Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Isfahan and Lisbon

For one person, living is cheaper in Isfahan: $470 a month against $2,223 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $21,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Isfahan
🇮🇷 Iran
$470
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,223
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Isfahan and in Lisbon

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Isfahan and in Lisbon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $470 per month in Isfahan vs $2,223 in Lisbon, rent included.

  • Isfahan $470
  • Lisbon $2,223

A couple spends around $802 per month in Isfahan vs $3,271 in Lisbon, rent included.

  • Isfahan $802
  • Lisbon $3,271

A family of three spends $1,134 per month in Isfahan vs $4,319 in Lisbon, rent included.

  • Isfahan $1,134
  • Lisbon $4,319

Isfahan is about 79% cheaper than Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Isfahan
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.07 $3.07
$16.50 €14.67
-81.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.72 $12.72
$61.3 €54.5
-79.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.01 $3.01
$11.27 €10.03
-73.29%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.76 $0.76
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 $2.04
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.01 $1.01
$3.06 €2.72
-66.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 $0.49
$2.26 €2.01
-78.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 $0.48
$1.73 €1.54
-72.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.39 €3.02
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.40 €3.02
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Isfahan
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.48 $0.48
$1.12 €1.00
-57.14%
White Bread (500g)
$0.46 $0.46
$1.86 €1.65
-75.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.97 $1.97
$1.53 €1.36
28.76%
Eggs
$1.51 $1.51
$3.96 €3.53
-61.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.76 $2.76
$12.76 €11.35
-78.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.42 $2.42
$7.90 €7.02
-69.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.57 $10.57
$16.97 €15.09
-37.71%
Apples (1kg)
$0.76 $0.76
$2.27 €2.02
-66.52%
Banana (1kg)
$1.28 $1.28
$1.75 €1.55
-26.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.05 $1.05
$1.85 €1.64
-43.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.61 $0.61
$2.57 €2.28
-76.26%
Potato (1kg)
$0.61 $0.61
$1.86 €1.65
-67.20%
Onion (1kg)
$0.49 $0.49
$2.02 €1.80
-75.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.59 $0.59
$1.44 €1.28
-59.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.21 $0.21
$0.82 €0.73
-74.39%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$0.52 $0.52
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 $0.51
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 $0.83
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.07 $2.07
$6.56 €5.83
-68.45%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$5.62 €5.00
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.28 €1.14
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.07 €1.84
-
🚌 Getting Around
Isfahan
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 $0.29
$2.35 €2.09
-87.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.52 $12.52
$44.18 €39.30
-71.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.51 $0.51
$3.99 €3.55
-87.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 $0.31
$1.09 €0.97
-71.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.04 $2.04
$16.64 €14.81
-87.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.92 $0.92
$2.28 €2.03
-59.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$67.9K $67.9K
$33.7K €30.0K
101.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$58.5K $58.5K
$39.3K €35.0K
48.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Isfahan
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$10.26 $10.26
$167 €149
-93.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$1.99 $1.99
$18.80 €16.72
-89.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.48 $7.48
$33.09 €29.43
-77.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Isfahan
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$13.64 $13.64
$46.01 €40.93
-70.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.19 $13.19
$19.19 €17.07
-31.27%
Cinema Ticket
$1.02 $1.02
$9.84 €8.75
-89.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Isfahan
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$72.2 $72.2
$677 €602
-89.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$533 $533
$16.9K €15.1K
-96.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Isfahan
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.62 $18.62
$101 €90.1
-81.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.77 $23.77
$45.76 €40.70
-48.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.2 $86.2
$100.0 €88.9
-13.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$37.85 $37.85
$123 €109
-69.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Isfahan
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$289 $289
$1,614 €1,436
-82.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$192 $192
$1,197 €1,065
-83.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,311 $1,311
$2,862 €2,545
-54.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$454 $454
$1,990 €1,770
-77.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,176 $1,176
$7,577 €6,740
-84.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$736 $736
$4,307 €3,831
-82.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Isfahan
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$203 $203
$1,588 €1,412
-87.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
26.8
3.85
596.10%

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

Last update for Isfahan: October 11, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Isfahan
$192
Lisbon
$1.2K 522% $1K
Groceries & Markets
Isfahan
$102
Lisbon
$269 165% $168
Clothing & Footwear
Isfahan
$75
Lisbon
$166 122% $92
Eating Out
Isfahan
$50
Lisbon
$242 389% $193
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Isfahan
$20
Lisbon
$219 1012% $200
Getting Around
Isfahan
$16
Lisbon
$63 300% $47
Sport & Entertainment
Isfahan
$16
Lisbon
$66 319% $50

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $289 in Isfahan versus $1,614 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 682% higher in Lisbon, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $13.00 in Isfahan versus $61.0 in Lisbon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $102 vs $269 – making Isfahan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇷 Isfahan
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🕒 Local time
09:11 9:11 AM
06:41 6:41 AM
2 h 30 min behind Isfahan
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,961,260
545,923 Capital
💱 Currency
USD USD
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – USD Converter

USD exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Isfahan Lisbon 5,430 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Isfahan
  • Lisbon

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Isfahan vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Isfahan or Lisbon?
Lisbon costs about 373% more than Isfahan, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Isfahan and in Lisbon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $705 per month in Isfahan and $3,335 in Lisbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Isfahan or Lisbon?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Isfahan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Isfahan and in Lisbon?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $13.00 in Isfahan and $61.0 in Lisbon. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Isfahan compared to Lisbon?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $470 in Isfahan and $2,223 in Lisbon. That's a gap of about 373%.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Isfahan or in Lisbon?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Isfahan, where all-in costs run around $470, than in Lisbon at $2,223. In Isfahan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Isfahan or Lisbon?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Isfahan costs $470 versus $2,223 in Lisbon. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Isfahan compared to Lisbon?
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.
Should I move to Isfahan or to Lisbon?
If budget matters most, go with Isfahan. 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.

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