😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $884 in Alexandria.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,450 in Alexandria.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $2,015 in Alexandria.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 150% more expensive than Alexandria, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Alexandria is 34% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Alexandria
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.69
$7.32JMD 1,147
117.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.7
$61.7JMD 9,669
4.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.04
$8.78JMD 1,376
19.70%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$4.40JMD 689
-34.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$1.36JMD 213
64.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$0.72JMD 112
108.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.00
$2.43JMD 380
43.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$3.05JMD 478
27.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Alexandria
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$4.24JMD 665
-73.11%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$3.62JMD 568
-51.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$1.55JMD 243
13.55%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$3.46JMD 543
-6.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$10.89JMD 1,706
23.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$6.30JMD 988
25.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.65
$7.49JMD 1,174
111.88%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$6.05JMD 948
-61.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$3.02JMD 473
-43.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$4.15JMD 650
-51.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$3.06JMD 480
-19.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$2.10JMD 329
-12.38%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$1.93JMD 303
3.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$3.11JMD 488
-37.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$1.49JMD 234
-46.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.68
$8.69JMD 1,361
-23.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.92
$11.55JMD 1,809
-50.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.17
$2.85JMD 447
-51.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$3.05JMD 478
-2.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Alexandria
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.19
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$1.12JMD 175
283.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$3.20JMD 501
-74.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.74
$6.11JMD 957
199.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$1.23JMD 192
67.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$43.3KJMD 6.8M
-20.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$33.0KJMD 5.2M
19.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Alexandria
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$161JMD 25.3K
-8.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.65
$22.32JMD 3,497
-8.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.08
$51.2JMD 8,016
-22.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Alexandria
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.16
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.28
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.90
$13.40JMD 2,100
-31.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Alexandria
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€528
$229JMD 35.9K
167.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$2,485JMD 389.3K
545.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Alexandria
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.0
$25.84JMD 4,049
305.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.18
$25.62JMD 4,014
64.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.8
$71.5JMD 11.2K
31.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$76.2JMD 11.9K
57.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Alexandria
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,400
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,080
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,607
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,738
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,709
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,675
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Alexandria
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,379
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
9.15
-58.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Alexandria: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $62.0 in Alexandria. Groceries flip the comparison at $269 vs $350, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.
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 Alexandria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Alexandria?
Lisbon and Alexandria differ by about 150% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $884 including rent). Alexandria 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 Alexandria?
You'd need roughly $3,315 in Lisbon and $1,326 in Alexandria 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.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lisbon and Alexandria?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $229 in Alexandria. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Alexandria – a meal for two runs $62.0 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 $884 in Alexandria versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Alexandria but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Alexandria the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Alexandria?
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 Alexandria safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Alexandria 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 Alexandria?
Expats usually find Alexandria gentler on the wallet – expenses run 150% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.