😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,772 in Voorburg versus $2,316 in Lisbon.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,036 in Voorburg versus $3,361 in Lisbon.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,301 in Voorburg versus $4,405 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Voorburg is roughly 20% more expensive than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Voorburg102% above, Lisbon69% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Voorburg
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.09€23.29
$17.30€14.87
56.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.5€78.7
$63.3€54.4
44.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.73€11.81
$11.39€9.79
20.54%
Cappuccino
$4.55€3.92
$3.19€2.74
42.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98€3.42
$2.45€2.10
62.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52€3.03
$1.76€1.52
100.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.20€6.19
$3.59€3.09
100.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.24€5.37
$3.39€2.92
84.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Voorburg
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.50€1.29
$1.24€1.06
20.97%
White Bread(500g)
$2.39€2.06
$1.98€1.71
20.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.93€2.52
$1.52€1.31
92.76%
Eggs
$5.70€4.90
$4.04€3.47
41.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.35€10.62
$13.54€11.64
-8.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.94€11.98
$8.39€7.21
66.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.70€16.93
$18.25€15.69
7.95%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39€2.91
$2.29€1.97
48.03%
Banana(1kg)
$2.67€2.29
$1.74€1.50
53.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.65€2.28
$1.86€1.60
42.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.62€3.11
$2.63€2.26
37.64%
Potato(1kg)
$1.95€1.67
$1.92€1.65
1.56%
Onion(1kg)
$1.53€1.31
$2.09€1.80
-26.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.54€1.33
$1.44€1.24
6.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.41€1.21
$0.84€0.72
67.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.85€12.77
$6.78€5.83
119.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.14€6.13
$5.71€4.91
25.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.36
$1.38€1.18
14.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59€2.22
$2.22€1.91
16.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Voorburg
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.46€2.97
$2.40€2.06
44.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$105€90.2
$46.78€40.22
124.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.71€4.05
$4.17€3.59
12.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.61€3.11
$1.14€0.98
216.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$69.0€59.3
$17.68€15.20
290.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.53€2.18
$2.32€2.00
9.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.2K€36.3K
$35.3K€30.4K
19.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.2K€35.4K
$41.4K€35.6K
-0.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Voorburg
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$306€263
$170€146
79.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.04€18.94
$19.34€16.62
13.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.3€49.28
$33.64€28.92
70.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Voorburg
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.57€38.32
$48.10€41.35
-7.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.14€19.04
$19.90€17.11
11.26%
Cinema Ticket
$16.49€14.18
$9.92€8.53
66.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Voorburg
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,727€2,344
$717€617
280.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.1K€11.2K
$17.5K€15.0K
-25.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Voorburg
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$98.4€84.6
$105€90.1
-6.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.67€34.96
$46.95€40.36
-13.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115€99.2
$103€88.9
11.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$148€127
$124€107
19.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Voorburg
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,438€1,236
$1,677€1,441
-14.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,370€1,178
$1,271€1,093
7.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,490€2,141
$2,985€2,566
-16.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,912€1,643
$1,992€1,713
-4.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,634€4,844
$7,826€6,728
-28.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,588€3,945
$4,658€4,004
-1.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Voorburg
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,583€1,361
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.49
3.79
-7.92%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Voorburg: August 31, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,438 in Voorburg and $1,677 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $91.0 in Voorburg vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $360 vs $283 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
Voorburg vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Voorburg and in Lisbon?
Voorburg and Lisbon differ by about 20% in total monthly costs ($2,772 vs $2,316 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Voorburg compared to Lisbon?
You'd need roughly $4,157 in Voorburg and $3,474 in Lisbon to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Voorburg and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,438 in Voorburg 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 Voorburg and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $2,727 in Voorburg 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?
Supermarket bills run roughly 27% higher in Voorburg. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Lisbon is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Voorburg 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 Voorburg or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Voorburg 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: Voorburg or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Voorburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.