Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Aja Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Aja

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,210 per month in Lisbon vs $458 in Aja, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,311 per month in Lisbon vs $744 in Aja, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,411 per month in Lisbon vs $1,029 in Aja, rent included.

Lisbon costs about 383% more than Aja, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Lisbon sits 65% above the global median, while Aja is 66% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Aja
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.70
$3.63 E£188
338.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.8
$15.93 E£827
306.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.05
$4.66 E£242
125.54%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$1.43 E£74.4
100.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$0.31 E£16.17
622.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.30
$0.10 E£4.97
1400.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.01
$1.20 E£62.5
190.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$3.05 E£158
27.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Aja
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$0.91 E£47.32
25.27%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$0.62 E£32.40
182.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$0.65 E£33.56
170.77%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$1.45 E£75.5
122.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.62
$3.40 E£177
296.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$4.36 E£226
81.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.67
$8.78 E£456
80.75%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$1.43 E£74.4
61.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$0.59 E£30.49
188.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$0.39 E£20.30
415.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$0.37 E£19.10
564.86%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$0.38 E£19.49
384.21%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$0.40 E£20.93
400.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$0.24 E£12.52
704.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$0.18 E£9.22
338.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.69
$2.00 E£104
230.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.93
$6.36 E£330
-10.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.18
$1.35 E£70.1
1.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$1.86 E£96.7
59.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Aja
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$0.20 E£10.52
1085.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.23
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$0.42 E£21.72
921.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$0.29 E£14.86
182.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.76
$2.02 E£105
805.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$0.31 E£15.85
564.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$35.6K E£1.8M
-3.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$33.8K E£1.8M
16.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Aja
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$11.90 E£618
1142.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.67
$6.44 E£334
218.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.11
$10.67 E£554
271.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Aja
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.20
$22.13 E£1,148
116.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.29
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.91
$2.97 E£154
209.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Aja
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €529
$89.4 E£4,640
586.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$1,825 E£94.7K
779.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Aja
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.1
$27.84 E£1,445
275.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.22
$49.14 E£2,551
-14.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.9
$107 E£5,544
-12.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$50.2 E£2,604
138.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Aja
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,402
$191 E£9,930
750.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,081
$101 E£5,264
1137.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,609
$308 E£16.0K
884.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,740
$177 E£9,162
1044.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,716
$794 E£41.2K
881.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,679
$410 E£21.3K
941.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Aja
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,381
$313 E£16.2K
412.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
16.67
-77.14%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Aja: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,628 in Lisbon versus $191 in Aja. 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 413% 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 $65.0 in Lisbon versus $16.00 in Aja. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $269 vs $124 – making Aja the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Lisbon vs Aja: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Aja?
Lisbon costs about 383% more than Aja, with the gap driven mainly by 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 Lisbon vs Aja?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,315 per month in Lisbon and $687 in Aja. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Lisbon or Aja?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Aja, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Lisbon compared to Aja?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,210 in Lisbon and $458 in Aja. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Lisbon and Aja?
Kindergarten costs $614 per month in Lisbon and $89.4 in Aja. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Lisbon or Aja?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Aja, where all-in costs run around $458, than in Lisbon at $2,210. In Aja it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Aja?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Aja costs $458 versus $2,210 in Lisbon. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Aja?
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 Lisbon or Aja?
If budget matters most, go with Aja. 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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