😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,801 in Solothurn versus $2,268 in Lisbon.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,577 in Solothurn versus $3,348 in Lisbon.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,353 in Solothurn versus $4,429 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Solothurn is roughly 24% more expensive than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Solothurn103% above, Lisbon64% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Solothurn
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.41CHF 24.82
$17.55€15.12
73.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$149CHF 122
$64.5€55.6
131.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$18.46CHF 15.06
$11.65€10.04
58.45%
Cappuccino
$6.68CHF 5.45
$3.26€2.81
104.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.63CHF 4.60
$2.49€2.15
126.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.36CHF 4.37
$1.67€1.44
220.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.92CHF 5.65
$3.47€2.99
99.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.23CHF 5.08
$3.58€3.08
74.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Solothurn
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23CHF 1.82
$1.18€1.02
88.98%
White Bread(500g)
$3.82CHF 3.12
$1.95€1.68
95.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.53CHF 2.88
$1.56€1.35
126.28%
Eggs
$8.83CHF 7.20
$4.01€3.46
120.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$22.83CHF 18.63
$13.27€11.44
72.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$26.51CHF 21.64
$8.42€7.26
214.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$61.7CHF 50.3
$18.23€15.72
238.34%
Apples(1kg)
$2.96CHF 2.41
$2.32€2.00
27.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45CHF 1.18
$1.73€1.49
-16.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.52CHF 2.87
$1.93€1.67
82.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.22CHF 3.45
$2.64€2.27
59.85%
Potato(1kg)
$1.67CHF 1.36
$1.90€1.64
-12.11%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78CHF 1.45
$2.11€1.82
-15.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.63CHF 1.33
$1.44€1.24
13.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.00CHF 0.81
$0.80€0.69
25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.32CHF 9.24
$7.01€6.04
61.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.32CHF 10.87
$5.92€5.11
125.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.89CHF 2.36
$1.36€1.18
112.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27CHF 2.67
$2.15€1.85
52.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Solothurn
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.85CHF 3.96
$2.38€2.05
103.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$46.22€39.85
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.46CHF 6.91
$4.19€3.61
101.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.75CHF 3.88
$1.10€0.95
331.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$92.5CHF 75.5
$17.26€14.88
435.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.36CHF 1.93
$2.25€1.94
4.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4KCHF 25.6K
$34.5K€29.7K
-8.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.2KCHF 29.5K
$41.6K€35.9K
-13.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Solothurn
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$98.0CHF 80.0
$171€147
-42.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.80CHF 25.13
$19.01€16.38
62.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.5CHF 47.73
$34.28€29.55
70.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Solothurn
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$91.9CHF 75.0
$49.65€42.80
85.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25CHF 14.08
$19.51€16.81
-11.58%
Cinema Ticket
$18.52CHF 15.11
$10.10€8.71
83.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Solothurn
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$3,692CHF 3,013
$699€603
428.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$19.4KCHF 15.9K
$17.8K€15.3K
9.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Solothurn
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$143CHF 117
$105€90.2
36.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.91CHF 35.84
$47.97€41.35
-8.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$171CHF 139
$102€87.8
67.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$258CHF 210
$128€111
101.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Solothurn
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,201CHF 980
$1,661€1,432
-27.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,072CHF 875
$1,228€1,059
-12.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,861CHF 1,519
$2,915€2,513
-36.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,815CHF 1,482
$2,023€1,744
-10.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,687CHF 7,906
$8,129€7,007
19.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,010CHF 4,089
$4,635€3,996
8.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Solothurn
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,908CHF 5,637
$1,619€1,396
326.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.07
3.78
-45.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Solothurn: September 8, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,201 in Solothurn and $1,661 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Solothurn pays 327% 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: $149 in Solothurn vs $64.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $629 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
Solothurn vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Solothurn and in Lisbon?
Solothurn and Lisbon differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($2,801 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: Solothurn or Lisbon?
Average pay runs 327% higher in Solothurn, 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 Solothurn and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,201 in Solothurn versus $1,661 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 124% higher in Solothurn. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Solothurn or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $2,801 per month in Solothurn versus $2,268 in Lisbon – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
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 Solothurn 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 Solothurn or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Solothurn 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: Solothurn or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Solothurn. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.