Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phoenix, AZ and Lisbon

For one person, living is cheaper in Lisbon: $2,210 a month against $2,815 in Phoenix, AZ, rent and utilities included – about $7,300 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Phoenix, AZ, United States
Lisbon, Portugal
Phoenix, AZ
🇺🇸 United States
$2,815
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,210
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,815 in Phoenix, AZ versus $2,210 in Lisbon.

  • Phoenix, AZ $2,815
  • Lisbon $2,210

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,082 in Phoenix, AZ versus $3,275 in Lisbon.

  • Phoenix, AZ $4,082
  • Lisbon $3,275

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,348 in Phoenix, AZ versus $4,341 in Lisbon.

  • Phoenix, AZ $5,348
  • Lisbon $4,341

Living in Phoenix, AZ is roughly 27% more expensive than in Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Phoenix, AZ 107% above, Lisbon 62% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phoenix, AZ
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.80 $19.80
$16.65 €14.91
18.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.5 $86.5
$61.7 €55.3
40.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.23 $14.23
$11.36 €10.17
25.26%
Cappuccino
$6.07 $6.07
$2.97 €2.66
104.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 $3.20
$2.29 €2.05
39.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 $2.45
$1.74 €1.56
40.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.91 $5.91
$3.40 €3.05
73.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.85 $7.85
$3.31 €2.96
137.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phoenix, AZ
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.78 $0.78
$1.16 €1.04
-32.76%
White Bread (500g)
$3.95 $3.95
$1.91 €1.71
106.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.18 $6.18
$1.51 €1.35
309.27%
Eggs
$4.38 $4.38
$4.02 €3.60
8.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.01 $14.01
$12.94 €11.59
8.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.89 $12.89
$7.77 €6.96
65.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.68 $14.68
$17.76 €15.91
-17.34%
Apples (1kg)
$5.47 $5.47
$2.30 €2.06
137.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.90 $1.90
$1.73 €1.55
9.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.27 $4.27
$1.86 €1.66
129.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.96 $5.96
$2.59 €2.32
130.12%
Potato (1kg)
$3.68 $3.68
$1.82 €1.63
102.20%
Onion (1kg)
$3.14 $3.14
$1.97 €1.76
59.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.26 $2.26
$1.47 €1.32
53.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 $2.66
$0.72 €0.65
269.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.17 $11.17
$6.58 €5.90
69.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.12 $14.12
$5.61 €5.02
151.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40 $2.40
$1.36 €1.22
76.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 $2.95
$2.14 €1.91
37.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Phoenix, AZ
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.97 $1.97
$2.33 €2.09
-15.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$62.7 $62.7
$44.68 €40.01
40.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.83 $2.83
$3.85 €3.45
-26.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.07 €0.96
32.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$36.63 $36.63
$16.46 €14.74
122.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 $1.19
$2.20 €1.97
-45.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K $36.7K
$34.2K €30.6K
7.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K $26.7K
$38.7K €34.7K
-31.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phoenix, AZ
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$233 $233
$161 €144
44.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$77.7 $77.7
$18.41 €16.49
321.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.3 $75.3
$32.74 €29.32
129.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phoenix, AZ
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.5 $56.5
$44.55 €39.90
26.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.46 $19.46
$19.10 €17.10
1.88%
Cinema Ticket
$13.71 $13.71
$9.60 €8.60
42.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phoenix, AZ
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,644 $1,644
$668 €598
146.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.2K $23.2K
$17.6K €15.8K
31.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phoenix, AZ
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.2 $60.2
$102 €91.4
-41.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.42 $46.42
$44.46 €39.82
4.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 $103
$98.5 €88.2
5.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127 $127
$124 €111
3.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phoenix, AZ
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,755 $1,755
$1,608 €1,440
9.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,341 $1,341
$1,190 €1,066
12.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,082 $3,082
$2,812 €2,519
9.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,097 $2,097
$2,013 €1,803
4.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,507 $4,507
$7,839 €7,021
-42.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,990 $2,990
$4,576 €4,098
-34.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phoenix, AZ
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,196 $4,196
$1,575 €1,411
166.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.63
3.85
72.21%

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

Last update for Phoenix, AZ: October 26, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phoenix, AZ
$1.3K
Lisbon
$1.2K 11.2% $150
Groceries & Markets
Phoenix, AZ
$430
Lisbon
$272 36.7% $158
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phoenix, AZ
$386
Lisbon
$212 45% $174
Eating Out
Phoenix, AZ
$342
Lisbon
$243 29% $99
Clothing & Footwear
Phoenix, AZ
$152
Lisbon
$166 9.2% $14
Sport & Entertainment
Phoenix, AZ
$84
Lisbon
$64 24.1% $20
Getting Around
Phoenix, AZ
$81
Lisbon
$63 21.5% $17

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,755 in Phoenix, AZ and $1,608 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phoenix, AZ pays about 2.7 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $87 in Phoenix, AZ vs $62 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $430 vs $272 per month, with Lisbon cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Phoenix, AZ
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🕒 Local time
10:07 10:07 AM
17:07 5:07 PM
7 h ahead of Phoenix, AZ
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,608,139
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 November 1, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phoenix, AZ Lisbon 8,730 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phoenix, AZ
  • 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
Phoenix, AZ vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phoenix, AZ and in Lisbon?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $2,815 in Phoenix, AZ 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: Phoenix, AZ or Lisbon?
Average pay in Phoenix, AZ is about 2.7 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 Phoenix, AZ and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,755 in Phoenix, AZ 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 Phoenix, AZ and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $1,644 in Phoenix, AZ 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 58% higher in Phoenix, AZ. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How does quality of life compare between Phoenix, AZ 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.
Where should expats move: Phoenix, AZ or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Phoenix, AZ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Phoenix, AZ vs other spots: cost of living compared

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