😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,444 in Stevenage versus $2,291 in Lisbon.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,793 in Stevenage versus $3,322 in Lisbon.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,141 in Stevenage versus $4,354 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Stevenage is roughly 7% more expensive than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Stevenage83% above, Lisbon71% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stevenage
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.63£20.57
$16.19€14.18
70.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.6£60.0
$63.3€55.5
27.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.94£8.14
$10.32€9.04
6.01%
Cappuccino
$3.37£2.51
$2.83€2.48
19.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65£1.23
$2.29€2.01
-27.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68£1.25
$1.58€1.38
6.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.52£4.11
$3.40€2.98
62.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.28£3.93
$4.03€3.53
31.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stevenage
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.81£1.35
$1.09€0.96
66.06%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47£1.09
$1.75€1.53
-16.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.23£0.92
$1.76€1.54
-30.11%
Eggs
$3.31£2.46
$3.17€2.77
4.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.65£8.68
$13.19€11.56
-11.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.32£5.45
$7.97€6.98
-8.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68£7.95
$15.53€13.60
-31.23%
Apples(1kg)
$3.70£2.75
$2.37€2.07
56.12%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44£1.07
$1.71€1.49
-15.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.21£2.39
$2.01€1.76
59.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55£1.90
$2.43€2.13
4.94%
Potato(1kg)
$0.99£0.74
$1.76€1.54
-43.75%
Onion(1kg)
$1.33£0.99
$2.03€1.78
-34.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.21£0.90
$1.92€1.68
-36.98%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.00£0.75
$0.85€0.74
17.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$16.11£11.99
$6.58€5.76
144.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.20£8.34
$5.58€4.89
100.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.63£1.95
$1.33€1.17
97.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51£2.61
$2.97€2.60
18.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Stevenage
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.55£2.65
$2.28€1.99
55.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$96.4£71.8
$45.79€40.10
110.46%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.46£3.32
$4.23€3.70
5.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.70£1.27
$0.81€0.71
109.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.63£15.36
$18.44€16.15
11.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.94£1.45
$2.08€1.82
-6.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2K£28.4K
$34.7K€30.4K
10.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.6K£30.9K
$39.2K€34.3K
6.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stevenage
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$235£175
$148€130
58.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.50£16.75
$20.46€17.92
9.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.03£26.82
$39.56€34.64
-8.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stevenage
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.5£42.05
$47.99€42.03
17.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.60€16.29
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.24£9.12
$9.22€8.08
32.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stevenage
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,757£1,308
$616€540
185.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.7K£13.9K
$16.4K€14.4K
13.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stevenage
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.4£74.0
$103€90.0
-3.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.90£30.45
$41.74€36.55
-2.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$62.1£46.23
$94.8€83.0
-34.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.8£66.1
$122€107
-27.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stevenage
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,511£1,125
$1,633€1,430
-7.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220£909
$1,232€1,079
-0.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,123£2,325
$3,098€2,713
0.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,356£1,754
$2,031€1,779
16.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,831€6,858
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,389€3,844
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stevenage
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,261£2,428
$1,607€1,408
102.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.6
3.81
46.98%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stevenage: July 12, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,511 in Stevenage and $1,633 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Stevenage pays 103% 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: $81.0 in Stevenage vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $272 vs $267 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
Stevenage vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Stevenage and in Lisbon?
Stevenage and Lisbon differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($2,444 vs $2,291 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Stevenage or Lisbon?
Average pay runs 103% higher in Stevenage, 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 Stevenage and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,511 in Stevenage versus $1,633 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 Stevenage and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $1,757 in Stevenage versus $616 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 2% higher in Stevenage. 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 $2,291 in Lisbon versus $2,444 in Stevenage, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Stevenage. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Stevenage 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 Stevenage or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Stevenage 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: Stevenage or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Stevenage. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.