🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,259 in Normal, IL versus $2,296 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,291 in Normal, IL versus $3,376 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,324 in Normal, IL versus $4,457 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Normal, IL costs roughly 2% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Normal, IL65% above, Lisbon68% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Normal, IL
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.35$11.35
$17.59€15.32
-35.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.2$50.2
$62.9€54.8
-20.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.01$10.01
$11.58€10.09
-13.56%
Cappuccino
$4.90$4.90
$3.10€2.70
58.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37$3.37
$2.49€2.17
35.34%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50$1.50
$1.74€1.52
-13.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.24$5.24
$3.48€3.03
50.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.15$6.15
$3.44€3.00
78.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Normal, IL
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.79$0.79
$1.15€1.00
-31.30%
White Bread(500g)
$2.67$2.67
$1.91€1.66
39.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.25$3.25
$1.50€1.31
116.67%
Eggs
$3.65$3.65
$3.98€3.47
-8.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.98$8.98
$13.29€11.58
-32.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.49$12.49
$8.01€6.98
55.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.21$19.21
$18.04€15.72
6.49%
Apples(1kg)
$6.44$6.44
$2.35€2.05
174.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.25$1.25
$1.75€1.52
-28.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$6.69$6.69
$1.85€1.62
261.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.16$5.16
$2.55€2.22
102.35%
Potato(1kg)
$3.38$3.38
$1.84€1.61
83.70%
Onion(1kg)
$3.22$3.22
$2.10€1.83
53.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98$1.98
$1.49€1.29
32.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.38$2.38
$0.82€0.71
190.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.83$11.83
$7.10€6.18
66.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.84$10.84
$5.91€5.15
83.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.92$1.92
$1.31€1.15
46.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92$2.92
$2.13€1.86
37.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Normal, IL
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.43$2.43
$2.36€2.05
2.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$92.3$92.3
$46.62€40.61
98.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.83$5.83
$4.08€3.55
42.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.08$1.08
$1.14€0.99
-5.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30$18.30
$17.09€14.89
7.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.86$0.86
$2.31€2.01
-62.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.0K$37.0K
$34.1K€29.7K
8.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K$26.7K
$41.4K€36.0K
-35.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Normal, IL
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$206$206
$169€147
22.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$96.0$96.0
$19.33€16.84
396.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.8$63.8
$33.51€29.20
90.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Normal, IL
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.21$40.21
$48.84€42.55
-17.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.43€16.93
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.05$12.05
$9.57€8.34
25.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Normal, IL
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,071$1,071
$696€606
53.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$17.4K€15.1K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Normal, IL
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.45$30.45
$105€91.7
-71.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.70$40.70
$47.75€41.60
-14.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$67.9$67.9
$101€87.6
-32.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$151$151
$124€108
20.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Normal, IL
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,004$1,004
$1,662€1,448
-39.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$902$902
$1,246€1,086
-27.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,791$1,791
$2,965€2,583
-39.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,621$1,621
$2,049€1,785
-20.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,996$9,996
$7,834€6,825
27.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,464€3,889
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Normal, IL
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,165$4,165
$1,632€1,421
155.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.33
3.78
67.46%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Normal, IL: September 13, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,004 in Normal, IL and $1,662 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Normal, IL pays 155% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $50.0 in Normal, IL vs $63.0 in Lisbon. Groceries flip the comparison at $392 vs $277, 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
Normal, IL vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Normal, IL and in Lisbon?
Normal, IL and Lisbon differ by about 2% in total monthly costs ($2,259 vs $2,296 including rent). Normal, IL is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Normal, IL or Lisbon?
Average pay runs 155% higher in Normal, IL, 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 Normal, IL and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,004 in Normal, IL versus $1,662 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 Normal, IL and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $1,071 in Normal, IL versus $696 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 41% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $2,259 in Normal, IL versus $2,296 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Normal, IL but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Normal, IL the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Normal, IL 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 Normal, IL or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Normal, IL 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: Normal, IL or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Normal, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Normal, IL vs other spots: cost of living compared