Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Beliลกฤ‡e Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Beliลกฤ‡e

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,213 in Beliลกฤ‡e.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,820 in Beliลกฤ‡e.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $2,427 in Beliลกฤ‡e.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 82% more expensive than Beliลกฤ‡e, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Beliลกฤ‡e is 9% below.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Lisbon
Beliลกฤ‡e
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 โ‚ฌ13.69
$8.27 โ‚ฌ7.11
92.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 โ‚ฌ55.7
$40.47 โ‚ฌ34.81
60.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 โ‚ฌ9.04
$6.92 โ‚ฌ5.95
51.88%
Cappuccino
$2.87 โ‚ฌ2.47
$2.14 โ‚ฌ1.84
34.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 โ‚ฌ1.93
$2.26 โ‚ฌ1.95
-0.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 โ‚ฌ1.29
$2.09 โ‚ฌ1.79
-28.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 โ‚ฌ3.00
$2.35 โ‚ฌ2.02
48.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 โ‚ฌ3.34
$2.37 โ‚ฌ2.04
63.71%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Beliลกฤ‡e
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 โ‚ฌ0.98
$0.91 โ‚ฌ0.78
25.27%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 โ‚ฌ1.51
$0.66 โ‚ฌ0.57
165.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 โ‚ฌ1.51
$2.82 โ‚ฌ2.43
-37.59%
Eggs
$3.22 โ‚ฌ2.77
$3.14 โ‚ฌ2.70
2.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 โ‚ฌ11.61
$10.84 โ‚ฌ9.32
24.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 โ‚ฌ6.81
$7.65 โ‚ฌ6.58
3.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 โ‚ฌ13.65
$11.29 โ‚ฌ9.71
40.57%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 โ‚ฌ1.99
$1.18 โ‚ฌ1.02
95.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 โ‚ฌ1.46
$1.37 โ‚ฌ1.18
24.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 โ‚ฌ1.73
$1.60 โ‚ฌ1.38
25.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 โ‚ฌ2.12
$2.52 โ‚ฌ2.17
-2.38%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 โ‚ฌ1.59
$0.91 โ‚ฌ0.78
102.20%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 โ‚ฌ1.72
$1.22 โ‚ฌ1.05
63.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 โ‚ฌ1.66
$1.22 โ‚ฌ1.05
58.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 โ‚ฌ0.68
$0.95 โ‚ฌ0.82
-16.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 โ‚ฌ5.68
$5.67 โ‚ฌ4.88
16.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 โ‚ฌ4.92
$7.77 โ‚ฌ6.69
-26.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 โ‚ฌ1.17
$1.19 โ‚ฌ1.02
15.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 โ‚ฌ2.56
$2.02 โ‚ฌ1.74
47.03%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Lisbon
Beliลกฤ‡e
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 โ‚ฌ2.04
$1.69 โ‚ฌ1.46
40.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 โ‚ฌ39.19
$42.34 โ‚ฌ36.42
7.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 โ‚ฌ3.69
$3.81 โ‚ฌ3.28
12.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 โ‚ฌ0.70
$1.10 โ‚ฌ0.95
-25.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 โ‚ฌ15.74
$5.71 โ‚ฌ4.91
220.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 โ‚ฌ1.78
$1.66 โ‚ฌ1.42
24.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K โ‚ฌ29.5K
$32.6K โ‚ฌ28.0K
5.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K โ‚ฌ33.8K
$26.5K โ‚ฌ22.8K
48.20%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Beliลกฤ‡e
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 โ‚ฌ127
$124 โ‚ฌ107
19.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 โ‚ฌ17.65
$18.07 โ‚ฌ15.54
13.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 โ‚ฌ34.08
$26.21 โ‚ฌ22.55
51.13%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Beliลกฤ‡e
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 โ‚ฌ41.16
$25.53 โ‚ฌ21.96
87.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 โ‚ฌ16.28
$14.98 โ‚ฌ12.88
26.30%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 โ‚ฌ7.90
$5.26 โ‚ฌ4.53
74.52%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Beliลกฤ‡e
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 โ‚ฌ528
$345 โ‚ฌ297
77.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K โ‚ฌ13.8K
$2,799 โ‚ฌ2,407
473.45%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Beliลกฤ‡e
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 โ‚ฌ90.0
$123 โ‚ฌ106
-14.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 โ‚ฌ36.18
$43.74 โ‚ฌ37.62
-3.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 โ‚ฌ80.8
$46.48 โ‚ฌ39.98
102.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 โ‚ฌ103
$57.4 โ‚ฌ49.33
108.65%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Beliลกฤ‡e
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 โ‚ฌ1,400
$191 โ‚ฌ164
752.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 โ‚ฌ1,080
$464 โ‚ฌ399
170.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 โ‚ฌ2,607
$347 โ‚ฌ298
774.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 โ‚ฌ1,738
$771 โ‚ฌ663
161.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 โ‚ฌ6,709
$4,078 โ‚ฌ3,508
91.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 โ‚ฌ3,675
$1,241 โ‚ฌ1,067
244.39%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Beliลกฤ‡e
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 โ‚ฌ1,379
$1,884 โ‚ฌ1,621
-14.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
3.2
19.06%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Beliลกฤ‡e: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $191 in Beliลกฤ‡e. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Beliลกฤ‡e pays 17% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $40.00 in Beliลกฤ‡e for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $224 per month, with Beliลกฤ‡e 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 Beliลกฤ‡e: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Beliลกฤ‡e?
Lisbon and Beliลกฤ‡e differ by about 82% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $1,213 including rent). Beliลกฤ‡e is meaningfully more affordable โ€“ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Beliลกฤ‡e earns 17% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Beliลกฤ‡e?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $191 in Beliลกฤ‡e. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lisbon and Beliลกฤ‡e?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $345 in Beliลกฤ‡e. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 20% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,213 in Beliลกฤ‡e versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Beliลกฤ‡e but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Beliลกฤ‡e the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Beliลกฤ‡e?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ€“ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Lisbon or Beliลกฤ‡e safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Beliลกฤ‡e are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Lisbon or Beliลกฤ‡e?
Expats usually find Beliลกฤ‡e gentler on the wallet โ€“ expenses run 82% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Lisbon vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities