😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,512 in Tunbridge Wells versus $2,316 in Lisbon.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,725 in Tunbridge Wells versus $3,361 in Lisbon.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,939 in Tunbridge Wells versus $4,405 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Tunbridge Wells is roughly 8% more expensive than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Tunbridge Wells83% above, Lisbon69% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tunbridge Wells
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.83£15.39
$17.30€14.87
20.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.9£43.54
$63.3€54.4
-6.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.00£6.65
$11.39€9.79
-20.98%
Cappuccino
$4.74£3.50
$3.19€2.74
48.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08£1.54
$2.45€2.10
-15.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38£1.02
$1.76€1.52
-21.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.61£4.88
$3.59€3.09
84.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.32£3.19
$3.39€2.92
27.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tunbridge Wells
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29£0.95
$1.24€1.06
4.03%
White Bread(500g)
$2.09£1.54
$1.98€1.71
5.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.60£1.19
$1.52€1.31
5.26%
Eggs
$3.26£2.41
$4.04€3.47
-19.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.30£3.91
$13.54€11.64
-60.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.32£6.89
$8.39€7.21
11.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.78£12.41
$18.25€15.69
-8.05%
Apples(1kg)
$1.33£0.99
$2.29€1.97
-41.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.35£1.00
$1.74€1.50
-22.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.33£0.98
$1.86€1.60
-28.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.74£2.02
$2.63€2.26
4.18%
Potato(1kg)
$1.33£0.98
$1.92€1.65
-30.73%
Onion(1kg)
$1.39£1.03
$2.09€1.80
-33.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.34£0.99
$1.44€1.24
-6.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25£0.92
$0.84€0.72
48.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$23.10£17.07
$6.78€5.83
240.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.74£7.94
$5.71€4.91
88.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.30£1.70
$1.38€1.18
66.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60£1.92
$2.22€1.91
17.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Tunbridge Wells
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.45£2.55
$2.40€2.06
43.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$134£99.4
$46.78€40.22
187.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.48£4.79
$4.17€3.59
55.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.51£1.85
$1.14€0.98
120.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$17.68€15.20
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.00£1.48
$2.32€2.00
-13.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.4K£29.1K
$35.3K€30.4K
11.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.8K£30.1K
$41.4K€35.6K
-1.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tunbridge Wells
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$293£216
$170€146
71.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37£9.89
$19.34€16.62
-30.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.95£26.57
$33.64€28.92
6.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tunbridge Wells
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.28£25.34
$48.10€41.35
-28.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.90€17.11
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.45£12.16
$9.92€8.53
65.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tunbridge Wells
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,099£1,552
$717€617
192.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$30.1K£22.3K
$17.5K€15.0K
72.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tunbridge Wells
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8£39.77
$105€90.1
-48.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.6£40.38
$46.95€40.36
16.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.0£67.3
$103€88.9
-11.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.5£70.6
$124€107
-22.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tunbridge Wells
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,488£1,100
$1,677€1,441
-11.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,206£891
$1,271€1,093
-5.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,599£1,921
$2,985€2,566
-12.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,217£1,639
$1,992€1,713
11.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,826€6,728
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,658€4,004
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tunbridge Wells
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,681£2,721
$1,583€1,361
132.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.4
3.79
42.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tunbridge Wells: August 30, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,488 in Tunbridge Wells and $1,677 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tunbridge Wells pays 133% 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: $59.0 in Tunbridge Wells vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $265 vs $283 per month, with Tunbridge Wells 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
Tunbridge Wells vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tunbridge Wells and in Lisbon?
Tunbridge Wells and Lisbon differ by about 8% in total monthly costs ($2,512 vs $2,316 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Tunbridge Wells or Lisbon?
Average pay runs 133% higher in Tunbridge Wells, 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 Tunbridge Wells and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,488 in Tunbridge Wells versus $1,677 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 Tunbridge Wells and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $2,099 in Tunbridge Wells versus $717 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 Tunbridge Wells pay roughly 7% 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 $2,316 in Lisbon versus $2,512 in Tunbridge Wells, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Tunbridge Wells. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tunbridge Wells 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 Tunbridge Wells or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tunbridge Wells 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: Tunbridge Wells or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Tunbridge Wells. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Tunbridge Wells vs other spots: cost of living compared