Cost of Living Comparison Between Surrey and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Surrey and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,380 in Surrey versus $2,268 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,617 in Surrey versus $3,348 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,853 in Surrey versus $4,429 in Lisbon.

Living in Surrey is roughly 5% more expensive than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Surrey 73% above, Lisbon 64% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surrey
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.12 CA$25.13
$17.55 €15.12
3.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.2 CA$79.3
$64.5 €55.6
-11.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.60 CA$14.70
$11.65 €10.04
-9.01%
Cappuccino
$3.67 CA$5.08
$3.26 €2.81
12.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 CA$2.91
$2.49 €2.15
-15.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 CA$2.31
$1.67 €1.44
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.91 CA$8.20
$3.47 €2.99
70.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.10 CA$8.47
$3.58 €3.08
70.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surrey
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.48 CA$3.44
$1.18 €1.02
110.17%
White Bread (500g)
$2.07 CA$2.86
$1.95 €1.68
6.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.72 CA$5.16
$1.56 €1.35
138.46%
Eggs
$3.21 CA$4.46
$4.01 €3.46
-19.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.05 CA$13.94
$13.27 €11.44
-24.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.50 CA$14.57
$8.42 €7.26
24.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.41 CA$28.31
$18.23 €15.72
11.96%
Apples (1kg)
$3.30 CA$4.57
$2.32 €2.00
42.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.36 CA$1.88
$1.73 €1.49
-21.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.08 CA$4.27
$1.93 €1.67
59.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.07 CA$4.26
$2.64 €2.27
16.29%
Potato (1kg)
$2.66 CA$3.69
$1.90 €1.64
40.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 CA$3.01
$2.11 €1.82
2.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.03 CA$2.81
$1.44 €1.24
40.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 CA$2.58
$0.80 €0.69
132.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.22 CA$19.72
$7.01 €6.04
102.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.35 CA$19.90
$5.92 €5.11
142.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.60 CA$3.60
$1.36 €1.18
91.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 CA$4.59
$2.15 €1.85
53.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Surrey
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.65 CA$3.68
$2.38 €2.05
11.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$112 CA$155
$46.22 €39.85
142.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 CA$3.78
$4.19 €3.61
-34.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.61 CA$2.24
$1.10 €0.95
46.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.60 CA$39.66
$17.26 €14.88
65.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 CA$1.86
$2.25 €1.94
-40.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K CA$39.1K
$34.5K €29.7K
-18.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4K CA$26.8K
$41.6K €35.9K
-53.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surrey
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$190 CA$264
$171 €147
11.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.56 CA$52.1
$19.01 €16.38
97.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.9 CA$92.8
$34.28 €29.55
95.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surrey
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.12 CA$48.71
$49.65 €42.80
-29.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.61 CA$35.51
$19.51 €16.81
31.27%
Cinema Ticket
$12.85 CA$17.82
$10.10 €8.71
27.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surrey
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$863 CA$1,197
$699 €603
23.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.3K CA$17.0K
$17.8K €15.3K
-31.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surrey
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.4 CA$79.6
$105 €90.2
-45.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.1 CA$87.5
$47.97 €41.35
31.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 CA$141
$102 €87.8
-0.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.3 CA$127
$128 €111
-28.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surrey
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,341 CA$1,859
$1,661 €1,432
-19.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,061 CA$1,471
$1,228 €1,059
-13.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,773 CA$3,846
$2,915 €2,513
-4.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,211 CA$3,066
$2,023 €1,744
9.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,645 CA$13.4K
$8,129 €7,007
18.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$8,562 CA$11.9K
$4,635 €3,996
84.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surrey
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,107 CA$4,310
$1,619 €1,396
91.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.87
3.78
28.84%

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

Last update for Surrey: September 7, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,341 in Surrey and $1,661 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Surrey pays 92% 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: $57.0 in Surrey vs $64.0 in Lisbon. Groceries flip the comparison at $360 vs $281, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.

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
Surrey vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Surrey and in Lisbon?
Surrey and Lisbon differ by about 5% in total monthly costs ($2,380 vs $2,268 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Surrey or Lisbon?
Average pay runs 92% higher in Surrey, 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 Surrey and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,341 in Surrey versus $1,661 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 Surrey and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $863 in Surrey versus $699 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 28% higher in Surrey. 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 $2,268 in Lisbon versus $2,380 in Surrey, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Surrey. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Surrey 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 Surrey or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Surrey 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: Surrey or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Surrey. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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