😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,418 in Rochdale versus $2,268 in Lisbon.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,507 in Rochdale versus $3,348 in Lisbon.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,595 in Rochdale versus $4,429 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Rochdale is roughly 7% more expensive than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Rochdale75% above, Lisbon64% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rochdale
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$26.09£19.29
$17.55€15.13
48.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$95.4£70.5
$64.5€55.6
47.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.39£7.68
$11.65€10.04
-10.82%
Cappuccino
$4.98£3.68
$3.26€2.81
52.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53£1.87
$2.49€2.15
1.61%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93£1.43
$1.67€1.44
15.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.85£5.06
$3.47€2.99
97.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.91£5.11
$3.58€3.08
93.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rochdale
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.77£1.31
$1.18€1.02
50.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.79£1.32
$1.95€1.68
-8.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.00£1.48
$1.56€1.35
28.21%
Eggs
$3.91£2.89
$4.01€3.46
-2.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.03£5.94
$13.27€11.45
-39.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.59£6.35
$8.42€7.26
2.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.33£10.60
$18.23€15.72
-21.39%
Apples(1kg)
$2.82£2.09
$2.32€2.00
21.55%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71£1.26
$1.73€1.49
-1.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.80£2.07
$1.93€1.67
45.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.97£2.20
$2.64€2.28
12.50%
Potato(1kg)
$2.07£1.53
$1.90€1.64
8.95%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34£0.99
$2.11€1.82
-36.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.25£0.92
$1.44€1.24
-13.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.66£1.22
$0.80€0.69
107.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$24.00£17.75
$7.01€6.04
242.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.12£7.49
$5.92€5.11
70.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.57£1.90
$1.36€1.18
88.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19£2.36
$2.15€1.85
48.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Rochdale
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.63£1.94
$2.38€2.05
10.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$95.6£70.7
$46.22€39.86
106.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.67£3.45
$4.19€3.61
11.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.79£2.06
$1.10€0.95
153.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.88£16.92
$17.26€14.88
32.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.10£1.55
$2.25€1.94
-6.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.5K£28.5K
$34.5K€29.7K
11.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.6K£30.8K
$41.6K€35.9K
0.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rochdale
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$295£218
$171€147
72.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.47£12.17
$19.01€16.39
-13.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.43£31.37
$34.28€29.56
23.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rochdale
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.73£35.28
$49.65€42.81
-3.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.51€16.82
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.77£10.18
$10.10€8.71
36.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rochdale
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,287£951
$699€603
84.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K£12.1K
$17.8K€15.3K
-8.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rochdale
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.6£65.5
$105€90.2
-15.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.67£31.54
$47.97€41.36
-11.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.8£70.8
$102€87.8
-5.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105£77.5
$128€111
-18.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rochdale
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,232£911
$1,661€1,433
-25.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,047£774
$1,228€1,059
-14.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,125£1,571
$2,915€2,514
-27.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,565£1,157
$2,023€1,745
-22.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,201£3,845
$8,129€7,010
-36.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,051£2,995
$4,635€3,997
-12.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rochdale
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,369£1,751
$1,619€1,396
46.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.15
3.78
36.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rochdale: September 7, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,232 in Rochdale and $1,661 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Rochdale pays 46% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $95.0 in Rochdale vs $64.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $281 per month, with Lisbon cheaper across the board.
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
Rochdale vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Rochdale and in Lisbon?
Rochdale and Lisbon differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($2,418 vs $2,268 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Rochdale or Lisbon?
Average pay runs 46% higher in Rochdale, 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 Rochdale and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,232 in Rochdale versus $1,661 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 Rochdale and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $1,287 in Rochdale versus $699 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 4% higher in Rochdale. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,268 in Lisbon versus $2,418 in Rochdale, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Rochdale. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Rochdale 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 Rochdale or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Rochdale 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: Rochdale or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Rochdale. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.