$40K in Memphis = $30,120 in Lisbon

Your $40K salary in Memphis (COL 83) has the same purchasing power as $30,120 in Lisbon (COL 63). Lisbon is cheaper — your money goes 25% further there.

$40K in Memphis, TN
$2,728/mo take-home
Rent: $1,100/mo (40% of take-home)
Tight
$30,120/yr in Lisbon, PT
$1,552/mo take-home
Rent: $1,400/mo (90% of take-home)
Difficult

Budget breakdown — $40K in both cities

What $40K actually buys you in each city after taxes and core expenses.

Expense
Memphis
$40K
Lisbon
$40K (same salary)
Monthly take-home$2,728$2,062
1BR rent$1,100$1,400
Groceries$357$380
Transport$55$150
Utilities$170$90
Internet$55$35
Left after essentials$991/month$7/month
To match your Memphis purchasing power in Lisbon, you'd need to earn $30,120/year (25% less than $40K). At that salary, you'd have $-503/mo left after essentials — vs $991/mo in Memphis.

Frequently asked questions

What is $40K in Memphis equivalent to in Lisbon?

$40K in Memphis (COL index 83) has the same purchasing power as $30,120 in Lisbon (COL index 63). That's 25% less than your current salary.

If I move from Memphis to Lisbon keeping my $40K salary, will I be better off?

Yes. If you keep earning $40K after moving to Lisbon, you'd have $-984 more per month after core expenses — because Lisbon is cheaper than Memphis.

How is the salary equivalent calculated?

The equivalent salary is calculated by multiplying your current salary by the ratio of the two cities' overall cost of living indices: $40K × (63 ÷ 83) = $30,120. This adjusts for differences in housing, food, transport, and general cost of living.

Other salary amounts — Memphis to Lisbon

$50K → $37,651$60K → $45,181$75K → $56,476$80K → $60,241$100K → $75,301$120K → $90,361$150K → $112,952
$40K in Lisbon → MemphisMoving from Memphis to LisbonMemphis vs Lisbon — full comparisonCan I afford Memphis vs Lisbon on $40K?

Equivalency uses overall COL index ratio. Take-home uses simplified federal/state brackets. Zillow · BLS · Numbeo · Q1 2026 · For general guidance only