Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Arue Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Arue

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $1,062 in Arue.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $1,574 in Arue.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $2,087 in Arue.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 116% more expensive than in Arue, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Arue is 21% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.19 €14.17

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.3 €55.4

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.32 €9.03

Cappuccino

$2.83 €2.48

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 €2.00

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 €1.38

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.40 €2.98

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 €3.52

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 €0.95

$1.39 CFPF 144

-21.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.75 €1.53

$4.83 CFPF 502

-63.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 €1.54

$3.95 CFPF 411

-55.44%

Eggs

$3.17 €2.77

$11.60 CFPF 1,207

-72.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.19 €11.54

$57.4 CFPF 5,974

-77.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.97 €6.97

$27.36 CFPF 2,847

-70.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.53 €13.59

$24.70 CFPF 2,570

-37.13%

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 €2.07

$5.57 CFPF 580

-57.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 €1.49

$2.85 CFPF 296

-40.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 €1.76

$7.86 CFPF 818

-74.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.43 €2.13

$8.92 CFPF 928

-72.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.76 €1.54

$4.38 CFPF 456

-59.82%

Onion (1kg)

$2.03 €1.78

$2.87 CFPF 298

-29.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.92 €1.68

$3.81 CFPF 396

-49.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 €0.74

$1.41 CFPF 147

-39.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.58 €5.76

$12.06 CFPF 1,255

-45.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.58 €4.88

$28.67 CFPF 2,983

-80.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 €1.17

$2.98 CFPF 311

-55.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 €2.60

$7.75 CFPF 806

-61.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.28 €1.99

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.79 €40.06

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.23 €3.70

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 €0.71

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.44 €16.13

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.08 €1.82

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.7K €30.3K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$39.2K €34.3K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$148 €130

$164 CFPF 17.1K

-9.81%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$20.46 €17.90

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.56 €34.61

$125 CFPF 13.0K

-68.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.99 €41.99

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.60 €16.27

Cinema Ticket

$9.22 €8.07

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$616 €539

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.4K €14.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$103 €89.9

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.74 €36.52

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.8 €82.9

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 €107

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,633 €1,428

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,232 €1,078

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,098 €2,711

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,031 €1,777

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,831 €6,851

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,389 €3,840

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,607 €1,406

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.81

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

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Last update for Arue: July 11, 2026

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 Arue: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arue wins on cost – living expenses run 116% lower than in Lisbon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Arue the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $3,437 in Lisbon and $1,593 in Arue 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.

Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 187% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $2,291 per month in Lisbon versus $1,062 in Arue – a 116% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,062 in Arue versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Arue but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Arue the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Arue delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,062 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Arue hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Lisbon and Arue are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Arue gentler on the wallet – expenses run 116% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.