Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Bolands Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Bolands

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,217 in Lisbon versus $294 in Bolands.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,245 in Lisbon versus $294 in Bolands.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,272 in Lisbon versus $295 in Bolands.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 653% more expensive than Bolands, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Bolands is 78% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.78 €13.59

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.5 €53.8

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.54 €9.07

Cappuccino

$2.77 €2.38

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

$2.28 €1.97

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 €1.33

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.55 €3.05

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 €3.43

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 €0.93

White Bread (500g)

$1.77 €1.52

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 €1.52

Eggs

$3.12 €2.69

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.34 €11.49

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.99 €6.88

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.92 €13.70

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 €1.97

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 €1.42

Oranges (1kg)

$1.98 €1.70

Tomato (1kg)

$2.45 €2.11

Potato (1kg)

$1.77 €1.52

Onion (1kg)

$1.97 €1.69

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 €1.70

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 €0.69

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.54 €5.63

Wine (Bottle)

$5.75 €4.95

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 €1.13

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 €2.57

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.34 €2.01

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.85 €39.48

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.26 €3.66

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.84 €0.73

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.86 €16.24

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.07 €1.78

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

$35.2K €30.3K

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

$38.6K €33.2K

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

$151 €130

$223 EC$603

-32.28%

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

$20.91 €18.00

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.54 €34.05

$74.0 EC$200

-46.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.39 €41.67

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.61 €16.02

Cinema Ticket

$9.04 €7.79

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

$610 €525

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.3K €14.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 €87.2

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.58 €34.94

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.0 €80.1

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 €102

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,603 €1,380

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,239 €1,067

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,019 €2,599

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,061 €1,775

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,981 €6,872

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,533 €3,903

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,628 €1,402

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: June 15, 2026

Last update for Bolands: June 16, 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 Bolands: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bolands is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 653% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $3,325 in Lisbon and $442 in Bolands 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.

At $294 in Bolands versus $2,217 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Bolands but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Bolands the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Bolands is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lisbon, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Lisbon and Bolands 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 Bolands gentler on the wallet – expenses run 653% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.