Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Alberton Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Alberton

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,087 in Alberton.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,744 in Alberton.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $2,401 in Alberton.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 103% more expensive than Alberton, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Alberton is 19% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Alberton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.69
$8.55 R 139
86.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.7
$33.30 R 541
94.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.04
$4.55 R 73.9
130.99%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$2.12 R 34.47
35.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$1.05 R 17.13
113.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$0.86 R 14.04
74.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.00
$2.30 R 37.43
51.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$2.25 R 36.63
72.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Alberton
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$1.08 R 17.48
5.56%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$1.07 R 17.33
63.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$1.59 R 25.81
10.69%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$2.16 R 35.06
49.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.61
$7.75 R 126
74.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$4.68 R 76.0
69.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.65
$5.93 R 96.4
167.62%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$1.49 R 24.29
55.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$1.62 R 26.27
4.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$1.54 R 25.03
30.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$1.58 R 25.61
55.70%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$1.14 R 18.58
61.40%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$1.18 R 19.16
69.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$1.10 R 17.88
75.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$0.84 R 13.71
-5.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.68
$2.88 R 46.77
129.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.92
$3.16 R 51.4
81.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.17
$1.16 R 18.90
18.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$1.29 R 21.04
130.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Alberton
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$2.83 R 45.95
-16.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.19
$110 R 1,792
-58.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$1.38 R 22.46
210.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$1.37 R 22.22
-40.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.74
$3.04 R 49.39
501.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$1.23 R 19.93
67.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$19.3K R 313.5K
77.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$26.2K R 425.3K
50.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Alberton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$124 R 2,016
19.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.65
$37.84 R 615
-45.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.08
$38.87 R 632
1.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Alberton
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.16
$37.84 R 615
26.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.28
$13.73 R 223
37.80%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.90
$5.44 R 88.4
68.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Alberton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €528
$138 R 2,238
345.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$1,659 R 27.0K
867.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Alberton
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.0
$49.24 R 800
112.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.18
$30.17 R 490
39.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.8
$87.9 R 1,428
6.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$90.2 R 1,466
32.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Alberton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,400
$403 R 6,549
303.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,080
$313 R 5,082
301.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,607
$852 R 13.8K
255.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,738
$694 R 11.3K
190.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,709
$748 R 12.2K
943.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,675
$625 R 10.2K
584.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Alberton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,379
$2,148 R 34.9K
-25.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
11.69
-67.41%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Alberton: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $403 in Alberton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Alberton pays 34% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $33.00 in Alberton for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $167 per month, with Alberton 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
Lisbon vs Alberton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Alberton cheaper than Lisbon?
Alberton is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 103% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or Alberton?
On paper, Alberton earns 34% 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 Lisbon and Alberton?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $403 in Alberton. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Lisbon and Alberton?
Supermarket bills run roughly 61% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Lisbon or Alberton?
Dining out is cheaper in Alberton – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $65.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Lisbon or Alberton?
At $1,087 in Alberton versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Alberton but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Alberton the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisbon or Alberton more family-friendly?
For families, Alberton 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, Lisbon or Alberton?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Alberton 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 Alberton gentler on the wallet – expenses run 103% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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