😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,692 in Waco, TX versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,789 in Waco, TX versus $3,311 in Lisbon.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,886 in Waco, TX versus $4,411 in Lisbon.
😐Living in Waco, TX is roughly 22% more expensive than Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Waco, TX101% above, Lisbon65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Waco, TX
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.98$19.98
$15.91€13.81
25.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.4$62.4
$64.8€56.2
-3.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.91$9.91
$10.51€9.12
-5.71%
Cappuccino
$5.67$5.67
$2.87€2.49
97.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22$2.22
$2.24€1.95
-0.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47$1.47
$1.50€1.30
-2.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.09$6.09
$3.49€3.03
74.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.13$5.13
$3.88€3.37
32.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Waco, TX
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.00$1.00
$1.14€0.99
-12.28%
White Bread(500g)
$2.84$2.84
$1.75€1.52
62.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.69$2.69
$1.76€1.52
52.84%
Eggs
$4.29$4.29
$3.22€2.79
33.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.83$11.83
$13.49€11.71
-12.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.53$10.53
$7.91€6.87
33.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.93$11.93
$15.87€13.77
-24.83%
Apples(1kg)
$4.05$4.05
$2.31€2.00
75.32%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17$1.17
$1.70€1.48
-31.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.02$4.02
$2.01€1.74
100.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.86$3.86
$2.46€2.13
56.91%
Potato(1kg)
$2.74$2.74
$1.84€1.60
48.91%
Onion(1kg)
$2.86$2.86
$2.00€1.74
43.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.58$1.58
$1.93€1.67
-18.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.74$1.74
$0.79€0.68
120.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.18$8.18
$6.61€5.73
23.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.99$13.99
$5.72€4.97
144.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75$1.75
$1.37€1.18
27.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56$3.56
$2.97€2.58
19.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Waco, TX
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.46$1.46
$2.37€2.06
-38.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.77$39.77
$45.56€39.53
-12.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29$4.29
$4.29€3.72
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.82$1.82
$0.82€0.71
121.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.53$35.53
$18.30€15.88
94.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.72$0.72
$2.06€1.79
-65.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.2K$25.2K
$34.3K€29.7K
-26.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K$25.8K
$39.3K€34.1K
-34.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Waco, TX
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170$170
$148€128
15.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.6$59.6
$20.52€17.80
190.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.0$67.0
$39.61€34.37
69.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Waco, TX
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.93$27.93
$47.85€41.51
-41.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.92€16.42
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.62$9.62
$9.18€7.97
4.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Waco, TX
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$834$834
$614€533
35.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$21.9K$21.9K
$16.0K€13.9K
36.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Waco, TX
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.6$52.6
$105€90.8
-49.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.48$46.48
$42.06€36.49
10.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.2$78.2
$94.0€81.5
-16.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119$119
$120€104
-0.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Waco, TX
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,179$1,179
$1,628€1,412
-27.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,576$1,576
$1,255€1,089
25.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,381$2,381
$3,030€2,629
-21.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,252$2,252
$2,020€1,753
11.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,938$1,938
$7,800€6,767
-75.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,915$1,915
$4,273€3,707
-55.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Waco, TX
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,153$3,153
$1,603€1,391
96.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.45
3.81
69.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Waco, TX: May 31, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,179 in Waco, TX and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Waco, TX pays 97% 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: $62.0 in Waco, TX vs $65.0 in Lisbon. Groceries flip the comparison at $338 vs $269, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.
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
Waco, TX vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Waco, TX and Lisbon?
Waco, TX and Lisbon differ by about 22% in total monthly costs ($2,692 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: Waco, TX or Lisbon?
Waco, TX pays 97% 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 Waco, TX and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,179 in Waco, TX 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 Waco, TX and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $834 in Waco, TX 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 25% higher in Waco, TX. 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 $2,692 in Waco, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Waco, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Waco, TX 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 Waco, TX or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Waco, TX 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: Waco, TX or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Waco, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.