High value
Lisbon, PT
California premium
Los Angeles, CA

Lisbon wins overall by ~64% (COL index)

Cost of living: Lisbon vs Los Angeles (2026)

A $75,000 salary in Lisbon buys roughly what $207,600 does in Los Angeles (COL-adjusted). Your real trade-offs are taxes, rent, and day-to-day prices โ€” we break them down and personalize below.

๐Ÿ’ฐ20.0% vs 9.3% state tax ยท ~$8,016/yr take-home gap
๐Ÿ 50% rent gap (~$16,800/yr)
๐Ÿ›’Groceries index in table below

Your move simulator

Tell us about your household โ€” we calculate your real annual savings.

๐Ÿ’ต Household income (before tax)$75K
$40K$600K+
๐Ÿ  Apartment size
๐Ÿš— Cars in household
Lisbon
$3,491/mo
take-home pay
Los Angeles
$4,159/mo
take-home pay

Estimated annual swing

+$19,828/yr

Favoring Lisbon for this income & household (illustrative).

With the extra $1,652/mo, you could pay down a $15,000 card balance in ~10 months and still keep ~$198/mo for dining out.

HousingTaxesGroceries
Lisbon
Los Angeles
๐Ÿ  HousingQ1 2026

Studio rent/mo

$950โœ“ better
$2,200
Lisbon saves $1,250/mo
๐Ÿ’ฐ $15,000/yr in Lisbon

1BR rent/mo

$1,400โœ“ better
$2,800
Lisbon saves $1,400/mo
๐Ÿ’ฐ $16,800/yr in Lisbon

2BR rent/mo

$2,100โœ“ better
$3,800
Lisbon saves $1,700/mo
๐Ÿ’ฐ $20,400/yr in Lisbon

Median home price

โ€”
$850K
๐Ÿ›’ Food & GroceriesQ1 2026

Groceries index (100 = US avg)

โ€”
108

Budget meal (1 person)

$12โœ“ better
$18
Lisbon saves $6/mo

Mid-range dinner (2)

$50โœ“ better
$75
Lisbon saves $25/mo
๐Ÿ’ฐ $300/yr in Lisbon
๐ŸšŒ TransportationQ1 2026

Monthly transit pass/mo

โ€”
$100

Gas price/gal

โ€”
$4.50

Car insurance/mo

โ€”
$195
โšก UtilitiesQ1 2026

Monthly utilities bundle/mo

$90โœ“ better
$145
Lisbon saves $55/mo
๐Ÿ’ฐ $660/yr in Lisbon

Internet/mo

$35โœ“ better
$70
Lisbon saves $35/mo
๐Ÿ’ฐ $420/yr in Lisbon
๐Ÿ’ฐ Income & TaxesQ1 2026

Median household income/yr

โ€”
$71K

State income tax%

20.0%
9.3%โœ“ better
Los saves -10.7 pp
๐Ÿ’ฐ $8,025/yr in Los

Sales tax (combined)%

23.0%
10.3%โœ“ better
Los saves -12.7 pp
๐ŸŽฌ LeisureQ1 2026

Movie ticket

โ€”
$17.00

Gym membership/mo

$45โœ“ better
$55
Lisbon saves $10/mo

Beer at restaurant

โ€”
$8.00
๐Ÿ“Š OverviewQ1 2026

Overall COL index (100 = US avg)

63โœ“ better
173
Lisbon saves 111

Walk score / 100

80โœ“ better
68
Lisbon earns -12

Complete the Picture

While youโ€™re comparing โ€” donโ€™t leave money on the table.

๐Ÿ’ฐ

Tax-smart rewards

Turn ~$8,016/yr tax difference into cash back

Lisbon fits your move math โ€” cash-back cards stack on groceries, gas, and dining you're already doing.

See top cash-back cards
๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ

Home + auto bundle

New state โ€” new insurance rates

Bundling often saves hundreds/yr. Compare before you sign a lease in Lisbon.

Browse insurance
๐Ÿฆ

High-yield savings

Park ~$16,800/yr rent savings at 4โ€“5%+ APY

Don't let relocation cash sit at 0% โ€” put it to work until closing day.

Compare savings rates

Ready to move?

Open the full interactive tool to add up to 5 cities, drop in your salary, and see rent burden.

Open full interactive tool

Complete the Picture

While youโ€™re comparing โ€” donโ€™t leave money on the table.

๐Ÿ“‰

If cash is tight

Knock down high-interest debt first

A move has upfront costs โ€” a balance transfer or personal loan can lower APR while you settle in.

Compare loans
๐Ÿ“ˆ

If you're saving big

Invest the surplus on autopilot

Brokerages and robo-advisors help you dollar-cost average into the market with your new slack.

See investing options

Frequently asked questions

Is Lisbon cheaper than Los Angeles?

Yes. Lisbon is 64% cheaper than Los Angeles based on overall cost of living indices (63 vs 173, where 100 = US average).

What is the average rent in Lisbon vs Los Angeles?

As of Q1 2026, the median 1-bedroom rent in Lisbon is $1,400/month and in Los Angeles is $2,800/month. Lisbon is cheaper by 50%.

How much do I need to earn in Los Angeles to match a $75,000 salary in Lisbon?

To maintain a similar lifestyle, you would need approximately $207,600/year in Los Angeles to match a $75,000 salary in Lisbon. This estimate is based on overall cost of living indices and does not account for individual spending patterns.

Which city has lower taxes โ€” Lisbon or Los Angeles?

Los Angeles has the lower state income tax rate at 9.3% vs 20%. The difference is 10.7 percentage points. Note that sales tax and local taxes also vary โ€” see the full breakdown in the table above.

Is it worth moving from Lisbon to Los Angeles?

It depends on your priorities. Lisbon offers lower overall costs, but both cities have different job markets, weather, and lifestyle trade-offs. Use the comparison table above to evaluate rent, groceries, transportation, and income potential side by side based on your specific budget.

Data sourced from Zillow, BLS, Numbeo, Tax Foundation, and US Census ACS ยท Updated Q1 2026 ยท For general guidance only

Planning a move?

Salary equivalent: Lisbon โ†” Los Angeles

How much would you need to earn in Los Angeles to match your Lisbon purchasing power?

Related comparisons