😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $1,588 in Alcala de Guadaira.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $2,365 in Alcala de Guadaira.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $3,141 in Alcala de Guadaira.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 40% more expensive than Alcala de Guadaira, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon66% above, Alcala de Guadaira19% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Alcala de Guadaira
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.84
$13.83€11.84
16.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.3
$58.1€49.72
11.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.88
$10.56€9.04
-1.70%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.37
$2.24€1.91
23.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$2.04€1.75
10.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$1.66€1.42
-5.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€2.99
$2.34€2.00
49.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.43
$3.54€3.03
12.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Alcala de Guadaira
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.15€0.98
-6.09%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.49
$1.55€1.32
12.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.49
$1.76€1.51
-1.14%
Eggs
$3.18€2.72
$3.42€2.93
-7.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43€11.50
$13.57€11.62
-1.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.84
$9.46€8.09
-15.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€13.77
$17.02€14.57
-5.46%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
$2.38€2.04
-4.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$1.78€1.52
-3.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$1.07€0.92
81.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
$1.87€1.60
35.83%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$1.77€1.51
3.39%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$1.22€1.04
67.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98€1.69
$1.11€0.95
78.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$0.61€0.52
39.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.87
$6.54€5.60
4.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€4.94
$5.97€5.11
-3.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$1.38€1.18
-0.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
$2.15€1.84
34.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Alcala de Guadaira
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.95
$1.64€1.41
39.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€40.10
$34.34€29.40
36.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.49
$2.25€1.92
81.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$1.06€0.90
-22.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27€15.64
$14.03€12.01
30.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.72
$1.83€1.57
9.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.2K
$38.2K€32.7K
-7.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
$29.5K€25.3K
30.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Alcala de Guadaira
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145€124
$118€101
22.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96€17.94
$23.59€20.19
-11.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05€34.29
$36.62€31.35
9.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Alcala de Guadaira
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79€41.76
$47.95€41.05
1.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€16.00
$15.27€13.07
22.40%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06€7.76
$9.02€7.72
0.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Alcala de Guadaira
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607€519
$392€335
54.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$6,517€5,579
150.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Alcala de Guadaira
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.6
$86.1€73.7
21.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€35.06
$41.00€35.09
-0.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€80.1
$75.5€64.6
24.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€101
$108€92.2
10.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Alcala de Guadaira
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,373
$855€732
87.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,058
$698€597
77.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046€2,607
$1,326€1,135
129.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057€1,761
$1,013€867
103.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709€6,599
$3,464€2,965
122.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,652
$2,353€2,014
81.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Alcala de Guadaira
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584€1,356
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
3.51
8.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Last update for Alcala de Guadaira: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $855 in Alcala de Guadaira. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $58.0 in Alcala de Guadaira for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $265 per month, with Alcala de Guadaira 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 Alcala de Guadaira: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Alcala de Guadaira?
Lisbon and Alcala de Guadaira differ by about 40% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $1,588 including rent). Alcala de Guadaira is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Alcala de Guadaira?
You'd need roughly $3,341 in Lisbon and $2,382 in Alcala de Guadaira to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Alcala de Guadaira?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $855 in Alcala de Guadaira. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Alcala de Guadaira – a meal for two runs $58.0 versus $65.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,588 in Alcala de Guadaira versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Alcala de Guadaira but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Alcala de Guadaira the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Alcala de Guadaira?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Lisbon or Alcala de Guadaira safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Alcala de Guadaira are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Lisbon or Alcala de Guadaira?
Expats usually find Alcala de Guadaira gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.