Cost of Living Comparison Between Vienna and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Vienna and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,337 in Vienna versus $2,243 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,519 in Vienna versus $3,315 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,701 in Vienna versus $4,387 in Lisbon.

Living in Vienna is roughly 4% more expensive than Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Vienna 74% above, Lisbon 67% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vienna
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58 €14.99
$15.73 €13.42
11.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.3 €72.8
$63.2 €53.9
35.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.41 €9.73
$10.32 €8.80
10.56%
Cappuccino
$5.06 €4.32
$2.81 €2.40
80.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55 €3.03
$2.33 €1.99
52.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 €2.62
$1.51 €1.29
103.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.70 €4.86
$3.37 €2.87
69.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.06 €4.31
$3.91 €3.34
29.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vienna
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 €1.48
$1.08 €0.92
61.11%
White Bread (500g)
$2.78 €2.37
$1.75 €1.49
58.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.74 €2.34
$1.75 €1.50
56.57%
Eggs
$4.46 €3.81
$3.10 €2.64
43.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.04 €14.53
$13.28 €11.33
28.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.98 €12.78
$7.85 €6.70
90.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.74 €20.25
$16.05 €13.69
47.91%
Apples (1kg)
$2.97 €2.53
$2.39 €2.04
24.27%
Banana (1kg)
$2.39 €2.04
$1.72 €1.47
38.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.50 €2.99
$1.97 €1.68
77.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.17 €3.56
$2.55 €2.17
63.53%
Potato (1kg)
$2.17 €1.85
$1.79 €1.53
21.23%
Onion (1kg)
$2.08 €1.77
$1.97 €1.68
5.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.96 €1.67
$1.96 €1.67
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86 €0.73
$0.84 €0.71
2.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.70 €6.57
$6.82 €5.82
12.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.34 €7.11
$5.85 €4.99
42.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.41 €1.20
$1.38 €1.18
2.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02 €1.72
$2.92 €2.49
-30.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Vienna
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.70 €2.30
$2.29 €1.95
17.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.74 €33.90
$46.88 €39.99
-15.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.74 €4.04
$4.12 €3.51
15.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.06 €1.76
$0.81 €0.69
154.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$38.90 €33.18
$18.94 €16.16
105.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.91 €1.63
$2.09 €1.78
-8.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.5K €26.9K
$35.1K €30.0K
-10.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0K €28.1K
$39.7K €33.9K
-17.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vienna
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$329 €280
$150 €128
119.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.94 €14.45
$20.49 €17.48
-17.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.09 €34.20
$39.15 €33.40
2.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vienna
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.17 €41.09
$49.65 €42.35
-2.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.89 €22.08
$18.47 €15.76
40.17%
Cinema Ticket
$13.86 €11.82
$9.20 €7.84
50.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vienna
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$329 €280
$624 €533
-47.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.2K €19.8K
$15.9K €13.6K
45.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vienna
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 €86.0
$102 €87.2
-1.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.92 €38.32
$40.88 €34.87
9.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 €86.0
$95.7 €81.6
5.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$159 €136
$121 €103
31.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vienna
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,235 €1,053
$1,653 €1,410
-25.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$876 €747
$1,233 €1,051
-28.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,278 €1,943
$3,043 €2,596
-25.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,668 €1,423
$2,059 €1,756
-18.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$13.9K €11.9K
$7,879 €6,720
76.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,419 €5,476
$4,303 €3,671
49.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vienna
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,582 €3,055
$1,566 €1,336
128.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.6
3.81
-5.51%

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

Last update for Vienna: April 22, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,235 in Vienna and $1,653 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vienna pays 129% 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: $85 in Vienna vs $63 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $392 vs $270 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
Vienna vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Vienna and Lisbon?
Vienna and Lisbon differ by about 4% in total monthly costs ($2,337 vs $2,243 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Vienna or Lisbon?
Vienna pays 129% 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 Vienna and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,235 in Vienna versus $1,653 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 Vienna and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $329 in Vienna versus $624 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 Vienna. 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 $2,243 in Lisbon versus $2,337 in Vienna, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Vienna. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Vienna 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 Vienna or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Vienna 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: Vienna or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Vienna. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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