😐A single person spends $2,210 per month in Lisbon vs $1,410 in Argostoli, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,311 per month in Lisbon vs $2,106 in Argostoli, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,411 per month in Lisbon vs $2,803 in Argostoli, rent included.
😐Lisbon costs about 57% more than Argostoli, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Lisbon and Argostoli sit above the global median – Lisbon by 65%, Argostoli by 5%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Argostoli
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.69
$11.66€10.03
36.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.7
$56.1€48.22
15.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.04
$8.91€7.67
17.96%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$3.78€3.25
-24.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$1.66€1.43
34.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$0.55€0.48
172.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.00
$4.75€4.08
-26.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$4.62€3.97
-16.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Argostoli
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.69€1.45
-32.54%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$1.33€1.14
31.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$2.26€1.94
-22.12%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$4.05€3.48
-20.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$11.24€9.67
20.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$8.81€7.57
-10.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.65
$13.82€11.89
14.83%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$2.24€1.92
3.12%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$2.52€2.17
-32.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.71€1.47
17.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$2.57€2.21
-4.28%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$1.26€1.08
46.03%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$1.28€1.10
56.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$0.95€0.82
103.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$1.21€1.04
-34.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.68
$6.23€5.36
6.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.92
$6.50€5.59
-12.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.17
$2.38€2.04
-42.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$3.79€3.26
-21.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Argostoli
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$1.58€1.35
50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.19
$45.87€39.46
-0.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$4.02€3.45
6.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$1.06€0.91
-22.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.74
$11.42€9.82
60.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$2.07€1.78
-0.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$31.6K€27.2K
8.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$25.5K€21.9K
54.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Argostoli
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$220€189
-32.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.65
$22.32€19.20
-8.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.08
$32.44€27.91
22.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Argostoli
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.16
$47.54€40.90
0.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.28
$25.72€22.12
-26.44%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.90
$9.03€7.77
1.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Argostoli
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€528
$524€451
17.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$6,523€5,611
146.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Argostoli
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.0
$66.1€56.8
58.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.18
$32.76€28.18
28.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.8
$69.0€59.3
36.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$106€90.8
13.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Argostoli
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,400
$506€436
221.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,080
$396€340
217.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,607
$773€665
292.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,738
$615€529
228.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,709
$3,088€2,656
152.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,675
$2,543€2,187
68.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Argostoli
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,379
-
-
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Argostoli: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,628 in Lisbon versus $506 in Argostoli. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Lisbon versus $56.0 in Argostoli. Groceries tell a different story – $269 in Lisbon vs $278 in Argostoli – so Lisbon wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Argostoli: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Argostoli cheaper than Lisbon?
Yes – Lisbon is pricier by about 57%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,315 per month in Lisbon and $2,115 in Argostoli. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Argostoli, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Lisbon and Argostoli?
Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in Lisbon – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is eating out cheaper in Lisbon or Argostoli?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Lisbon and $56.0 in Argostoli. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Lisbon or Argostoli?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Argostoli, where all-in costs run around $1,410, than in Lisbon at $2,210. In Argostoli it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Lisbon or Argostoli more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Argostoli – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Argostoli?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Argostoli. 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.