Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Ben Arous Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Ben Arous

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,296 per month in Lisbon vs $700 in Ben Arous, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,376 per month in Lisbon vs $1,113 in Ben Arous, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,457 per month in Lisbon vs $1,525 in Ben Arous, rent included.

Lisbon costs about 228% more than Ben Arous, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Lisbon sits 68% above the global median, while Ben Arous is 49% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Ben Arous
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59 €15.33
$5.47 TND 15.85
221.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9 €54.8
$20.21 TND 58.6
211.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.58 €10.10
$5.18 TND 15.02
123.55%
Cappuccino
$3.10 €2.70
$1.15 TND 3.34
169.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 €2.17
$0.63 TND 1.82
295.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.52
$0.26 TND 0.75
569.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.48 €3.03
$1.75 TND 5.07
98.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 €3.00
$2.06 TND 5.98
66.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Ben Arous
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 €1.00
$0.52 TND 1.50
121.15%
White Bread (500g)
$1.91 €1.66
$0.10 TND 0.29
1810.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 €1.31
$1.76 TND 5.11
-14.77%
Eggs
$3.98 €3.47
$1.47 TND 4.26
170.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.29 €11.59
$10.69 TND 31.01
24.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.01 €6.98
$6.14 TND 17.82
30.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.04 €15.73
$16.17 TND 46.90
11.56%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 €2.05
$1.70 TND 4.92
38.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.53
$4.67 TND 13.56
-62.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 €1.62
$0.99 TND 2.87
86.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.55 €2.22
$0.72 TND 2.10
254.17%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.61
$0.71 TND 2.05
159.15%
Onion (1kg)
$2.10 €1.83
$0.68 TND 1.96
208.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.49 €1.30
$0.49 TND 1.43
204.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 €0.71
$0.33 TND 0.96
148.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10 €6.19
$3.66 TND 10.62
93.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.91 €5.15
$6.96 TND 20.18
-15.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 €1.15
$0.96 TND 2.77
36.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 €1.86
$1.21 TND 3.52
76.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Ben Arous
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.36 €2.05
$0.36 TND 1.06
555.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.62 €40.63
$13.53 TND 39.25
244.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.08 €3.55
$0.30 TND 0.86
1260.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.14 €0.99
$0.33 TND 0.97
245.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.09 €14.90
$1.81 TND 5.26
844.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.31 €2.01
$0.88 TND 2.56
162.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K €29.7K
$40.6K TND 117.6K
-15.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K €36.1K
$23.5K TND 68.3K
75.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Ben Arous
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 €147
$55.9 TND 162
201.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33 €16.85
$10.43 TND 30.27
85.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51 €29.21
$20.74 TND 60.2
61.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Ben Arous
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.84 €42.57
$33.68 TND 97.7
45.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43 €16.94
$17.05 TND 49.46
13.96%
Cinema Ticket
$9.57 €8.34
$5.10 TND 14.79
87.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Ben Arous
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$696 €607
$63.4 TND 184
998.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.4K €15.1K
$1,979 TND 5,741
776.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Ben Arous
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €91.8
$47.55 TND 138
121.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75 €41.62
$65.5 TND 190
-27.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 €87.6
$89.1 TND 258
12.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €108
$46.99 TND 136
164.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Ben Arous
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,662 €1,449
$218 TND 634
660.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,246 €1,086
$157 TND 456
691.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,965 €2,584
$382 TND 1,108
676.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,049 €1,786
$277 TND 804
639.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,834 €6,829
$950 TND 2,754
724.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,464 €3,892
$419 TND 1,215
965.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Ben Arous
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,632 €1,422
$255 TND 740
539.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.78
10.28
-63.23%

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

Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026

Last update for Ben Arous: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,662 in Lisbon versus $218 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 539% 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 $20.00 in Ben Arous. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $277 vs $205 – 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: $2,296 in Lisbon, $700 in Ben Arous – roughly 228% 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 $3,444 per month in Lisbon and $1,050 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 $20.00 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 $2,296 in Lisbon and $700 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 $700, than in Lisbon at $2,296. 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 $700 in Ben Arous to $2,296 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.

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