β¬6,641
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,329β¬3,752
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Murmansk
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,137β½81.8K
$1,585β¬1,374
-28.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17.17
3.81
350.66%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Murmansk: June 9, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $450 in Murmansk and $1,621 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Lisbon pays 39% 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: $39.00 in Murmansk vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $208 vs $269 per month, with Murmansk cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Murmansk vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Murmansk and Lisbon?
Murmansk and Lisbon differ by about 127% in total monthly costs ($998 vs $2,263 including rent). Murmansk is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Lisbon earns 39% 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 Murmansk and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $450 in Murmansk versus $1,621 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 Murmansk and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $327 in Murmansk versus $608 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 29% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $998 in Murmansk versus $2,263 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Murmansk but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Murmansk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Murmansk 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 Murmansk or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Murmansk 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: Murmansk or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Murmansk gentler on the wallet β expenses run 127% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.