Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Arima

For one person, living is cheaper in Arima: $1,273 a month against $2,210 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $11,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lisbon, Portugal
Arima, Trinidad And Tobago
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,210
/mo nomad
Arima
🇹🇹 Trinidad And Tobago
$1,273
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Arima

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lisbon and in Arima actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,210 per month in Lisbon vs $1,273 in Arima, rent included.

  • Lisbon $2,210
  • Arima $1,273

A couple spends around $3,275 per month in Lisbon vs $2,161 in Arima, rent included.

  • Lisbon $3,275
  • Arima $2,161

A family of three spends $4,341 per month in Lisbon vs $3,049 in Arima, rent included.

  • Lisbon $4,341
  • Arima $3,049

Lisbon costs about 74% more than Arima, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Lisbon sits 62% above the global median, while Arima is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Arima
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.65 €14.91
$10.24 TTD 68.7
62.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.7 €55.3
$74.8 TTD 502
-17.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.36 €10.17
$8.91 TTD 59.8
27.50%
Cappuccino
$2.97 €2.66
$3.63 TTD 24.34
-18.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.05
$1.04 TTD 6.96
120.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.56
$0.72 TTD 4.84
141.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 €3.05
$1.81 TTD 12.15
87.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 €2.96
$2.91 TTD 19.53
13.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Arima
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.16 €1.04
$2.39 TTD 16.05
-51.46%
White Bread (500g)
$1.91 €1.71
$2.44 TTD 16.40
-21.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 €1.35
$2.80 TTD 18.78
-46.07%
Eggs
$4.02 €3.60
$4.41 TTD 29.56
-8.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.94 €11.59
$6.49 TTD 43.52
99.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.77 €6.96
$6.67 TTD 44.76
16.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.76 €15.91
$9.20 TTD 61.8
93.04%
Apples (1kg)
$2.30 €2.06
$5.38 TTD 36.08
-57.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 €1.55
$2.24 TTD 15.06
-22.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.86 €1.66
$3.61 TTD 24.23
-48.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.59 €2.32
$4.77 TTD 32.02
-45.70%
Potato (1kg)
$1.82 €1.63
$1.34 TTD 8.96
35.82%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 €1.76
$1.03 TTD 6.89
91.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.47 €1.32
$1.36 TTD 9.14
8.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 €0.65
$0.96 TTD 6.48
-25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58 €5.90
$4.76 TTD 31.95
38.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.61 €5.02
$19.44 TTD 130
-71.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 €1.22
$1.83 TTD 12.28
-25.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 €1.91
$3.10 TTD 20.79
-30.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Arima
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.33 €2.09
$1.04 TTD 6.99
124.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.68 €40.01
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.85 €3.45
$0.72 TTD 4.84
434.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.07 €0.96
$0.71 TTD 4.73
50.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.46 €14.74
$15.02 TTD 101
9.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.20 €1.97
$1.13 TTD 7.57
94.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2K €30.6K
$27.4K TTD 183.9K
24.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K €34.7K
$36.4K TTD 244.1K
6.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Arima
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$161 €144
$91.2 TTD 612
76.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.41 €16.49
$44.14 TTD 296
-58.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.74 €29.32
$55.5 TTD 372
-41.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Arima
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.55 €39.90
$51.5 TTD 345
-13.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10 €17.10
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.60 €8.60
$8.61 TTD 57.8
11.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Arima
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$668 €598
$180 TTD 1,211
269.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.6K €15.8K
$10.7K TTD 72.1K
63.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Arima
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 €91.4
$62.5 TTD 419
63.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.46 €39.82
$43.47 TTD 292
2.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.5 €88.2
$144 TTD 969
-31.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €111
$72.7 TTD 488
70.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Arima
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,608 €1,440
$510 TTD 3,422
215.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,190 €1,066
$372 TTD 2,495
220.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,812 €2,519
$1,048 TTD 7,030
168.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,013 €1,803
$895 TTD 6,007
124.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,839 €7,021
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,576 €4,098
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Arima
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,575 €1,411
$1,200 TTD 8,052
31.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
5.75
-33.04%

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

Last update for Lisbon: October 27, 2026

Last update for Arima: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Arima
$372 68.8% $818
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$272
Arima
$314 15.1% $41
Eating Out
Lisbon
$243
Arima
$174 28.2% $69
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$212
Arima
$191 10.1% $21
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$166
Arima
$145 12.4% $21
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$64
Arima
$69 7.8% $4.9
Getting Around
Lisbon
$63
Arima
$8.4 * 86.7% $55

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,608 in Lisbon versus $510 in Arima. 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 31% 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 $62 in Lisbon versus $75 in Arima. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $272 vs $314 – making Lisbon the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇹🇹 Arima
🕒 Local time
01:40 1:40 AM
21:40 9:40 PM
4 h behind Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
35,000
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

TTD, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Trinidad and Tobago Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 6.71 TTD (1 TTD = 0.149 USD). 1 EUR = 7.49 TTD (1 TTD = 0.133 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Arima 6,020 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Arima

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Arima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Arima?
Lisbon costs about 74% more than Arima, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. 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 Arima?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,315 per month in Lisbon and $1,909 in Arima. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Lisbon or Arima?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Arima, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $510 there versus $1,608 in Lisbon.
How much does it cost to live in Lisbon compared to Arima?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,210 in Lisbon and $1,273 in Arima. That makes Arima about 42% cheaper.
How do childcare costs compare in Lisbon and in Arima?
Kindergarten costs $668 per month in Lisbon and $180 in Arima. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Lisbon or in Arima?
$1,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,210 in Lisbon and $1,273 in Arima. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Arima – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Lisbon or to Arima?
If budget matters most, go with Arima. If higher salaries 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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