Cost of Living Comparison Between St. Cloud, MN and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between St. Cloud, MN and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,899 in St. Cloud, MN versus $2,296 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,020 in St. Cloud, MN versus $3,376 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,140 in St. Cloud, MN versus $4,457 in Lisbon.

Living in St. Cloud, MN costs roughly 17% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: St. Cloud, MN 39% above, Lisbon 68% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
St. Cloud, MN
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.70 $19.70
$17.59 €15.32
12.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.2 $75.2
$62.9 €54.8
19.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.96 $10.96
$11.58 €10.09
-5.35%
Cappuccino
$6.12 $6.12
$3.10 €2.70
97.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 $2.79
$2.49 €2.17
12.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.74 €1.52
39.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.15 $7.15
$3.48 €3.03
105.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.96 $7.96
$3.44 €3.00
131.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
St. Cloud, MN
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.77 $0.77
$1.15 €1.00
-33.04%
White Bread (500g)
$2.71 $2.71
$1.91 €1.66
41.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.23 $3.23
$1.50 €1.31
115.33%
Eggs
$2.30 $2.30
$3.98 €3.47
-42.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.92 $4.92
$13.29 €11.58
-62.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.24 $9.24
$8.01 €6.98
15.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.56 $17.56
$18.04 €15.71
-2.66%
Apples (1kg)
$3.90 $3.90
$2.35 €2.05
65.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.75 €1.52
-23.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.35 $3.35
$1.85 €1.62
81.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 $2.18
$2.55 €2.22
-14.51%
Potato (1kg)
$0.74 $0.74
$1.84 €1.61
-59.78%
Onion (1kg)
$1.63 $1.63
$2.10 €1.83
-22.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.05 $2.05
$1.49 €1.29
37.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.87 $1.87
$0.82 €0.71
128.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.92 $9.92
$7.10 €6.18
39.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.24 $12.24
$5.91 €5.14
107.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.31 €1.15
34.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43 $3.43
$2.13 €1.86
61.03%
🚌 Getting Around
St. Cloud, MN
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.81 $1.81
$2.36 €2.05
-23.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$46.62 €40.60
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.65 $2.65
$4.08 €3.55
-35.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 $1.57
$1.14 €0.99
37.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.28 $33.28
$17.09 €14.89
94.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$2.31 €2.01
-63.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.1K $31.1K
$34.1K €29.7K
-8.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.9K $28.9K
$41.4K €36.0K
-30.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
St. Cloud, MN
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 $170
$169 €147
1.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$45.44 $45.44
$19.33 €16.84
135.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.67 $44.67
$33.51 €29.19
33.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
St. Cloud, MN
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.39 $42.39
$48.84 €42.54
-13.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.43 €16.93
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.97 $13.97
$9.57 €8.33
45.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
St. Cloud, MN
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,713 $1,713
$696 €606
146.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.5K $24.5K
$17.4K €15.1K
41.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
St. Cloud, MN
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.1 $63.1
$105 €91.7
-40.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.3 $62.3
$47.75 €41.59
30.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73.6 $73.6
$101 €87.6
-26.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.6 $83.6
$124 €108
-32.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
St. Cloud, MN
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$989 $989
$1,662 €1,447
-40.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$828 $828
$1,246 €1,085
-33.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,881 $1,881
$2,965 €2,582
-36.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,621 $1,621
$2,049 €1,784
-20.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,581 $2,581
$7,834 €6,823
-67.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,412 $2,412
$4,464 €3,888
-45.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
St. Cloud, MN
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,967 $5,967
$1,632 €1,421
265.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.12
3.78
61.90%

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

Last update for St. Cloud, MN: September 13, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $989 in St. Cloud, MN and $1,662 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

St. Cloud, MN pays 266% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $75.0 in St. Cloud, MN vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $299 vs $277 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
St. Cloud, MN vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in St. Cloud, MN and in Lisbon?
St. Cloud, MN and Lisbon differ by about 21% in total monthly costs ($1,899 vs $2,296 including rent). St. Cloud, MN is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: St. Cloud, MN or Lisbon?
Average pay runs 266% higher in St. Cloud, MN, 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 St. Cloud, MN and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $989 in St. Cloud, MN versus $1,662 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: St. Cloud, MN or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $1,899 per month in St. Cloud, MN versus $2,296 in Lisbon – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $1,899 in St. Cloud, MN versus $2,296 in Lisbon, a $2,500 budget is realistic in St. Cloud, MN but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes St. Cloud, MN the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between St. Cloud, MN 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 St. Cloud, MN or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, St. Cloud, MN 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: St. Cloud, MN or Lisbon?
Expats usually find St. Cloud, MN gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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