Cost of Living Comparison Between Southampton and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Southampton and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,686 in Southampton versus $2,210 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $8,489 in Southampton versus $3,311 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $13.3K in Southampton versus $4,411 in Lisbon.

Living in Southampton is roughly 67% more expensive than Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Southampton 175% above, Lisbon 65% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$59.1 BMD 59.1

$15.91 €13.69

271.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$177 BMD 177

$64.8 €55.7

173.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.88 BMD 14.88

$10.51 €9.04

41.58%

Cappuccino

$6.47 BMD 6.47

$2.87 €2.47

125.44%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.33 BMD 3.33

$2.24 €1.93

48.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 BMD 2.94

$1.50 €1.29

96.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.90 BMD 9.90

$3.49 €3.00

183.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.40 BMD 8.40

$3.88 €3.34

116.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.34 BMD 4.34

$1.14 €0.98

280.70%

White Bread (500g)

$8.63 BMD 8.63

$1.75 €1.51

393.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.43 BMD 5.43

$1.76 €1.51

208.52%

Eggs

$7.65 BMD 7.65

$3.22 €2.77

137.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.48 BMD 11.48

$13.49 €11.61

-14.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.02 BMD 24.02

$7.91 €6.81

203.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$32.59 BMD 32.59

$15.87 €13.65

105.36%

Apples (1kg)

$10.18 BMD 10.18

$2.31 €1.99

340.69%

Banana (1kg)

$6.43 BMD 6.43

$1.70 €1.46

278.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$12.66 BMD 12.66

$2.01 €1.73

529.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$11.41 BMD 11.41

$2.46 €2.12

363.82%

Potato (1kg)

$8.31 BMD 8.31

$1.84 €1.59

351.63%

Onion (1kg)

$5.16 BMD 5.16

$2.00 €1.72

158.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$6.15 BMD 6.15

$1.93 €1.66

218.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.21 BMD 3.21

$0.79 €0.68

306.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.76 BMD 17.76

$6.61 €5.68

168.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$25.42 BMD 25.42

$5.72 €4.92

344.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.43 BMD 5.43

$1.37 €1.17

296.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 BMD 4.39

$2.97 €2.56

47.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.37 €2.04

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.56 €39.19

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.40 BMD 6.40

$4.29 €3.69

49.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 €0.70

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$53.8 BMD 53.8

$18.30 €15.74

194.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.01 BMD 2.01

$2.06 €1.78

-2.43%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.3K BMD 34.3K

$34.3K €29.5K

0.08%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$38.4K BMD 38.4K

$39.3K €33.8K

-2.18%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$232 BMD 232

$148 €127

56.94%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$120 BMD 120

$20.52 €17.65

484.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$157 BMD 157

$39.61 €34.08

296.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.85 €41.16

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.92 €16.28

Cinema Ticket

$13.51 BMD 13.51

$9.18 €7.90

47.17%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,342 BMD 1,342

$614 €528

118.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.4K BMD 24.4K

$16.0K €13.8K

51.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.5 BMD 78.5

$105 €90.0

-25.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.8 BMD 60.8

$42.06 €36.18

44.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$139 BMD 139

$94.0 €80.8

47.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 BMD 126

$120 €103

5.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,628 €1,400

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,518 BMD 1,518

$1,255 €1,080

20.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,030 €2,607

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$7,968 BMD 7,968

$2,020 €1,738

294.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,800 €6,709

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,273 €3,675

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$9,756 BMD 9,756

$1,603 €1,379

508.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.22

3.81

89.50%

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

Last update for Southampton: June 1, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Southampton pays 508% 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: $177 in Southampton vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $817 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

Southampton vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Southampton and Lisbon differ by about 67% in total monthly costs ($3,686 vs $2,210 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Southampton pays 508% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 203% higher in Southampton. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,686 per month in Southampton versus $2,210 in Lisbon – a 67% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,210 in Lisbon versus $3,686 in Southampton, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Southampton. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Southampton 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.

Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 67% less than in Southampton. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.