😐A single person spends $2,280 per month in Lisbon vs $647 in Ben Arous, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,294 per month in Lisbon vs $1,063 in Ben Arous, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,307 per month in Lisbon vs $1,479 in Ben Arous, rent included.
😐Lisbon costs about 252% more than Ben Arous, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Lisbon sits 71% above the global median, while Ben Arous is 51% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Ben Arous
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75€13.64
$3.47TND 10.17
353.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5€55.0
$21.78TND 63.9
191.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.45€9.05
$4.21TND 12.36
148.22%
Cappuccino
$2.91€2.52
$0.77TND 2.26
277.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€1.98
$0.65TND 1.90
252.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$0.26TND 0.75
476.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.56€3.09
$1.48TND 4.34
140.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96€3.43
$1.92TND 5.62
106.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Ben Arous
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.94
$0.49TND 1.43
120.41%
White Bread(500g)
$1.76€1.53
$0.17TND 0.51
935.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70€1.47
$1.62TND 4.74
4.94%
Eggs
$3.25€2.81
$1.58TND 4.63
105.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.25€11.47
$11.20TND 32.86
18.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.70€6.67
$6.31TND 18.51
22.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.77€13.66
$14.92TND 43.77
5.70%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.97
$2.09TND 6.14
9.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66€1.43
$2.97TND 8.72
-44.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.02€1.75
$1.17TND 3.44
72.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47€2.14
$0.71TND 2.09
247.89%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.55
$0.80TND 2.35
123.75%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07€1.79
$0.76TND 2.24
172.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.71
$0.46TND 1.36
328.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.72
$0.32TND 0.94
159.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55€5.68
$3.51TND 10.30
86.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.57€4.82
$6.58TND 19.30
-15.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.15
$1.09TND 3.21
22.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01€2.60
$1.26TND 3.69
138.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Ben Arous
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.97
$0.42TND 1.24
440.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.35€40.14
$13.33TND 39.13
247.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.66
$0.30TND 0.87
1310.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$0.33TND 0.98
157.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.83€16.31
$3.43TND 10.05
448.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02€1.75
$0.88TND 2.57
129.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.3K
$40.6KTND 119.0K
-13.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K€34.3K
$34.2KTND 100.4K
15.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Ben Arous
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€128
$48.99TND 144
201.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.77
$10.12TND 29.69
102.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52€34.23
$20.98TND 61.6
88.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Ben Arous
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.17€41.72
$32.65TND 95.8
47.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39€15.92
$16.77TND 49.21
9.66%
Cinema Ticket
$9.10€7.88
$4.96TND 14.57
83.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Ben Arous
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$615€532
$110TND 321
461.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.1K
$2,449TND 7,187
564.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Ben Arous
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€88.0
$44.12TND 129
130.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09€36.45
$44.03TND 129
-4.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.3€79.9
$97.7TND 287
-5.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€106
$80.7TND 237
51.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Ben Arous
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,612€1,396
$185TND 542
771.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254€1,086
$137TND 403
813.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,069€2,658
$369TND 1,084
730.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,037€1,764
$275TND 808
639.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,751€6,712
$933TND 2,739
730.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,286€3,712
$425TND 1,248
907.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Ben Arous
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,602€1,387
$257TND 755
522.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
10.96
-65.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026
Last update for Ben Arous: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,612 in Lisbon versus $185 in Ben Arous. 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 522% 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 $22.00 in Ben Arous. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $267 vs $197 – making Ben Arous 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 Ben Arous: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Lisbon and in Ben Arous compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,280 in Lisbon, $647 in Ben Arous – roughly 252% apart. Lisbon costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Ben Arous?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,420 per month in Lisbon and $971 in Ben Arous. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Lisbon and Ben Arous?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ben Arous, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Lisbon and $22.00 in Ben Arous. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Ben Arous?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,280 in Lisbon and $647 in Ben Arous. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ben Arous, where all-in costs run around $647, than in Lisbon at $2,280. In Ben Arous it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Ben Arous?
It depends on your priorities. Lisbon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $647 in Ben Arous to $2,280 in Lisbon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Lisbon or Ben Arous safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Lisbon and Ben Arous?
If budget matters most, go with Ben Arous. 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.