๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,213 in Beliลกฤe versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,820 in Beliลกฤe versus $3,311 in Lisbon.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,427 in Beliลกฤe versus $4,411 in Lisbon.
๐Living in Beliลกฤe costs roughly 45% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Beliลกฤe is 9% below, Lisbon is 65% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Beliลกฤe
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.27โฌ7.11
$15.91โฌ13.69
-48.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.47โฌ34.81
$64.8โฌ55.7
-37.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.92โฌ5.95
$10.51โฌ9.04
-34.16%
Cappuccino
$2.14โฌ1.84
$2.87โฌ2.47
-25.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26โฌ1.95
$2.24โฌ1.93
0.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09โฌ1.79
$1.50โฌ1.29
39.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35โฌ2.02
$3.49โฌ3.00
-32.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37โฌ2.04
$3.88โฌ3.34
-38.92%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Beliลกฤe
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.91โฌ0.78
$1.14โฌ0.98
-20.18%
White Bread(500g)
$0.66โฌ0.57
$1.75โฌ1.51
-62.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.82โฌ2.43
$1.76โฌ1.51
60.23%
Eggs
$3.14โฌ2.70
$3.22โฌ2.77
-2.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.84โฌ9.32
$13.49โฌ11.61
-19.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.65โฌ6.58
$7.91โฌ6.81
-3.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.29โฌ9.71
$15.87โฌ13.65
-28.86%
Apples(1kg)
$1.18โฌ1.02
$2.31โฌ1.99
-48.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.37โฌ1.18
$1.70โฌ1.46
-19.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.60โฌ1.38
$2.01โฌ1.73
-20.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.52โฌ2.17
$2.46โฌ2.12
2.44%
Potato(1kg)
$0.91โฌ0.78
$1.84โฌ1.59
-50.54%
Onion(1kg)
$1.22โฌ1.05
$2.00โฌ1.72
-39.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.22โฌ1.05
$1.93โฌ1.66
-36.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95โฌ0.82
$0.79โฌ0.68
20.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.67โฌ4.88
$6.61โฌ5.68
-14.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.77โฌ6.69
$5.72โฌ4.92
35.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19โฌ1.02
$1.37โฌ1.17
-13.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02โฌ1.74
$2.97โฌ2.56
-31.99%
๐ Getting Around
Beliลกฤe
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.69โฌ1.46
$2.37โฌ2.04
-28.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$42.34โฌ36.42
$45.56โฌ39.19
-7.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.81โฌ3.28
$4.29โฌ3.69
-11.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.10โฌ0.95
$0.82โฌ0.70
34.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.71โฌ4.91
$18.30โฌ15.74
-68.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.66โฌ1.42
$2.06โฌ1.78
-19.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.6Kโฌ28.0K
$34.3Kโฌ29.5K
-4.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5Kโฌ22.8K
$39.3Kโฌ33.8K
-32.52%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beliลกฤe
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124โฌ107
$148โฌ127
-15.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.07โฌ15.54
$20.52โฌ17.65
-11.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.21โฌ22.55
$39.61โฌ34.08
-33.83%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Beliลกฤe
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.53โฌ21.96
$47.85โฌ41.16
-46.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.98โฌ12.88
$18.92โฌ16.28
-20.82%
Cinema Ticket
$5.26โฌ4.53
$9.18โฌ7.90
-42.70%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Beliลกฤe
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$345โฌ297
$614โฌ528
-43.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,799โฌ2,407
$16.0Kโฌ13.8K
-82.56%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Beliลกฤe
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$123โฌ106
$105โฌ90.0
17.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.74โฌ37.62
$42.06โฌ36.18
3.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$46.48โฌ39.98
$94.0โฌ80.8
-50.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.4โฌ49.33
$120โฌ103
-52.07%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Beliลกฤe
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$191โฌ164
$1,628โฌ1,400
-88.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$464โฌ399
$1,255โฌ1,080
-63.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$347โฌ298
$3,030โฌ2,607
-88.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$771โฌ663
$2,020โฌ1,738
-61.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,078โฌ3,508
$7,800โฌ6,709
-47.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,241โฌ1,067
$4,273โฌ3,675
-70.96%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Beliลกฤe
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,884โฌ1,621
$1,603โฌ1,379
17.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.2
3.81
-16.01%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Beliลกฤe: June 2, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $191 in Beliลกฤe and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐBeliลกฤe pays 17% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
๐Dining out: $40.00 in Beliลกฤe vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $224 vs $269 per month, with Beliลกฤe 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
Beliลกฤe vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Beliลกฤe and Lisbon?
Beliลกฤe and Lisbon differ by about 82% in total monthly costs ($1,213 vs $2,210 including rent). Beliลกฤe is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Beliลกฤe or Lisbon?
Beliลกฤe pays 17% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Beliลกฤe and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $191 in Beliลกฤe versus $1,628 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 Beliลกฤe and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $345 in Beliลกฤe versus $614 in Lisbon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 20% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,213 in Beliลกฤe versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Beliลกฤe but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Beliลกฤe the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Beliลกฤe and Lisbon?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Beliลกฤe or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Beliลกฤe 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: Beliลกฤe or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Beliลกฤe gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 82% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.