😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $894 in Alexandria.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $1,431 in Alexandria.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $1,967 in Alexandria.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 156% more expensive than in Alexandria, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Alexandria is 33% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Alexandria
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.18
$7.64JMD 1,206
111.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.5
$63.5JMD 10.0K
-0.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.04
$8.82JMD 1,392
17.01%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$4.31JMD 679
-34.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.01
$1.30JMD 206
76.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$0.70JMD 111
125.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$2.46JMD 388
38.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.53
$3.15JMD 497
27.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Alexandria
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.96
$4.20JMD 663
-74.05%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$3.63JMD 573
-51.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.62JMD 255
8.64%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$3.57JMD 563
-11.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.56
$11.13JMD 1,756
18.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.98
$6.31JMD 995
26.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.60
$7.49JMD 1,182
107.34%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$6.16JMD 972
-61.53%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$3.09JMD 488
-44.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$4.27JMD 674
-52.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$2.95JMD 465
-17.63%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$2.10JMD 332
-16.19%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$1.93JMD 305
5.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$3.00JMD 474
-36.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$1.45JMD 229
-41.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$8.85JMD 1,396
-25.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.89
$11.40JMD 1,799
-51.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$2.81JMD 443
-52.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$3.20JMD 505
-7.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Alexandria
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.10
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$1.08JMD 171
291.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$3.21JMD 507
-74.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.15
$6.11JMD 963
201.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$1.23JMD 194
69.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.4K
$43.7KJMD 6.9M
-20.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$33.8KJMD 5.3M
15.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Alexandria
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$162JMD 25.5K
-8.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.92
$21.86JMD 3,449
-6.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.64
$50.5JMD 7,960
-21.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Alexandria
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€42.03
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.29
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.08
$13.21JMD 2,084
-30.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Alexandria
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€540
$227JMD 35.9K
170.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$2,437JMD 384.6K
574.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Alexandria
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€90.0
$25.71JMD 4,057
299.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.55
$26.05JMD 4,111
60.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€83.0
$72.1JMD 11.4K
31.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$76.1JMD 12.0K
60.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Alexandria
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,430
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,079
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,713
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,779
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,858
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,844
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Alexandria
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,408
-
-
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: July 14, 2026
Last update for Alexandria: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $64.0 in Alexandria for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $351 per month, with Lisbon 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 Alexandria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Alexandria?
Lisbon and Alexandria differ by about 156% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $894 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 $3,437 in Lisbon and $1,342 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 $616 in Lisbon versus $227 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 $64.0 versus $63.0 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 $894 in Alexandria versus $2,291 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 156% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.