😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,623 in Valkenburg versus $2,291 in Lisbon.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,738 in Valkenburg versus $3,322 in Lisbon.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,853 in Valkenburg versus $4,354 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Valkenburg is roughly 14% more expensive than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Valkenburg96% above, Lisbon71% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Valkenburg
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.81€21.73
$16.19€14.18
53.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$93.2€81.6
$63.3€55.5
47.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.67€11.10
$10.32€9.04
22.77%
Cappuccino
$4.13€3.62
$2.83€2.48
45.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46€3.03
$2.29€2.01
51.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.44
$1.58€1.38
75.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.77€5.93
$3.40€2.98
99.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.64€4.94
$4.03€3.53
39.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Valkenburg
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.13
$1.09€0.96
18.35%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45€2.15
$1.75€1.53
40.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.13€2.74
$1.76€1.54
77.84%
Eggs
$4.60€4.03
$3.17€2.77
45.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.57€11.89
$13.19€11.56
2.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.38€14.34
$7.97€6.98
105.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.64€14.57
$15.53€13.60
7.15%
Apples(1kg)
$2.36€2.07
$2.37€2.07
-0.42%
Banana(1kg)
$2.51€2.20
$1.71€1.49
46.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.95€1.70
$2.01€1.76
-2.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.78€3.31
$2.43€2.13
55.56%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04€1.79
$1.76€1.54
15.91%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99€1.74
$2.03€1.78
-1.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.22€1.07
$1.92€1.68
-36.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80€0.70
$0.85€0.74
-5.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.20€12.44
$6.58€5.76
115.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.77€5.93
$5.58€4.89
21.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.37
$1.33€1.17
18.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61€2.28
$2.97€2.60
-12.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Valkenburg
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.63€3.18
$2.28€1.99
59.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$93.1€81.5
$45.79€40.10
103.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.90€6.92
$4.23€3.70
86.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.15€1.89
$0.81€0.71
165.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33€25.69
$18.44€16.15
59.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.23€1.96
$2.08€1.82
7.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.6K
$34.7K€30.4K
0.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3K€29.1K
$39.2K€34.3K
-15.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Valkenburg
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$273€239
$148€130
84.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.53€22.36
$20.46€17.92
24.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.78€40.10
$39.56€34.64
15.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Valkenburg
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.84€35.77
$47.99€42.03
-14.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.21€20.33
$18.60€16.29
24.78%
Cinema Ticket
$15.25€13.36
$9.22€8.08
65.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Valkenburg
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,549€1,356
$616€540
151.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,987€6,995
$16.4K€14.4K
-51.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Valkenburg
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.7€83.8
$103€90.0
-6.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.88€41.94
$41.74€36.55
14.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114€99.4
$94.8€83.0
19.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129€113
$122€107
6.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Valkenburg
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,414€1,239
$1,633€1,430
-13.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,175€1,029
$1,232€1,079
-4.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,334€2,044
$3,098€2,713
-24.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,759€1,540
$2,031€1,779
-13.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,887€4,280
$7,831€6,858
-37.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,597€4,026
$4,389€3,844
4.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Valkenburg
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,383€2,087
$1,607€1,408
48.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.34
3.81
13.91%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Valkenburg: July 13, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,414 in Valkenburg and $1,633 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Valkenburg pays 48% 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: $93.0 in Valkenburg vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $346 vs $267 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
Valkenburg vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Valkenburg and in Lisbon?
Valkenburg and Lisbon differ by about 14% in total monthly costs ($2,623 vs $2,291 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Valkenburg or Lisbon?
Average pay runs 48% higher in Valkenburg, 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 Valkenburg and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,414 in Valkenburg versus $1,633 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 Valkenburg and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $1,549 in Valkenburg versus $616 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 29% higher in Valkenburg. 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 $2,291 in Lisbon versus $2,623 in Valkenburg, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Valkenburg. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Valkenburg 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 Valkenburg or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Valkenburg 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: Valkenburg or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Valkenburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Valkenburg vs other spots: cost of living compared