Cost of Living Comparison Between Estepona and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Estepona and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,910 in Estepona versus $2,210 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,871 in Estepona versus $3,311 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,832 in Estepona versus $4,411 in Lisbon.

Living in Estepona costs roughly 14% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Estepona 43% above, Lisbon 65% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Estepona
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.64 €15.17
$15.91 €13.69
10.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.1 €68.9
$64.8 €55.7
23.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.22 €8.80
$10.51 €9.04
-2.76%
Cappuccino
$2.85 €2.45
$2.87 €2.47
-0.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 €2.14
$2.24 €1.93
10.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 €1.87
$1.50 €1.29
44.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.70 €4.05
$3.49 €3.00
34.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 €3.26
$3.88 €3.34
-2.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Estepona
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.28 €1.10
$1.14 €0.98
12.28%
White Bread (500g)
$1.56 €1.34
$1.75 €1.51
-10.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.09 €1.80
$1.76 €1.51
18.75%
Eggs
$3.41 €2.93
$3.22 €2.77
5.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.09 €11.26
$13.49 €11.61
-2.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.41 €8.09
$7.91 €6.81
18.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.22 €14.82
$15.87 €13.65
8.51%
Apples (1kg)
$3.37 €2.90
$2.31 €1.99
45.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.87 €1.61
$1.70 €1.46
10.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 €1.54
$2.01 €1.73
-10.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.76 €2.38
$2.46 €2.12
12.20%
Potato (1kg)
$2.29 €1.97
$1.84 €1.59
24.46%
Onion (1kg)
$2.02 €1.74
$2.00 €1.72
1.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 €1.25
$1.93 €1.66
-24.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 €1.02
$0.79 €0.68
50.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.56 €5.64
$6.61 €5.68
-0.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.87 €5.05
$5.72 €4.92
2.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42 €1.22
$1.37 €1.17
3.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 €2.05
$2.97 €2.56
-19.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Estepona
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.91 €2.50
$2.37 €2.04
22.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$33.56 €28.87
$45.56 €39.19
-26.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.20 €1.89
$4.29 €3.69
-48.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.80 €0.69
$0.82 €0.70
-2.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.68 €11.77
$18.30 €15.74
-25.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.83 €1.57
$2.06 €1.78
-11.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.3K €32.9K
$34.3K €29.5K
11.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.7K €26.4K
$39.3K €33.8K
-21.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Estepona
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$118 €102
$148 €127
-20.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.51 €20.22
$20.52 €17.65
14.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.27 €27.76
$39.61 €34.08
-18.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Estepona
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.00 €39.57
$47.85 €41.16
-3.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.08 €19.85
$18.92 €16.28
21.99%
Cinema Ticket
$14.06 €12.09
$9.18 €7.90
53.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Estepona
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$386 €332
$614 €528
-37.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.7K €10.1K
$16.0K €13.8K
-26.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Estepona
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.54 €27.13
$105 €90.0
-69.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.91 €36.91
$42.06 €36.18
2.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.7 €79.7
$94.0 €80.8
-1.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 €87.5
$120 €103
-15.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Estepona
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,252 €1,077
$1,628 €1,400
-23.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$902 €776
$1,255 €1,080
-28.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,124 €1,827
$3,030 €2,607
-29.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,456 €1,252
$2,020 €1,738
-27.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,992 €4,294
$7,800 €6,709
-36.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,860 €4,181
$4,273 €3,675
13.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Estepona
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,540 €1,325
$1,603 €1,379
-3.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.51
3.81
-7.87%

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

Last update for Estepona: May 31, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,252 in Estepona and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 4% 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: $80.0 in Estepona vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $269 per month, with Lisbon 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
Estepona vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lisbon cheaper than Estepona?
Estepona is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Estepona or Lisbon?
On paper, Lisbon earns 4% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Estepona and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,252 in Estepona versus $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $386 in Estepona versus $614 in Lisbon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Estepona and Lisbon?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Estepona or Lisbon?
At $1,910 in Estepona versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Estepona but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Estepona the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Estepona or Lisbon more family-friendly?
For families, Estepona 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, Estepona or Lisbon?
Safety-wise, Estepona 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 Estepona gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Estepona vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities