Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between the Canaries and Lisbon

For one person, living is cheaper in the Canaries: $185 a month against $2,210 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $24,300 less a year.

Canaries, Saint Lucia
Lisbon, Portugal
Canaries
🇱🇨 Saint Lucia
$185
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,210
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in the Canaries and in Lisbon

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in the Canaries and in Lisbon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $185 per month in the Canaries vs $2,210 in Lisbon, rent included.

  • Canaries $185
  • Lisbon $2,210

A couple spends around $278 per month in the Canaries vs $3,275 in Lisbon, rent included.

  • Canaries $278
  • Lisbon $3,275

A family of three spends $370 per month in the Canaries vs $4,341 in Lisbon, rent included.

  • Canaries $370
  • Lisbon $4,341

Canaries is about 92% cheaper than Lisbon.

Canaries sits 86% below the global median, while Lisbon is 62% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Canaries
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$16.65 €14.91
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$61.7 €55.3
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$11.36 €10.17
-
Cappuccino
-
$2.97 €2.66
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.29 €2.05
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.74 €1.56
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.40 €3.05
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.31 €2.96
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Canaries
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
-
$1.16 €1.04
-
White Bread (500g)
-
$1.91 €1.71
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
-
$1.51 €1.35
-
Eggs
-
$4.02 €3.60
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$12.94 €11.59
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$7.77 €6.96
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$17.76 €15.91
-
Apples (1kg)
-
$2.30 €2.06
-
Banana (1kg)
-
$1.73 €1.55
-
Oranges (1kg)
-
$1.86 €1.66
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$2.59 €2.32
-
Potato (1kg)
-
$1.82 €1.63
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$1.97 €1.76
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.47 €1.32
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.72 €0.65
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$6.58 €5.90
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$5.61 €5.02
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.36 €1.22
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.14 €1.91
-
🚌 Getting Around
Canaries
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.33 €2.09
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$44.68 €40.01
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.85 €3.45
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.07 €0.96
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$16.46 €14.74
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$2.20 €1.97
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$34.2K €30.6K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$38.7K €34.7K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Canaries
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$161 €144
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$18.41 €16.49
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$32.74 €29.32
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Canaries
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$44.55 €39.90
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.10 €17.10
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$9.60 €8.60
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Canaries
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$668 €598
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$17.6K €15.8K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Canaries
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$102 €91.4
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$44.46 €39.82
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$98.5 €88.2
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$124 €111
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Canaries
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$183 EC$494
$1,608 €1,440
-88.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$185 EC$500
$1,190 €1,066
-84.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$297 EC$803
$2,812 €2,519
-89.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$370 EC$1,000
$2,013 €1,803
-81.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$186 EC$502
$7,839 €7,021
-97.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$259 EC$699
$4,576 €4,098
-94.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Canaries
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,575 €1,411
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
3.85
-

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

Last update for the Canaries: October 24, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Canaries
–
Lisbon
$1.2K
Groceries & Markets
Canaries
–
Lisbon
$272
Eating Out
Canaries
–
Lisbon
$243
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Canaries
–
Lisbon
$212
Clothing & Footwear
Canaries
–
Lisbon
$166
Sport & Entertainment
Canaries
–
Lisbon
$64
Getting Around
Canaries
–
Lisbon
$63

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $183 in the Canaries versus $1,608 in Lisbon. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Good to know
🇱🇨 Canaries
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🕒 Local time
19:09 7:09 PM
23:09 11:09 PM
4 h ahead of the Canaries
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,862
545,923 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to XCD – East Caribbean Dollar Converter

East Caribbean Dollar exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 2.7 XCD (1 XCD = 0.37 USD). 1 EUR = 3.01 XCD (1 XCD = 0.332 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Canaries Lisbon 5,770 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Canaries
  • Lisbon

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Canaries vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Canaries or Lisbon?
Lisbon costs about 1094% more than the Canaries, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in the Canaries and in Lisbon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $278 per month in the Canaries and $3,315 in Lisbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Canaries or Lisbon?
Rent is clearly cheaper in the Canaries, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $183 there versus $1,608 in Lisbon.
Can you live on $800/month in the Canaries or in Lisbon?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in the Canaries, where all-in costs run around $185, than in Lisbon at $2,210. In Canaries it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Canaries or Lisbon?
It depends on your priorities. Lisbon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $185 in the Canaries to $2,210 in Lisbon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Canaries compared to Lisbon?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

Canaries vs other spots: cost of living compared

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