🇮🇪 Dublin vs 🇵🇹 Lisbon
Cost of Living Comparison (2026)
Lisbon is 31% cheaper than Dublin
Quick answer
Comparing Dublin, Ireland and Lisbon, Portugal: a moderate single-person monthly budget is approximately $3,788 in Dublin versus $2,604 in Lisbon. Lisbon is roughly 31% cheaper overall. Central 1-bed rent: $2,000/mo (Dublin) vs $1,466/mo (Lisbon). The totals use the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Key facts
- Moderate budget: $3,788/mo in Dublin single person — city-centre rent + modeled non-housing categories.
- Moderate budget: $2,604/mo in Lisbon single person — like-for-like city-centre basket.
- Central 1-bed rent $2,000/mo in Dublin · $1,466/mo in Lisbon.
- Cheaper overall: Lisbon ~31% cheaper than Dublin.
- Source World Bank ICP + national statistics; item-price snapshot sources are listed per row · CC BY 4.0.
Monthly Budget Comparison
| Lifestyle | 🇮🇪 Dublin | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $2,650/mo | $1,800/mo | -32% |
| Moderate | $3,788/mo | $2,604/mo | -31% |
| Comfortable | $5,700/mo | $3,900/mo | -32% |
The Moderate row equals the category table below: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending. Budget and Comfortable scale that same basket.
Cost Breakdown by Category
| Category | 🇮🇪 Dublin | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1-bed, center) | $2,000/mo | $1,466/mo | -27% |
| Groceries & Food | $550/mo | $350/mo | -36% |
| Dining Out | $275/mo | $175/mo | -36% |
| Transport | $275/mo | $175/mo | -36% |
| Utilities & Internet | $275/mo | $175/mo | -36% |
| Healthcare | $220/mo | $140/mo | -36% |
| Leisure & Personal | $193/mo | $123/mo | -36% |
Category sum = Moderate budget. Basis: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Housing (1-bed, center)
Dublin
$2,000
Lisbon
$1,466
Groceries & Food
Dublin
$550
Lisbon
$350
Dining Out
Dublin
$275
Lisbon
$175
Transport
Dublin
$275
Lisbon
$175
Utilities & Internet
Dublin
$275
Lisbon
$175
Healthcare
Dublin
$220
Lisbon
$140
Leisure & Personal
Dublin
$193
Lisbon
$123
Detailed Price Comparison
Sources and snapshot dates are listed with each price. City budget model rents replace the centre-rent snapshot where indicated; sibling rents are omitted for those cities. Only matching item labels are compared.
Groceries
| Item | 🇮🇪 Dublin | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loaf of bread (500g) | $1.60CSO (Ireland), Eurostat · 2026-01-15 | $1.30INE (Statistics Portugal), Eurostat · 2026-01-15 | -19% |
| Milk (1 liter) | $1.30CSO (Ireland), Eurostat · 2026-01-15 | $0.85INE (Statistics Portugal), Eurostat · 2026-01-15 | -35% |
| Eggs (12) | $3.80CSO (Ireland), Eurostat · 2026-01-15 | $2.50INE (Statistics Portugal), Eurostat · 2026-01-15 | -34% |
| Chicken breast (1 kg) | $9.80CSO (Ireland), Eurostat · 2026-01-15 | $6.50INE (Statistics Portugal), Eurostat · 2026-01-15 | -34% |
Restaurants & Cafes
| Item | 🇮🇪 Dublin | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fast food combo meal | $10CSO (Ireland), Eurostat · 2026-01-15 | $7.60INE (Statistics Portugal), Eurostat · 2026-01-15 | -24% |
| Cappuccino | $4.00CSO (Ireland), Eurostat · 2026-01-15 | $1.80INE (Statistics Portugal), Eurostat · 2026-01-15 | -55% |
Housing
| Item | 🇮🇪 Dublin | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-bedroom apartment, center | $2,000CSO (Ireland), Eurostat · 2026-01-15 | $1,466City budget model; replaces snapshot (Idealista/INE · 2026-08-16) | -27% |
Transport
| Item | 🇮🇪 Dublin | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 liter) | $1.85CSO (Ireland), Eurostat · 2026-01-15 | $1.85INE (Statistics Portugal), Eurostat · 2026-01-15 | 0% |
Utilities & Internet
| Item | 🇮🇪 Dublin | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity, water, garbage (85m²) | $200CSO (Ireland), Eurostat · 2026-01-15 | $120INE (Statistics Portugal), Eurostat · 2026-01-15 | -40% |
| Internet (60+ Mbps) | $55CSO (Ireland), Eurostat · 2026-01-15 | $35INE (Statistics Portugal), Eurostat · 2026-01-15 | -36% |
Leisure & Fitness
| Item | 🇮🇪 Dublin | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gym membership (monthly) | $48CSO (Ireland), Eurostat · 2026-01-15 | $40INE (Statistics Portugal), Eurostat · 2026-01-15 | -17% |
| Cinema ticket | $14CSO (Ireland), Eurostat · 2026-01-15 | $8.00INE (Statistics Portugal), Eurostat · 2026-01-15 | -43% |
Personal Care
| Item | 🇮🇪 Dublin | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haircut (men) | $22CSO (Ireland), Eurostat · 2026-01-15 | $15INE (Statistics Portugal), Eurostat · 2026-01-15 | -32% |
Quick Facts
🇮🇪 Dublin
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $3,788
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $2,000/mo
- Cappuccino
- $4.00
- Inexpensive meal
- $15.00
- Monthly transit pass (Leap)
- $120
- Internet speed
- 110 Mbps
- Safety index
- 75/100(very safe)
- Healthcare index
- 97/100
- Country
- Ireland
Snapshot source: CSO (Ireland), Eurostat · 2026-01-15
🇵🇹 Lisbon
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $2,604
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $1,466/mo
- Cappuccino
- $2.45
- Inexpensive meal
- $14.00
- Monthly transit pass
- $44
- Internet speed
- 115 Mbps
- Safety index
- 78/100(very safe)
- Healthcare index
- 95/100
- Country
- Portugal
Snapshot source: INE (Statistics Portugal), Eurostat · 2026-01-15
Explore more: Dublin city guide | Lisbon city guide | Ireland | Portugal
Related Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dublin or Lisbon cheaper to live in?
Lisbon is approximately 31% cheaper than Dublin overall.
How much does it cost to live in Dublin per month?
A moderate monthly budget for a single person in Dublin is approximately $3,788 on the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
How much does it cost to live in Lisbon per month?
A moderate monthly budget for a single person in Lisbon is approximately $2,604 on the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
What is the rent difference between Dublin and Lisbon?
A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center costs around $2,000/month in Dublin and $1,466/month in Lisbon.