🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $715 in El Viejo versus $2,291 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,141 in El Viejo versus $3,322 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,567 in El Viejo versus $4,354 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in El Viejo costs roughly 69% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: El Viejo is 46% below, Lisbon is 71% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
El Viejo
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.80NIO 176
$16.19€14.15
-70.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.33NIO 1,294
$63.3€55.3
-44.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.83NIO 250
$10.32€9.02
-33.82%
Cappuccino
$2.37NIO 86.7
$2.83€2.47
-16.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85NIO 31.26
$2.29€2.00
-62.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70NIO 25.51
$1.58€1.38
-55.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.32NIO 48.39
$3.40€2.97
-61.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94NIO 71.2
$4.03€3.52
-51.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
El Viejo
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22NIO 44.81
$1.09€0.95
11.93%
White Bread(500g)
$2.38NIO 87.2
$1.75€1.53
36.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87NIO 68.6
$1.76€1.54
6.25%
Eggs
$2.35NIO 86.2
$3.17€2.77
-25.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.27NIO 413
$13.19€11.53
-14.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.71NIO 246
$7.97€6.96
-15.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.07NIO 296
$15.53€13.57
-48.04%
Apples(1kg)
$3.99NIO 146
$2.37€2.07
68.35%
Banana(1kg)
$0.85NIO 31.24
$1.71€1.49
-50.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85NIO 67.6
$2.01€1.75
-7.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25NIO 82.4
$2.43€2.12
-7.41%
Potato(1kg)
$3.87NIO 142
$1.76€1.54
119.89%
Onion(1kg)
$2.22NIO 81.4
$2.03€1.78
9.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07NIO 39.16
$1.92€1.68
-44.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01NIO 37.15
$0.85€0.74
18.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.59NIO 95.0
$6.58€5.75
-60.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.58NIO 534
$5.58€4.87
161.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.41NIO 51.5
$1.33€1.16
6.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24NIO 82.1
$2.97€2.60
-24.58%
🚌 Getting Around
El Viejo
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$2.28€1.99
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$45.79€40.01
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.48NIO 54.3
$4.23€3.69
-65.01%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.81€0.71
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.65NIO 244
$18.44€16.11
-63.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31NIO 47.91
$2.08€1.82
-37.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.0KNIO 844.1K
$34.7K€30.3K
-33.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3KNIO 961.9K
$39.2K€34.2K
-32.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Viejo
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$99.5NIO 3,642
$148€129
-32.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.08NIO 626
$20.46€17.88
-16.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.32NIO 1,367
$39.56€34.56
-5.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
El Viejo
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$47.99€41.93
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.60€16.25
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.96NIO 291
$9.22€8.06
-13.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
El Viejo
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$125NIO 4,589
$616€538
-79.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,961NIO 218.3K
$16.4K€14.4K
-63.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
El Viejo
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.4NIO 2,798
$103€89.7
-25.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$71.7NIO 2,625
$41.74€36.47
71.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$133NIO 4,870
$94.8€82.8
40.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106NIO 3,884
$122€107
-13.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
El Viejo
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,633€1,426
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,232€1,077
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$3,098€2,707
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,031€1,775
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,831€6,842
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,389€3,835
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
El Viejo
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,607€1,404
-
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: July 14, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $35.00 in El Viejo vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $261 vs $267 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 220% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,073 in El Viejo and $3,437 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 $125 in El Viejo versus $616 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 in Lisbon?
Dining out is cheaper in El Viejo – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $63.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in El Viejo or in Lisbon?
At $715 in El Viejo versus $2,291 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 220% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.