Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Palm Springs, CA and Lisbon

For one person, living is cheaper in Lisbon: $2,210 a month against $2,804 in Palm Springs, CA, rent and utilities included – about $7,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Palm Springs, CA, United States
Lisbon, Portugal
Palm Springs, CA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,804
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,210
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Palm Springs, CA 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 Palm Springs, CA and in Lisbon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,804 in Palm Springs, CA versus $2,210 in Lisbon.

  • Palm Springs, CA $2,804
  • Lisbon $2,210

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,462 in Palm Springs, CA versus $3,275 in Lisbon.

  • Palm Springs, CA $4,462
  • Lisbon $3,275

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,120 in Palm Springs, CA versus $4,341 in Lisbon.

  • Palm Springs, CA $6,120
  • Lisbon $4,341

Living in Palm Springs, CA is roughly 27% more expensive than in Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Palm Springs, CA 106% above, Lisbon 62% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Palm Springs, CA
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.21 $30.21
$16.65 €14.95
81.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.6 $73.6
$61.7 €55.5
19.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.83 $9.83
$11.36 €10.20
-13.47%
Cappuccino
$5.31 $5.31
$2.97 €2.67
78.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 $2.77
$2.29 €2.06
20.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 $1.57
$1.74 €1.56
-9.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.96 $4.96
$3.40 €3.06
45.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.60 $5.60
$3.31 €2.97
69.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Palm Springs, CA
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.35 $1.35
$1.16 €1.04
16.38%
White Bread (500g)
$4.01 $4.01
$1.91 €1.72
109.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.96 $2.96
$1.51 €1.36
96.03%
Eggs
$5.64 $5.64
$4.02 €3.61
40.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.91 $13.91
$12.94 €11.62
7.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.85 $13.85
$7.77 €6.98
78.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.34 $12.34
$17.76 €15.95
-30.52%
Apples (1kg)
$5.01 $5.01
$2.30 €2.07
117.83%
Banana (1kg)
$2.14 $2.14
$1.73 €1.56
23.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.52 $4.52
$1.86 €1.67
143.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.05 $5.05
$2.59 €2.33
94.98%
Potato (1kg)
$4.59 $4.59
$1.82 €1.64
152.20%
Onion (1kg)
$4.26 $4.26
$1.97 €1.77
116.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.17 $2.17
$1.47 €1.32
47.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$0.72 €0.65
204.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.80 $11.80
$6.58 €5.91
79.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.53 $13.53
$5.61 €5.04
141.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.36 €1.22
21.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.14 €1.92
29.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Palm Springs, CA
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.03 $1.03
$2.33 €2.10
-55.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$33.71 $33.71
$44.68 €40.14
-24.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.47 $3.47
$3.85 €3.46
-9.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.81 $1.81
$1.07 €0.96
69.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.64 $23.64
$16.46 €14.79
43.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 $1.37
$2.20 €1.98
-37.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K $30.3K
$34.2K €30.7K
-11.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$38.7K €34.8K
-32.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Palm Springs, CA
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$243 $243
$161 €145
50.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$81.6 $81.6
$18.41 €16.54
343.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.5 $66.5
$32.74 €29.41
103.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Palm Springs, CA
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.81 $32.81
$44.55 €40.02
-26.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$49.68 $49.68
$19.10 €17.16
160.10%
Cinema Ticket
$12.07 $12.07
$9.60 €8.62
25.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Palm Springs, CA
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$556 $556
$668 €600
-16.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,546 $8,546
$17.6K €15.8K
-51.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Palm Springs, CA
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.48 $31.48
$102 €91.6
-69.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.67 $34.67
$44.46 €39.94
-22.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.4 $72.4
$98.5 €88.5
-26.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$138 $138
$124 €111
11.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Palm Springs, CA
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,961 $1,961
$1,608 €1,445
21.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,378 $1,378
$1,190 €1,069
15.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,450 $3,450
$2,812 €2,526
22.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,963 $2,963
$2,013 €1,808
47.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,132 $5,132
$7,839 €7,042
-34.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,464 $3,464
$4,576 €4,110
-24.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Palm Springs, CA
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,839 $4,839
$1,575 €1,415
207.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.68
3.85
73.51%

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

Last update for Palm Springs, CA: October 25, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Palm Springs, CA
$1.4K
Lisbon
$1.2K 13.6% $188
Groceries & Markets
Palm Springs, CA
$415
Lisbon
$272 34.4% $143
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Palm Springs, CA
$391
Lisbon
$212 45.7% $179
Eating Out
Palm Springs, CA
$388
Lisbon
$243 37.5% $146
Clothing & Footwear
Palm Springs, CA
$125
Lisbon
$166 33.2% $41
Sport & Entertainment
Palm Springs, CA
$57
Lisbon
$64 11.9% $6.8
Getting Around
Palm Springs, CA
$50
Lisbon
$63 25.6% $13

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,961 in Palm Springs, CA and $1,608 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Palm Springs, CA pays about 3.1 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $74 in Palm Springs, CA vs $62 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $415 vs $272 per month, with Lisbon cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Palm Springs, CA
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🕒 Local time
14:35 2:35 PM
21:35 9:35 PM
7 h ahead of Palm Springs, CA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
44,575
545,923 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 0.898 EUR (1 EUR = 1.11 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Palm Springs, CA Lisbon 9,020 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Palm Springs, CA
  • 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
Palm Springs, CA vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Palm Springs, CA and in Lisbon?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $2,804 in Palm Springs, CA and $2,210 in Lisbon, so Lisbon is about 21% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Palm Springs, CA or Lisbon?
Average pay in Palm Springs, CA is about 3.1 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 Palm Springs, CA and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,961 in Palm Springs, CA versus $1,608 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 Palm Springs, CA and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $556 in Palm Springs, CA versus $668 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 52% higher in Palm Springs, CA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How does quality of life compare between Palm Springs, CA 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.
How do I decide between Palm Springs, CA and Lisbon?
It comes down to priorities – Lisbon wins on affordability, Palm Springs, CA on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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