Cost of Living Comparison Between Alges and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Alges and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,087 per month in Alges vs $2,291 in Lisbon, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,905 per month in Alges vs $3,322 in Lisbon, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,722 per month in Alges vs $4,354 in Lisbon, rent included.

Alges is about 9% cheaper than Lisbon, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Alges and Lisbon sit above the global median – Alges by 56%, Lisbon by 71%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Alges
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.86 €12.14
$16.19 €14.18
-14.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.0 €46.43
$63.3 €55.5
-16.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.25 €8.10
$10.32 €9.04
-10.37%
Cappuccino
$2.99 €2.62
$2.83 €2.48
5.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 €1.88
$2.29 €2.01
-6.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 €1.98
$1.58 €1.38
43.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.27 €1.99
$3.40 €2.98
-33.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41 €2.98
$4.03 €3.53
-15.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Alges
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 €0.94
$1.09 €0.96
-1.83%
White Bread (500g)
$1.95 €1.70
$1.75 €1.53
11.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.32 €2.03
$1.76 €1.54
31.82%
Eggs
$3.37 €2.95
$3.17 €2.77
6.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.27 €9.87
$13.19 €11.56
-14.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.62 €6.67
$7.97 €6.98
-4.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.16 €12.40
$15.53 €13.60
-8.82%
Apples (1kg)
$2.70 €2.37
$2.37 €2.07
13.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 €1.28
$1.71 €1.49
-14.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.75 €1.53
$2.01 €1.76
-12.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.03 €2.65
$2.43 €2.13
24.69%
Potato (1kg)
$1.50 €1.31
$1.76 €1.54
-14.77%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 €2.00
$2.03 €1.78
12.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.92 €0.80
$1.92 €1.68
-52.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 €0.73
$0.85 €0.74
-1.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.01 €5.26
$6.58 €5.76
-8.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.04 €4.41
$5.58 €4.89
-9.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 €1.12
$1.33 €1.17
-4.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22 €2.82
$2.97 €2.60
8.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Alges
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.25 €1.97
$2.28 €1.99
-1.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.47 €39.82
$45.79 €40.10
-0.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.55 €3.99
$4.23 €3.70
7.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.86 €0.76
$0.81 €0.71
6.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.53 €15.35
$18.44 €16.15
-4.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.95 €1.71
$2.08 €1.82
-6.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K €30.2K
$34.7K €30.4K
-0.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.1K €35.2K
$39.2K €34.3K
2.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alges
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 €148
$148 €130
14.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.25 €20.36
$20.46 €17.92
13.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.66 €43.49
$39.56 €34.64
25.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Alges
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.03 €39.44
$47.99 €42.03
-6.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.39 €8.23
$18.60 €16.29
-49.52%
Cinema Ticket
$8.25 €7.23
$9.22 €8.08
-10.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Alges
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$742 €650
$616 €540
20.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,238 €7,215
$16.4K €14.4K
-49.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Alges
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.1 €74.5
$103 €90.0
-17.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.08 €30.72
$41.74 €36.55
-15.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.5 €81.8
$94.8 €83.0
-1.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4 €80.1
$122 €107
-25.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Alges
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,282 €1,122
$1,633 €1,430
-21.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,113 €975
$1,232 €1,079
-9.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,134 €1,869
$3,098 €2,713
-31.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,574 €1,378
$2,031 €1,779
-22.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,174 €2,779
$7,831 €6,858
-59.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,329 €2,040
$4,389 €3,844
-46.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Alges
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,265 €1,108
$1,607 €1,408
-21.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.01
3.81
31.50%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Alges: July 12, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,282 in Alges versus $1,633 in Lisbon. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 27% higher in Lisbon, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Alges versus $63.0 in Lisbon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $257 vs $267 – making Alges the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Alges vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Alges and in Lisbon compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,087 in Alges, $2,291 in Lisbon – roughly 10% apart. Lisbon costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Alges compared to Lisbon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,131 per month in Alges and $3,437 in Lisbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Alges and Lisbon?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Alges, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Alges and Lisbon?
Kindergarten costs $742 per month in Alges and $616 in Lisbon. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 4% more in Lisbon, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Alges, where all-in costs run around $2,087, than in Lisbon at $2,291. In Alges it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Alges and Lisbon?
It depends on your priorities. Alges has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,087 in Alges to $2,291 in Lisbon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Alges or Lisbon safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Alges and Lisbon?
If budget matters most, go with Alges. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lisbon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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