😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,590 in Roma, TX versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,776 in Roma, TX versus $3,311 in Lisbon.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,962 in Roma, TX versus $4,411 in Lisbon.
😐Living in Roma, TX is roughly 17% more expensive than Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Roma, TX93% above, Lisbon65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Roma, TX
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.93$18.93
$15.91€13.81
18.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.3$74.3
$64.8€56.2
14.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.95$10.95
$10.51€9.12
4.19%
Cappuccino
$5.16$5.16
$2.87€2.49
79.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49$2.49
$2.24€1.95
11.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03$2.03
$1.50€1.30
35.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.86$5.86
$3.49€3.03
67.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.98$6.98
$3.88€3.37
79.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Roma, TX
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.00$1.00
$1.14€0.99
-12.28%
White Bread(500g)
$3.48$3.48
$1.75€1.52
98.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.29$4.29
$1.76€1.52
143.75%
Eggs
$4.18$4.18
$3.22€2.79
29.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.13$12.13
$13.49€11.71
-10.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.61$11.61
$7.91€6.87
46.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.25$15.25
$15.87€13.77
-3.91%
Apples(1kg)
$4.87$4.87
$2.31€2.00
110.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61$1.61
$1.70€1.48
-5.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.14$4.14
$2.01€1.74
105.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.76$4.76
$2.46€2.13
93.50%
Potato(1kg)
$2.76$2.76
$1.84€1.60
50.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.89$2.89
$2.00€1.74
44.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.03$2.03
$1.93€1.67
5.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.18$2.18
$0.79€0.68
175.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.87$9.87
$6.61€5.73
49.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.73$14.73
$5.72€4.97
157.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84$1.84
$1.37€1.18
34.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45$3.45
$2.97€2.58
16.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Roma, TX
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.99$1.99
$2.37€2.06
-16.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.62$25.62
$45.56€39.53
-43.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.52$3.52
$4.29€3.72
-17.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.60$1.60
$0.82€0.71
95.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.44$29.44
$18.30€15.88
60.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.90$0.90
$2.06€1.79
-56.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6K$29.6K
$34.3K€29.7K
-13.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K$25.1K
$39.3K€34.1K
-36.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Roma, TX
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187$187
$148€128
26.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.0$53.0
$20.52€17.80
158.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.7$68.7
$39.61€34.37
73.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Roma, TX
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.02$43.02
$47.85€41.51
-10.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.72$19.72
$18.92€16.42
4.23%
Cinema Ticket
$13.69$13.69
$9.18€7.97
49.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Roma, TX
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,289$1,289
$614€533
109.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.6K$23.6K
$16.0K€13.9K
47.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Roma, TX
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.9$51.9
$105€90.8
-50.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.65$40.65
$42.06€36.49
-3.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.9$86.9
$94.0€81.5
-7.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110$110
$120€104
-8.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Roma, TX
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,609$1,609
$1,628€1,412
-1.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,344$1,344
$1,255€1,089
7.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,629$2,629
$3,030€2,629
-13.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,239$2,239
$2,020€1,753
10.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,679$2,679
$7,800€6,767
-65.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,365$2,365
$4,273€3,707
-44.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Roma, TX
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,316$1,316
$1,603€1,391
-17.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.51
3.81
70.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Roma, TX: June 2, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,609 in Roma, TX and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 22% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $74.0 in Roma, TX vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $387 vs $269 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
Roma, TX vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Roma, TX and Lisbon?
Roma, TX and Lisbon differ by about 17% in total monthly costs ($2,590 vs $2,210 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Lisbon earns 22% 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 Roma, TX and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,609 in Roma, TX versus $1,628 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 Roma, TX and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $1,289 in Roma, TX versus $614 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 44% higher in Roma, TX. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Lisbon is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Roma, TX 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 Roma, TX or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Roma, TX 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: Roma, TX or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Roma, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.