🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $629 in Carthage versus $2,291 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,053 in Carthage versus $3,322 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,476 in Carthage versus $4,354 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Carthage costs roughly 73% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Carthage is 53% below, Lisbon is 71% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Carthage
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.05TND 14.31
$16.19€14.17
-68.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.25TND 71.5
$63.3€55.4
-60.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.06TND 14.34
$10.32€9.03
-50.97%
Cappuccino
$1.07TND 3.04
$2.83€2.48
-62.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71TND 2.02
$2.29€2.00
-69.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26TND 0.73
$1.58€1.38
-83.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72TND 4.88
$3.40€2.98
-49.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97TND 5.59
$4.03€3.52
-51.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Carthage
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.47TND 1.32
$1.09€0.95
-56.88%
White Bread(500g)
$0.20TND 0.55
$1.75€1.53
-88.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70TND 4.83
$1.76€1.54
-3.41%
Eggs
$1.64TND 4.65
$3.17€2.77
-48.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.64TND 30.15
$13.19€11.54
-19.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.03TND 17.10
$7.97€6.97
-24.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.54TND 41.19
$15.53€13.59
-6.37%
Apples(1kg)
$2.01TND 5.70
$2.37€2.07
-15.19%
Banana(1kg)
$3.40TND 9.63
$1.71€1.49
98.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.12TND 3.19
$2.01€1.76
-44.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.73TND 2.08
$2.43€2.13
-69.96%
Potato(1kg)
$0.75TND 2.12
$1.76€1.54
-57.39%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65TND 1.84
$2.03€1.78
-67.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.43TND 1.22
$1.92€1.68
-77.60%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.29TND 0.81
$0.85€0.74
-65.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.43TND 9.71
$6.58€5.76
-47.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.88TND 19.51
$5.58€4.88
23.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.35TND 3.82
$1.33€1.17
1.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.26TND 3.56
$2.97€2.60
-57.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Carthage
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.33TND 0.92
$2.28€1.99
-85.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.39TND 20.93
$45.79€40.06
-83.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.32TND 0.91
$4.23€3.70
-92.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33TND 0.94
$0.81€0.71
-59.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.41TND 9.65
$18.44€16.13
-81.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.82TND 2.32
$2.08€1.82
-60.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.4KTND 117.2K
$34.7K€30.3K
19.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.0KTND 102.0K
$39.2K€34.3K
-8.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Carthage
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$45.15TND 128
$148€130
-69.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.42TND 26.68
$20.46€17.90
-53.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.30TND 51.9
$39.56€34.61
-53.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Carthage
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.88TND 107
$47.99€41.99
-21.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.32TND 37.74
$18.60€16.27
-28.39%
Cinema Ticket
$5.17TND 14.64
$9.22€8.07
-43.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Carthage
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$109TND 309
$616€539
-82.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,309TND 9,377
$16.4K€14.4K
-79.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Carthage
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.19TND 131
$103€89.9
-55.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.2TND 171
$41.74€36.52
44.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.3TND 276
$94.8€82.9
2.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.7TND 186
$122€107
-46.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Carthage
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$168TND 475
$1,633€1,428
-89.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$101TND 287
$1,232€1,078
-91.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$304TND 862
$3,098€2,711
-90.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$239TND 676
$2,031€1,777
-88.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$957TND 2,712
$7,831€6,851
-87.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$626TND 1,773
$4,389€3,840
-85.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Carthage
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$270TND 764
$1,607€1,406
-83.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.96
3.81
187.66%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Carthage: July 13, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $168 in Carthage and $1,633 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 496% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $25.00 in Carthage vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $196 vs $267 per month, with Carthage 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
Carthage vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Carthage and in Lisbon?
Carthage and Lisbon differ by about 264% in total monthly costs ($629 vs $2,291 including rent). Carthage is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 496% lower in Lisbon. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Carthage and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $168 in Carthage versus $1,633 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 36% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Carthage – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $63.0 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 $629 in Carthage versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Carthage but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Carthage the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Carthage 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 Carthage or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Carthage 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: Carthage or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Carthage gentler on the wallet – expenses run 264% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.