Cost of Living Comparison Between Surprise, AZ and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Surprise, AZ and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,745 in Surprise, AZ versus $2,263 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,160 in Surprise, AZ versus $3,315 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,575 in Surprise, AZ versus $4,368 in Lisbon.

Living in Surprise, AZ is roughly 21% more expensive than Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Surprise, AZ 104% above, Lisbon 68% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surprise, AZ
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.66 $19.66
$15.94 €13.73
23.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.6 $79.6
$63.4 €54.6
25.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.24 $12.24
$10.38 €8.95
17.92%
Cappuccino
$5.29 $5.29
$2.79 €2.40
89.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 $2.72
$2.34 €2.01
16.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 $2.12
$1.57 €1.35
35.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.96 $5.96
$3.43 €2.95
73.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.16 $7.16
$3.91 €3.37
83.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surprise, AZ
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$1.08 €0.93
-20.37%
White Bread (500g)
$3.72 $3.72
$1.77 €1.52
110.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.11 $5.11
$1.71 €1.47
198.83%
Eggs
$4.67 $4.67
$3.15 €2.71
48.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.77 $11.77
$13.68 €11.79
-13.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.96 $11.96
$8.01 €6.90
49.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.11 $15.11
$15.52 €13.37
-2.64%
Apples (1kg)
$4.86 $4.86
$2.29 €1.98
112.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.88 $1.88
$1.64 €1.41
14.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.98 $3.98
$1.94 €1.67
105.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.21 $4.21
$2.51 €2.17
67.73%
Potato (1kg)
$2.50 $2.50
$1.79 €1.54
39.66%
Onion (1kg)
$2.44 $2.44
$2.01 €1.73
21.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.96 $1.96
$1.97 €1.69
-0.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.29 $2.29
$0.84 €0.73
172.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.42 $11.42
$6.79 €5.85
68.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.31 $13.31
$5.67 €4.89
134.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10 $2.10
$1.39 €1.20
51.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 $3.96
$3.02 €2.60
31.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Surprise, AZ
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.05 $4.05
$2.27 €1.95
78.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$81.2 $81.2
$45.44 €39.15
78.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.72 $2.72
$4.29 €3.70
-36.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.38 $1.38
$0.85 €0.73
62.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.77 $35.77
$18.28 €15.75
95.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.92 $0.92
$1.99 €1.71
-53.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.1K $31.1K
$35.0K €30.2K
-11.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K $26.7K
$39.5K €34.1K
-32.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surprise, AZ
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$260 $260
$146 €126
77.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$70.7 $70.7
$20.45 €17.62
245.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$80.7 $80.7
$38.98 €33.58
106.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surprise, AZ
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.7 $60.7
$48.98 €42.21
23.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.83 €16.22
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.20 $13.20
$9.52 €8.21
38.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surprise, AZ
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,077 $1,077
$608 €524
77.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.3K $15.3K
$16.5K €14.2K
-7.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surprise, AZ
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.0 $56.0
$104 €89.5
-46.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.55 $38.55
$42.12 €36.29
-8.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.3 $83.3
$92.2 €79.5
-9.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 $106
$120 €103
-11.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surprise, AZ
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,691 $1,691
$1,621 €1,397
4.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,307 $1,307
$1,268 €1,092
3.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,361 $2,361
$3,048 €2,626
-22.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,362 $2,362
$2,009 €1,731
17.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,663 €6,602
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,613 $1,613
$4,329 €3,730
-62.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surprise, AZ
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,202 $4,202
$1,585 €1,366
165.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.46
3.81
69.55%

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

Last update for Surprise, AZ: June 9, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,691 in Surprise, AZ and $1,621 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Surprise, AZ pays 165% 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: $80.0 in Surprise, AZ vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $391 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
Surprise, AZ vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Surprise, AZ and Lisbon?
Surprise, AZ and Lisbon differ by about 21% in total monthly costs ($2,745 vs $2,263 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Surprise, AZ or Lisbon?
Surprise, AZ pays 165% 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 Surprise, AZ and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,691 in Surprise, AZ versus $1,621 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 Surprise, AZ and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $1,077 in Surprise, AZ versus $608 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 45% higher in Surprise, AZ. 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 $2,263 in Lisbon versus $2,745 in Surprise, AZ, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Surprise, AZ. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Surprise, AZ 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 Surprise, AZ or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Surprise, AZ 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: Surprise, AZ or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Surprise, AZ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Surprise, AZ vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities