Cost of Living Comparison Between Bambous and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Bambous and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $985 in Bambous versus $2,227 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,620 in Bambous versus $3,305 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,255 in Bambous versus $4,384 in Lisbon.

Living in Bambous costs roughly 56% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Bambous is 26% below, Lisbon is 66% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bambous
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.38 MUR 205
$16.17 €13.79
-72.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.78 MUR 2,049
$64.6 €55.1
-32.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.52 MUR 211
$10.38 €8.85
-56.45%
Cappuccino
$2.21 MUR 103
$2.77 €2.37
-20.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02 MUR 47.78
$2.25 €1.92
-54.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 MUR 21.27
$1.57 €1.34
-71.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.25 MUR 105
$3.49 €2.98
-35.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 MUR 79.2
$4.00 €3.42
-57.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bambous
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 MUR 57.5
$1.08 €0.92
13.89%
White Bread (500g)
$0.65 MUR 30.62
$1.74 €1.48
-62.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.12 MUR 52.5
$1.74 €1.48
-35.63%
Eggs
$2.22 MUR 104
$3.18 €2.71
-30.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.92 MUR 558
$13.43 €11.46
-11.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.34 MUR 156
$7.99 €6.82
-58.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.27 MUR 200
$16.09 €13.73
-73.46%
Apples (1kg)
$2.05 MUR 96.1
$2.28 €1.95
-10.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.95 MUR 91.4
$1.72 €1.47
13.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.45 MUR 68.1
$1.94 €1.66
-25.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.64 MUR 123
$2.54 €2.17
3.94%
Potato (1kg)
$0.99 MUR 46.43
$1.83 €1.56
-45.90%
Onion (1kg)
$0.93 MUR 43.73
$2.04 €1.74
-54.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.80 MUR 37.27
$1.98 €1.69
-59.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 MUR 35.41
$0.85 €0.73
-10.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.40 MUR 300
$6.85 €5.85
-6.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.60 MUR 402
$5.78 €4.93
48.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 MUR 80.8
$1.37 €1.17
26.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 MUR 102
$2.90 €2.47
-24.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Bambous
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.99 MUR 46.39
$2.28 €1.95
-56.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$46.84 €39.96
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.31 MUR 202
$4.08 €3.48
5.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.74 MUR 128
$0.82 €0.70
234.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.51 MUR 913
$18.27 €15.58
6.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.41 MUR 66.0
$2.01 €1.71
-29.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.8K MUR 1.7M
$35.3K €30.1K
1.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4K MUR 1.3M
$38.5K €32.8K
-26.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bambous
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$48.82 MUR 2,285
$145 €124
-66.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.00 MUR 842
$20.96 €17.88
-14.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.69 MUR 1,577
$40.05 €34.17
-15.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bambous
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.75 MUR 1,814
$48.79 €41.61
-20.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.69 €15.95
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.10 MUR 286
$9.06 €7.73
-32.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bambous
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$157 MUR 7,347
$607 €517
-74.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,951 MUR 184.9K
$16.3K €13.9K
-75.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bambous
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.0 MUR 3,978
$105 €89.3
-18.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$79.4 MUR 3,714
$40.95 €34.93
93.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$134 MUR 6,270
$93.6 €79.8
43.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.7 MUR 4,384
$119 €101
-20.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bambous
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$511 MUR 23.9K
$1,604 €1,368
-68.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$352 MUR 16.5K
$1,236 €1,054
-71.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$939 MUR 43.9K
$3,046 €2,598
-69.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$727 MUR 34.0K
$2,057 €1,754
-64.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,709 €6,576
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$4,266 €3,639
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bambous
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,584 €1,351
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.67
3.81
75.07%

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

Last update for Bambous: April 27, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $511 in Bambous and $1,604 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $44 in Bambous vs $65 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $186 vs $271 per month, with Bambous cheaper across the board.

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
Bambous vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Bambous and Lisbon?
Bambous and Lisbon differ by about 126% in total monthly costs ($985 vs $2,227 including rent). Bambous is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Bambous compared to Lisbon?
You'd need roughly $1,478 in Bambous and $3,341 in Lisbon to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Bambous and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $511 in Bambous versus $1,604 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 Bambous and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $157 in Bambous versus $607 in Lisbon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Bambous – a meal for two runs $44.00 versus $65.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $985 in Bambous versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bambous but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Bambous the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Bambous 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 Bambous or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Bambous 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: Bambous or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Bambous gentler on the wallet – expenses run 126% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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