Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Alga Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Alga

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $717 in Alga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,158 in Alga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $1,599 in Alga.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 208% more expensive than Alga, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Alga is 46% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Alga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.80
$7.77 ₸3,776
104.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €56.2
$27.29 ₸13.3K
137.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.12
$6.67 ₸3,240
57.57%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.49
$1.82 ₸886
57.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.95
$0.93 ₸452
140.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.30
$0.52 ₸254
188.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.03
$1.14 ₸556
206.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.37
$1.88 ₸913
106.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Alga
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.99
$1.09 ₸531
4.59%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.52
$0.41 ₸200
326.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.52
$1.41 ₸687
24.82%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.79
$1.52 ₸737
111.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.70
$8.73 ₸4,239
54.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.87
$4.57 ₸2,222
73.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.77
$7.27 ₸3,531
118.29%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €2.00
$1.33 ₸647
73.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.48
$1.89 ₸918
-10.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.74
$1.93 ₸936
4.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.13
$1.91 ₸930
28.80%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.60
$0.58 ₸282
217.24%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.74
$0.40 ₸195
400.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.67
$0.99 ₸480
94.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$0.73 ₸353
8.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.73
$1.97 ₸958
235.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.97
$7.30 ₸3,548
-21.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.18
$0.92 ₸448
48.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.58
$1.54 ₸748
92.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Alga
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.06
$0.19 ₸94.2
1147.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.52
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.72
$0.93 ₸453
361.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.71
$0.63 ₸304
30.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.88
$4.78 ₸2,321
282.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.79
$0.47 ₸227
338.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.7K
$19.8K ₸9.6M
73.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €34.1K
$24.5K ₸11.9M
60.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Alga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €128
$51.0 ₸24.8K
190.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.80
$8.50 ₸4,130
141.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.37
$12.87 ₸6,250
207.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Alga
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.51
$32.57 ₸15.8K
46.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.42
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.97
$4.36 ₸2,118
110.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Alga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €533
$210 ₸102.1K
192.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.9K
$4,962 ₸2.4M
223.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Alga
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.8
$57.1 ₸27.7K
83.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.49
$34.88 ₸16.9K
20.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €81.5
$89.3 ₸43.4K
5.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €104
$77.8 ₸37.8K
53.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Alga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,412
$315 ₸152.8K
417.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,089
$206 ₸100.2K
508.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,629
$516 ₸250.6K
487.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,753
$383 ₸186.2K
427.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,766
$1,012 ₸491.5K
670.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,707
$819 ₸397.7K
421.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Alga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,391
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
18.39
-79.28%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Alga: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $315 in Alga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $27.00 in Alga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $170 per month, with Alga 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 Alga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Alga?
Alga wins on cost – living expenses run 208% lower than in Lisbon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Alga the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Lisbon vs Alga?
You'd need roughly $3,315 in Lisbon and $1,076 in Alga 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lisbon vs Alga?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $315 in Alga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Lisbon or Alga?
Supermarket bills run roughly 58% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Lisbon compared to Alga?
All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $717 in Alga – a 208% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Lisbon or Alga?
At $717 in Alga versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Alga but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Alga the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Alga?
Both work as nomad bases, but Alga delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $717 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Alga hard to pass up.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Alga?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Alga 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Alga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 208% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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