Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Argos Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Argos

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,291 per month in Lisbon vs $1,290 in Argos, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,322 per month in Lisbon vs $1,854 in Argos, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,354 per month in Lisbon vs $2,418 in Argos, rent included.

Lisbon costs about 78% more than Argos, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Lisbon sits 71% above the global median, while Argos is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Argos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19 €14.17
$11.40 €9.98
42.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3 €55.4
$37.01 €32.38
71.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.32 €9.03
$7.95 €6.96
29.81%
Cappuccino
$2.83 €2.48
$2.60 €2.28
8.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.00
$1.66 €1.45
37.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 €1.38
$0.57 €0.49
177.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 €2.98
$2.95 €2.58
15.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03 €3.52
$3.50 €3.06
15.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Argos
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 €0.95
$1.31 €1.15
-16.79%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.53
$1.36 €1.19
28.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$1.66 €1.45
6.02%
Eggs
$3.17 €2.77
$3.50 €3.06
-9.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.19 €11.54
$11.27 €9.86
17.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.97 €6.97
$6.52 €5.70
22.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.53 €13.59
$9.07 €7.94
71.22%
Apples (1kg)
$2.37 €2.07
$1.47 €1.29
61.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 €1.49
$1.83 €1.60
-6.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.76
$0.89 €0.78
125.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.43 €2.13
$1.95 €1.71
24.62%
Potato (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$1.01 €0.89
74.26%
Onion (1kg)
$2.03 €1.78
$1.13 €0.99
79.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.92 €1.68
$0.89 €0.78
115.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.74
$0.60 €0.53
41.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58 €5.76
$4.94 €4.32
33.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.58 €4.88
$5.71 €4.99
-2.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.17
$2.11 €1.85
-36.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.60
$3.84 €3.36
-22.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Argos
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €1.99
$1.60 €1.40
42.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.79 €40.06
$47.03 €41.15
-2.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.23 €3.70
$4.03 €3.52
4.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 €0.71
$1.03 €0.90
-21.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.44 €16.13
$11.72 €10.25
57.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.08 €1.82
$2.04 €1.78
1.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K €30.3K
$32.3K €28.2K
7.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K €34.3K
$24.8K €21.7K
58.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Argos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €130
$186 €163
-20.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46 €17.90
$22.33 €19.54
-8.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56 €34.61
$33.26 €29.10
18.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Argos
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.99 €41.99
$58.1 €50.9
-17.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60 €16.27
$25.68 €22.47
-27.57%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22 €8.07
$9.69 €8.48
-4.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Argos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$616 €539
$508 €445
21.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.4K €14.4K
$6,392 €5,592
157.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Argos
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 €89.9
$63.7 €55.7
61.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74 €36.52
$32.72 €28.63
27.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.8 €82.9
$68.4 €59.8
38.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 €107
$58.7 €51.4
107.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Argos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,633 €1,428
$492 €431
231.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,232 €1,078
$389 €340
216.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,098 €2,711
$787 €689
293.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,031 €1,777
$605 €530
235.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,831 €6,851
$2,558 €2,238
206.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,389 €3,840
$2,667 €2,333
64.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Argos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,607 €1,406
$734 €642
118.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
4.42
-13.80%

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

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Last update for Argos: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,633 in Lisbon versus $492 in Argos. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 119% higher in Lisbon, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Lisbon versus $37.00 in Argos. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $267 vs $218 – making Argos the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Argos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Argos?
Lisbon costs about 78% more than Argos, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Lisbon and in Argos?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,437 per month in Lisbon and $1,935 in Argos. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Lisbon or Argos?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Argos, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Lisbon compared to Argos?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,291 in Lisbon and $1,290 in Argos. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Lisbon compared to Argos?
Public transport costs about 3% less in Argos. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Lisbon or in Argos?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Argos, where all-in costs run around $1,290, than in Lisbon at $2,291. In Argos it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Argos?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Argos costs $1,290 versus $2,291 in Lisbon. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Argos?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Lisbon or to Argos?
If budget matters most, go with Argos. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lisbon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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