Cost of Living Comparison Between Elche and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Elche and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,496 in Elche versus $2,210 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,158 in Elche versus $3,289 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,820 in Elche versus $4,369 in Lisbon.

Living in Elche costs roughly 32% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Elche 12% above, Lisbon 65% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Elche
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.02 €13.20
$15.71 €13.81
-4.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.0 €51.9
$62.9 €55.3
-6.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.72 €10.31
$10.53 €9.26
11.30%
Cappuccino
$2.17 €1.91
$2.88 €2.54
-24.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 €2.00
$2.25 €1.98
0.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 €1.39
$1.56 €1.37
1.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.97 €2.61
$3.39 €2.98
-12.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52 €3.09
$3.90 €3.43
-9.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Elche
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.29 €1.13
$1.08 €0.95
19.44%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 €1.14
$1.73 €1.52
-24.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 €1.49
$1.76 €1.55
-3.41%
Eggs
$2.81 €2.47
$3.16 €2.78
-11.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.61 €10.21
$13.29 €11.68
-12.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.67 €7.62
$7.87 €6.92
10.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.32 €12.58
$15.84 €13.92
-9.60%
Apples (1kg)
$2.46 €2.16
$2.40 €2.11
2.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 €1.59
$1.70 €1.50
6.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.08 €1.83
$2.03 €1.78
2.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.39 €2.10
$2.52 €2.21
-5.16%
Potato (1kg)
$1.62 €1.43
$1.86 €1.63
-12.90%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 €1.67
$2.06 €1.81
-7.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 €0.94
$2.00 €1.76
-46.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 €0.62
$0.78 €0.69
-10.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.23 €5.48
$6.65 €5.84
-6.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.64 €4.08
$5.78 €5.08
-19.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 €1.01
$1.38 €1.22
-16.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 €1.59
$3.02 €2.65
-40.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Elche
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.47 €1.29
$2.33 €2.05
-36.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.79 €20.04
$45.45 €39.96
-49.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.41 €3.00
$4.08 €3.58
-16.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.27 €1.11
$0.80 €0.70
58.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.06 €22.03
$18.65 €16.39
34.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.79 €1.57
$2.00 €1.76
-10.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2K €30.1K
$35.4K €31.1K
-3.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K €28.3K
$39.1K €34.3K
-17.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Elche
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$139 €123
$150 €132
-7.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.39 €14.41
$20.55 €18.07
-20.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.78 €27.93
$39.45 €34.68
-19.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Elche
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.0 €45.72
$48.06 €42.25
8.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.74 €10.32
$18.70 €16.44
-37.22%
Cinema Ticket
$9.60 €8.44
$9.30 €8.18
3.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Elche
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$725 €637
$628 €552
15.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K €9,366
$16.5K €14.5K
-35.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Elche
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.0 €64.2
$102 €89.3
-28.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.62 €31.32
$41.55 €36.52
-14.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.9 €84.3
$92.5 €81.3
3.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 €96.9
$123 €108
-10.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Elche
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$632 €555
$1,628 €1,431
-61.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$569 €501
$1,233 €1,084
-53.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$939 €826
$3,126 €2,748
-69.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$753 €662
$2,058 €1,809
-63.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,104 €1,850
$7,762 €6,824
-72.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,534 €1,349
$4,386 €3,856
-65.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Elche
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,610 €1,415
$1,621 €1,425
-0.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.58
3.81
-6.04%

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

Last update for Elche: July 19, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $632 in Elche and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 1% 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: $59.0 in Elche vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $248 vs $269 per month, with Elche 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
Elche vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Elche or Lisbon?
Elche wins on cost – living expenses run 48% lower than in Lisbon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Elche the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Elche or in Lisbon?
On paper, salaries run 1% 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Elche compared to Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $632 in Elche versus $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Elche and in Lisbon?
Dining out is cheaper in Elche – a meal for two runs $59.0 versus $63.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Elche compared to Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $1,496 per month in Elche versus $2,210 in Lisbon – a 48% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Elche or in Lisbon?
At $1,496 in Elche versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Elche but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Elche the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Elche or Lisbon?
Both work as nomad bases, but Elche delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,496 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Elche hard to pass up.
How safe is Elche compared to Lisbon?
Safety-wise, Elche 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Elche gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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