Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Stuttgart and Lisbon

For one person, living costs are similar in Stuttgart and in Lisbon: $2,187 and $2,223 a month, rent and utilities included.

Stuttgart
🇩🇪 Germany
$2,187
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,223
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Stuttgart and in Lisbon

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Stuttgart and in Lisbon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,187 in Stuttgart versus $2,223 in Lisbon.

  • Stuttgart $2,187
  • Lisbon $2,223

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,329 in Stuttgart versus $3,271 in Lisbon.

  • Stuttgart $3,329
  • Lisbon $3,271

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,471 in Stuttgart versus $4,319 in Lisbon.

  • Stuttgart $4,471
  • Lisbon $4,319

Living in Stuttgart costs roughly 2% less than in Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Stuttgart 62% above, Lisbon 65% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stuttgart
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.37 €18.12
$16.50 €14.67
23.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.0 €65.8
$61.3 €54.5
20.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.60 €12.10
$11.27 €10.03
20.67%
Cappuccino
$4.03 €3.58
$3.06 €2.72
31.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.14 €3.68
$2.26 €2.01
83.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03 €3.59
$1.73 €1.54
132.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.07 €4.51
$3.39 €3.02
49.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.85 €5.21
$3.40 €3.02
72.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stuttgart
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.32 €1.18
$1.12 €1.00
17.86%
White Bread (500g)
$2.13 €1.90
$1.86 €1.65
14.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.14 €2.79
$1.53 €1.36
105.23%
Eggs
$4.50 €4.00
$3.96 €3.53
13.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.50 €14.68
$12.76 €11.35
29.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.67 €11.27
$7.90 €7.02
60.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.98 €15.99
$16.97 €15.09
5.95%
Apples (1kg)
$3.10 €2.76
$2.27 €2.02
36.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.95 €1.73
$1.75 €1.55
11.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.03 €1.81
$1.85 €1.64
9.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.74 €3.33
$2.57 €2.28
45.53%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 €1.17
$1.86 €1.65
-29.03%
Onion (1kg)
$1.42 €1.26
$2.02 €1.80
-29.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 €1.28
$1.44 €1.28
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.93 €0.83
$0.82 €0.73
13.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.66 €8.59
$6.56 €5.83
47.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.62 €5.00
$5.62 €5.00
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.01 €0.90
$1.28 €1.14
-21.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 €1.47
$2.07 €1.84
-20.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Stuttgart
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.99 €3.55
$2.35 €2.09
69.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$71.5 €63.6
$44.18 €39.30
61.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.62 €4.11
$3.99 €3.55
15.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.84 €2.52
$1.09 €0.97
160.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$40.64 €36.14
$16.64 €14.81
144.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.25 €2.00
$2.28 €2.03
-1.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2K €29.5K
$33.7K €30.0K
-1.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K €34.4K
$39.3K €35.0K
-1.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stuttgart
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$309 €275
$167 €149
84.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.36 €15.45
$18.80 €16.72
-7.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.56 €36.97
$33.09 €29.43
25.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stuttgart
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.1 €49.88
$46.01 €40.93
21.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$33.43 €29.73
$19.19 €17.07
74.21%
Cinema Ticket
$12.74 €11.33
$9.84 €8.75
29.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stuttgart
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,026 €913
$677 €602
51.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.8K €15.8K
$16.9K €15.1K
4.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stuttgart
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3 €79.5
$101 €90.1
-11.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.61 €37.90
$45.76 €40.70
-6.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.5 €84.9
$100.0 €88.9
-4.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139 €123
$123 €109
12.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stuttgart
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,262 €1,123
$1,614 €1,436
-21.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$815 €725
$1,197 €1,065
-31.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,901 €1,691
$2,862 €2,545
-33.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,505 €1,338
$1,990 €1,770
-24.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,672 €5,935
$7,577 €6,740
-11.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,291 €3,817
$4,307 €3,831
-0.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stuttgart
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,070 €3,620
$1,588 €1,412
156.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
3.85
-

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

Last update for Stuttgart: October 11, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Stuttgart
$815
Lisbon
$1.2K 46.9% $382
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stuttgart
$368
Lisbon
$219 40.4% $149
Groceries & Markets
Stuttgart
$329
Lisbon
$269 18.2% $60
Eating Out
Stuttgart
$322
Lisbon
$242 24.7% $80
Clothing & Footwear
Stuttgart
$165
Lisbon
$166 1% $1.7
Getting Around
Stuttgart
$106
Lisbon
$63 40.7% $43
Sport & Entertainment
Stuttgart
$82
Lisbon
$66 19.4% $16

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,262 in Stuttgart and $1,614 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Stuttgart pays 156% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $74.0 in Stuttgart vs $61.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $329 vs $269 per month, with Lisbon cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇩🇪 Stuttgart
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🕒 Local time
02:14 2:14 AM
01:14 1:14 AM
1 h behind Stuttgart
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
613,392
545,923 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Stuttgart Lisbon 1,840 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Stuttgart
  • Lisbon

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Stuttgart vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Stuttgart and in Lisbon?
Stuttgart and Lisbon differ by about 2% in total monthly costs ($2,187 vs $2,223 including rent). Stuttgart is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Stuttgart or Lisbon?
Average pay runs 156% higher in Stuttgart, 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 Stuttgart and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,262 in Stuttgart versus $1,614 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 Stuttgart and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $1,026 in Stuttgart versus $677 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?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 22% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,187 in Stuttgart versus $2,223 in Lisbon, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Stuttgart but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Stuttgart the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Stuttgart 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 Stuttgart or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Stuttgart 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: Stuttgart or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Stuttgart gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Stuttgart vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?