Cost of Living Comparison Between El Congo and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between El Congo and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $575 per month in El Congo vs $2,210 in Lisbon, rent included.

A couple spends around $601 per month in El Congo vs $3,311 in Lisbon, rent included.

A family of three spends $626 per month in El Congo vs $4,411 in Lisbon, rent included.

El Congo is about 74% cheaper than Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

El Congo sits 57% below the global median, while Lisbon is 65% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.91 €13.69

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.8 €55.7

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.51 €9.04

Cappuccino

$2.87 €2.47

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 €1.93

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 €1.29

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.49 €3.00

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 €3.34

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 €0.98

White Bread (500g)

$1.75 €1.51

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 €1.51

Eggs

$3.22 €2.77

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.49 €11.61

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.91 €6.81

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.87 €13.65

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 €1.99

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 €1.46

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 €1.73

Tomato (1kg)

$2.46 €2.12

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 €1.59

Onion (1kg)

$2.00 €1.72

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.93 €1.66

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 €0.68

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.61 €5.68

Wine (Bottle)

$5.72 €4.92

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 €1.17

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 €2.56

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.37 €2.04

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.56 €39.19

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 €3.69

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 €0.70

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.30 €15.74

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.06 €1.78

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.3K €29.5K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$39.3K €33.8K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$148 €127

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$20.52 €17.65

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.61 €34.08

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.85 €41.16

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.92 €16.28

Cinema Ticket

$9.18 €7.90

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$614 €528

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.0K €13.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €90.0

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.06 €36.18

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.0 €80.8

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 €103

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$732 $732

$1,628 €1,400

-55.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$561 $561

$1,255 €1,080

-55.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$966 $966

$3,030 €2,607

-68.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 $636

$2,020 €1,738

-68.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,282 $4,282

$7,800 €6,709

-45.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,300 $1,300

$4,273 €3,675

-69.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$968 $968

$1,603 €1,379

-39.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.72

3.81

50.13%

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

Last update for El Congo: June 1, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $732 in El Congo versus $1,628 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 66% higher in Lisbon, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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

El Congo vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $575 in El Congo, $2,210 in Lisbon – roughly 284% apart. Lisbon costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $863 per month in El Congo and $3,315 in Lisbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in El Congo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in El Congo, where all-in costs run around $575, than in Lisbon at $2,210. In El Congo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Lisbon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $575 in El Congo to $2,210 in Lisbon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with El Congo. 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.