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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $702 in El Viejo versus $2,210 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,123 in El Viejo versus $3,311 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,543 in El Viejo versus $4,411 in Lisbon.

Living in El Viejo costs roughly 68% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: El Viejo is 48% below, Lisbon is 65% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
El Viejo
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.01 NIO 184
$15.91 €13.69
-68.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.24 NIO 1,291
$64.8 €55.7
-45.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.18 NIO 263
$10.51 €9.04
-31.68%
Cappuccino
$2.43 NIO 88.9
$2.87 €2.47
-15.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 NIO 28.81
$2.24 €1.93
-64.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 NIO 25.87
$1.50 €1.29
-52.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.32 NIO 48.39
$3.49 €3.00
-62.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 NIO 72.0
$3.88 €3.34
-49.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
El Viejo
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 NIO 45.04
$1.14 €0.98
7.89%
White Bread (500g)
$2.42 NIO 88.7
$1.75 €1.51
38.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.87 NIO 68.7
$1.76 €1.51
6.25%
Eggs
$2.28 NIO 83.4
$3.22 €2.77
-29.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.14 NIO 408
$13.49 €11.61
-17.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.60 NIO 242
$7.91 €6.81
-16.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.86 NIO 288
$15.87 €13.65
-50.47%
Apples (1kg)
$3.82 NIO 140
$2.31 €1.99
65.37%
Banana (1kg)
$0.83 NIO 30.37
$1.70 €1.46
-51.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.75 NIO 64.2
$2.01 €1.73
-12.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.28 NIO 83.4
$2.46 €2.12
-7.32%
Potato (1kg)
$4.02 NIO 147
$1.84 €1.59
118.48%
Onion (1kg)
$2.22 NIO 81.4
$2.00 €1.72
11.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 NIO 38.88
$1.93 €1.66
-45.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 NIO 38.20
$0.79 €0.68
31.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.59 NIO 94.7
$6.61 €5.68
-60.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.51 NIO 531
$5.72 €4.92
153.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.41 NIO 51.5
$1.37 €1.17
2.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20 NIO 80.5
$2.97 €2.56
-25.93%
🚌 Getting Around
El Viejo
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.37 €2.04
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$45.56 €39.19
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.52 NIO 55.8
$4.29 €3.69
-64.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.82 €0.70
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.83 NIO 250
$18.30 €15.74
-62.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 NIO 49.20
$2.06 €1.78
-34.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.6K NIO 828.9K
$34.3K €29.5K
-33.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K NIO 955.8K
$39.3K €33.8K
-33.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Viejo
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$100 NIO 3,676
$148 €127
-32.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.90 NIO 619
$20.52 €17.65
-17.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.45 NIO 1,371
$39.61 €34.08
-5.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
El Viejo
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$47.85 €41.16
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.92 €16.28
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.10 NIO 297
$9.18 €7.90
-11.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
El Viejo
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$123 NIO 4,499
$614 €528
-79.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,034 NIO 221.0K
$16.0K €13.8K
-62.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
El Viejo
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.1 NIO 2,789
$105 €90.0
-27.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$73.8 NIO 2,703
$42.06 €36.18
75.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$134 NIO 4,899
$94.0 €80.8
42.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 NIO 3,882
$120 €103
-11.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
El Viejo
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,628 €1,400
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,255 €1,080
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$3,030 €2,607
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,020 €1,738
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,800 €6,709
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$4,273 €3,675
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
El Viejo
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,603 €1,379
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.25
3.81
169.03%

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

Last update for El Viejo: May 31, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $35.00 in El Viejo vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $259 vs $269 per month, with El Viejo 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
El Viejo vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lisbon cheaper than El Viejo?
El Viejo is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 215% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,054 in El Viejo and $3,315 in Lisbon to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $123 in El Viejo versus $614 in Lisbon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in El Viejo or Lisbon?
Dining out is cheaper in El Viejo – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $65.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for El Viejo or Lisbon?
At $702 in El Viejo versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in El Viejo but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes El Viejo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is El Viejo or Lisbon more family-friendly?
For families, El Viejo is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lisbon, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, El Viejo or Lisbon?
Safety-wise, El Viejo 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find El Viejo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 215% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

El Viejo vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities