Cost of Living Comparison Between Bender and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Bender and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $681 per month in Bender vs $2,291 in Lisbon, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,052 per month in Bender vs $3,322 in Lisbon, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,424 per month in Bender vs $4,354 in Lisbon, rent included.

Bender is about 70% cheaper than Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Bender sits 49% below the global median, while Lisbon is 71% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bender
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.57 MDL 149
$16.19 €14.17
-47.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.87 MDL 311
$63.3 €55.4
-71.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.87 MDL 102
$10.32 €9.03
-43.12%
Cappuccino
$1.11 MDL 19.30
$2.83 €2.48
-60.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 MDL 15.78
$2.29 €2.00
-60.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 MDL 9.39
$1.58 €1.38
-65.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.96 MDL 16.80
$3.40 €2.98
-71.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 MDL 34.88
$4.03 €3.52
-50.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bender
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.91 MDL 15.78
$1.09 €0.95
-16.51%
White Bread (500g)
$0.51 MDL 8.81
$1.75 €1.53
-70.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 MDL 26.22
$1.76 €1.54
-14.20%
Eggs
$1.89 MDL 32.98
$3.17 €2.77
-40.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.18 MDL 72.8
$13.19 €11.54
-68.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.32 MDL 75.1
$7.97 €6.97
-45.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.22 MDL 90.9
$15.53 €13.59
-66.39%
Apples (1kg)
$0.76 MDL 13.24
$2.37 €2.07
-67.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.76 MDL 30.60
$1.71 €1.49
2.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.69 MDL 29.44
$2.01 €1.76
-15.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.62 MDL 28.27
$2.43 €2.13
-33.33%
Potato (1kg)
$0.78 MDL 13.55
$1.76 €1.54
-55.68%
Onion (1kg)
$0.58 MDL 10.17
$2.03 €1.78
-71.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.31 MDL 22.76
$1.92 €1.68
-31.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 MDL 13.81
$0.85 €0.74
-7.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.89 MDL 50.4
$6.58 €5.76
-56.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$2.59 MDL 45.12
$5.58 €4.88
-53.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 MDL 12.48
$1.33 €1.17
-45.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 MDL 27.19
$2.97 €2.60
-47.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Bender
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 MDL 6.33
$2.28 €1.99
-84.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$4.17 MDL 72.5
$45.79 €40.06
-90.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.09 MDL 18.97
$4.23 €3.70
-74.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.25 MDL 4.34
$0.81 €0.71
-69.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 MDL 20.13
$18.44 €16.13
-93.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 MDL 23.78
$2.08 €1.82
-34.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.5K MDL 304.1K
$34.7K €30.3K
-49.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.8K MDL 310.1K
$39.2K €34.3K
-54.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bender
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$171 MDL 2,982
$148 €130
15.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.73 MDL 135
$20.46 €17.90
-62.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.29 MDL 144
$39.56 €34.61
-79.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bender
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.56 MDL 410
$47.99 €41.99
-50.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.60 €16.27
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.31 MDL 40.16
$9.22 €8.07
-74.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bender
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$385 MDL 6,711
$616 €539
-37.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,689 MDL 133.9K
$16.4K €14.4K
-53.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bender
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.76 MDL 205
$103 €89.9
-88.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.08 MDL 454
$41.74 €36.52
-37.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 MDL 1,945
$94.8 €82.9
17.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 MDL 2,107
$122 €107
-0.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bender
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$226 MDL 3,941
$1,633 €1,428
-86.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$97.2 MDL 1,691
$1,232 €1,078
-92.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$306 MDL 5,336
$3,098 €2,711
-90.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$224 MDL 3,904
$2,031 €1,777
-88.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,831 €6,851
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$4,389 €3,840
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bender
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$322 MDL 5,609
$1,607 €1,406
-79.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.24
3.81
142.52%

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

Last update for Bender: July 12, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $226 in Bender 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 399% 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 $18.00 in Bender versus $63.0 in Lisbon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $137 vs $267 – making Bender 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
Bender vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lisbon cheaper than Bender?
Yes – Lisbon is pricier by about 237%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,021 per month in Bender and $3,437 in Lisbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bender, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 998% less in Bender. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $385 per month in Bender and $616 in Lisbon. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Bender or in Lisbon?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bender, where all-in costs run around $681, than in Lisbon at $2,291. In Bender it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Bender or Lisbon more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Bender – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Bender or Lisbon?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Bender. 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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