😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,631 in Tunbridge Wells versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,872 in Tunbridge Wells versus $3,311 in Lisbon.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,114 in Tunbridge Wells versus $4,411 in Lisbon.
😐Living in Tunbridge Wells is roughly 19% more expensive than Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Tunbridge Wells96% above, Lisbon65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tunbridge Wells
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.26£20.27
$15.91€13.69
71.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.7£70.4
$64.8€55.7
46.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.13£7.53
$10.51€9.04
-3.62%
Cappuccino
$4.40£3.27
$2.87€2.47
53.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06£1.53
$2.24€1.93
-8.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32£0.98
$1.50€1.29
-12.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.92£5.89
$3.49€3.00
126.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.52£4.10
$3.88€3.34
42.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tunbridge Wells
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73£1.29
$1.14€0.98
51.75%
White Bread(500g)
$2.27£1.68
$1.75€1.51
29.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.67£1.24
$1.76€1.51
-5.11%
Eggs
$3.72£2.76
$3.22€2.77
15.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.01£6.70
$13.49€11.61
-33.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.32£6.18
$7.91€6.81
5.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.34£8.43
$15.87€13.65
-28.54%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73£2.03
$2.31€1.99
18.18%
Banana(1kg)
$1.05£0.78
$1.70€1.46
-38.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.63£2.70
$2.01€1.73
80.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.66£2.72
$2.46€2.12
48.78%
Potato(1kg)
$1.49£1.11
$1.84€1.59
-19.02%
Onion(1kg)
$1.07£0.79
$2.00€1.72
-46.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18£0.87
$1.93€1.66
-38.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.47£1.09
$0.79€0.68
86.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$18.77£13.95
$6.61€5.68
183.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.03£8.20
$5.72€4.92
92.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.70£2.01
$1.37€1.17
97.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08£1.54
$2.97€2.56
-29.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Tunbridge Wells
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.33£2.47
$2.37€2.04
40.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$87.5£65.0
$45.56€39.19
91.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.33£4.70
$4.29€3.69
47.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.68£1.25
$0.82€0.70
104.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$54.9£40.77
$18.30€15.74
199.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.88£1.39
$2.06€1.78
-8.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7K£28.0K
$34.3K€29.5K
10.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.3K£32.9K
$39.3K€33.8K
12.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tunbridge Wells
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$341£253
$148€127
130.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.84£11.77
$20.52€17.65
-22.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.26£29.18
$39.61€34.08
-0.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tunbridge Wells
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.74£25.08
$47.85€41.16
-29.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.92€16.28
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.58£12.33
$9.18€7.90
80.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tunbridge Wells
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,224£1,653
$614€528
262.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.0K£17.1K
$16.0K€13.8K
43.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tunbridge Wells
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.0£64.6
$105€90.0
-16.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.7£41.43
$42.06€36.18
32.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.0£64.7
$94.0€80.8
-7.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110£81.4
$120€103
-8.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tunbridge Wells
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,485£1,104
$1,628€1,400
-8.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,213£902
$1,255€1,080
-3.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,616£1,945
$3,030€2,607
-13.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,188£1,626
$2,020€1,738
8.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,800€6,709
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,273€3,675
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tunbridge Wells
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,661£2,721
$1,603€1,379
128.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.54
3.81
45.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tunbridge Wells: June 1, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,485 in Tunbridge Wells and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tunbridge Wells pays 128% 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: $95.0 in Tunbridge Wells vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 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
Tunbridge Wells vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tunbridge Wells and Lisbon?
Tunbridge Wells and Lisbon differ by about 19% in total monthly costs ($2,631 vs $2,210 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?
Tunbridge Wells pays 128% 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 Tunbridge Wells and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,485 in Tunbridge Wells versus $1,628 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 $2,224 in Tunbridge Wells versus $614 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 6% higher in Tunbridge Wells. 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 $2,210 in Lisbon versus $2,631 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 19% 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