๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,441 in Stevenage versus $2,258 in Lisbon.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,791 in Stevenage versus $3,328 in Lisbon.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,141 in Stevenage versus $4,397 in Lisbon.
๐Living in Stevenage is roughly 8% more expensive than Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Stevenage81% above, Lisbon68% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Stevenage
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$26.89ยฃ19.93
$15.82โฌ13.46
69.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$83.0ยฃ61.5
$64.4โฌ54.8
28.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.07ยฃ8.20
$10.37โฌ8.82
6.75%
Cappuccino
$3.47ยฃ2.57
$2.89โฌ2.46
20.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66ยฃ1.23
$2.23โฌ1.90
-25.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59ยฃ1.18
$1.55โฌ1.32
2.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.34ยฃ3.96
$3.38โฌ2.88
57.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.28ยฃ3.91
$3.90โฌ3.32
35.38%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Stevenage
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88ยฃ1.39
$1.12โฌ0.96
67.86%
White Bread(500g)
$1.52ยฃ1.13
$1.80โฌ1.53
-15.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.29ยฃ0.95
$1.75โฌ1.49
-26.29%
Eggs
$3.21ยฃ2.38
$3.17โฌ2.70
1.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.95ยฃ8.85
$13.50โฌ11.49
-11.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.74ยฃ5.74
$7.79โฌ6.63
-0.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.53ยฃ7.80
$15.65โฌ13.32
-32.72%
Apples(1kg)
$3.65ยฃ2.71
$2.28โฌ1.94
60.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50ยฃ1.11
$1.71โฌ1.46
-12.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.30ยฃ2.44
$1.93โฌ1.65
70.98%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.57ยฃ1.90
$2.52โฌ2.15
1.98%
Potato(1kg)
$0.94ยฃ0.69
$1.79โฌ1.52
-47.49%
Onion(1kg)
$1.39ยฃ1.03
$2.05โฌ1.74
-32.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17ยฃ0.87
$1.94โฌ1.65
-39.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03ยฃ0.77
$0.81โฌ0.69
27.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$16.47ยฃ12.20
$6.65โฌ5.66
147.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.18ยฃ6.81
$5.79โฌ4.92
58.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.66ยฃ1.97
$1.33โฌ1.14
100.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53ยฃ2.62
$2.91โฌ2.47
21.31%
๐ Getting Around
Stevenage
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.43ยฃ2.54
$2.35โฌ2.00
45.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$95.4ยฃ70.7
$45.70โฌ38.89
108.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.65ยฃ3.45
$4.20โฌ3.58
10.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.75ยฃ1.30
$0.81โฌ0.69
116.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.23ยฃ14.99
$18.70โฌ15.91
8.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.91ยฃ1.41
$2.09โฌ1.78
-8.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.5Kยฃ28.6K
$34.6Kโฌ29.5K
11.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.7Kยฃ30.9K
$39.7Kโฌ33.7K
5.18%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stevenage
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$240ยฃ178
$146โฌ124
64.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.52ยฃ16.69
$20.84โฌ17.73
8.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.43ยฃ27.00
$39.78โฌ33.85
-8.42%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Stevenage
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.6ยฃ41.17
$48.58โฌ41.35
14.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.85โฌ16.04
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.17ยฃ9.02
$9.07โฌ7.72
34.18%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Stevenage
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,735ยฃ1,285
$618โฌ526
180.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.6Kยฃ13.7K
$16.2Kโฌ13.8K
14.80%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Stevenage
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$98.9ยฃ73.3
$105โฌ89.0
-5.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.92ยฃ30.32
$40.54โฌ34.50
0.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$60.8ยฃ45.07
$93.8โฌ79.8
-35.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.4ยฃ66.2
$123โฌ104
-27.09%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Stevenage
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,479ยฃ1,096
$1,604โฌ1,365
-7.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,224ยฃ907
$1,260โฌ1,073
-2.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,111ยฃ2,305
$3,065โฌ2,608
1.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,355ยฃ1,745
$2,008โฌ1,709
17.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,702โฌ6,555
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,367โฌ3,716
-
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Stevenage
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,334ยฃ2,470
$1,638โฌ1,394
103.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.6
3.81
46.98%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stevenage: April 13, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,479 in Stevenage and $1,604 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐStevenage pays 104% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $83 in Stevenage vs $64 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $273 vs $268 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 Lisbon?
Stevenage and Lisbon differ by about 8% in total monthly costs ($2,441 vs $2,258 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Stevenage or Lisbon?
Stevenage pays 104% more on average, 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 Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,479 in Stevenage versus $1,604 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 $1,735 in Stevenage versus $618 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 $2,258 in Lisbon versus $2,441 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 โ 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 โ expenses run 8% less than in Stevenage. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.