Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Boras Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Boras

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $1,958 in Boras.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $2,789 in Boras.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $3,619 in Boras.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 17% more expensive than in Boras, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 71% above, Boras 47% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Boras
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19 €14.18
$12.83 SEK 124
26.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3 €55.5
$72.6 SEK 703
-12.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.32 €9.04
$10.63 SEK 103
-2.92%
Cappuccino
$2.83 €2.48
$4.37 SEK 42.27
-35.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.01
$2.22 SEK 21.53
3.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 €1.38
$2.07 SEK 20.02
-23.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 €2.98
$8.15 SEK 78.9
-58.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03 €3.53
$7.42 SEK 71.9
-45.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Boras
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 €0.96
$1.67 SEK 16.20
-34.73%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.53
$2.15 SEK 20.84
-18.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$3.07 SEK 29.68
-42.67%
Eggs
$3.17 €2.77
$4.48 SEK 43.37
-29.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.19 €11.56
$13.07 SEK 127
0.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.97 €6.98
$11.49 SEK 111
-30.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.53 €13.60
$16.85 SEK 163
-7.83%
Apples (1kg)
$2.37 €2.07
$2.68 SEK 25.92
-11.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 €1.49
$2.77 SEK 26.82
-38.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.76
$2.82 SEK 27.29
-28.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.43 €2.13
$3.77 SEK 36.47
-35.54%
Potato (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$1.54 SEK 14.92
14.29%
Onion (1kg)
$2.03 €1.78
$1.62 SEK 15.64
25.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.92 €1.68
$1.41 SEK 13.68
36.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.74
$1.50 SEK 14.51
-43.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58 €5.76
$8.23 SEK 79.7
-20.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.58 €4.89
$9.40 SEK 91.0
-40.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.17
$2.03 SEK 19.66
-34.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.60
$1.73 SEK 16.74
71.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Boras
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €1.99
$3.74 SEK 36.16
-39.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.79 €40.10
$86.2 SEK 834
-46.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.23 €3.70
$6.46 SEK 62.6
-34.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 €0.71
$1.87 SEK 18.15
-56.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.44 €16.15
$62.5 SEK 605
-70.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.08 €1.82
$1.96 SEK 19.02
6.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K €30.4K
$26.2K SEK 253.5K
32.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K €34.3K
$25.4K SEK 245.8K
54.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Boras
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €130
$74.9 SEK 725
97.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46 €17.92
$28.64 SEK 277
-28.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56 €34.64
$27.88 SEK 270
41.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Boras
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.99 €42.03
$34.39 SEK 333
39.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60 €16.29
$23.82 SEK 231
-21.91%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22 €8.08
$15.85 SEK 153
-41.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Boras
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$616 €540
$157 SEK 1,519
292.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.4K €14.4K
$4,162 SEK 40.3K
294.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Boras
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 €90.0
$81.2 SEK 787
26.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74 €36.55
$39.45 SEK 382
5.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.8 €83.0
$94.5 SEK 915
0.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 €107
$108 SEK 1,045
13.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Boras
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,633 €1,430
$849 SEK 8,223
92.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,232 €1,079
$927 SEK 8,975
32.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,098 €2,713
$1,384 SEK 13.4K
123.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,031 €1,779
$1,064 SEK 10.3K
90.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,831 €6,858
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,389 €3,844
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Boras
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,607 €1,408
$2,480 SEK 24.0K
-35.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
4.8
-20.62%

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

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Last update for Boras: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $849 in Boras. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Boras pays 54% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $73.0 in Boras for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $340 per month, with Lisbon 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 Boras: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Boras cheaper than Lisbon?
Boras is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or Boras?
On paper, salaries run 54% lower in Boras. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Lisbon and Boras?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $849 in Boras. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Lisbon and in Boras?
All in, you'll spend $2,291 per month in Lisbon versus $1,958 in Boras – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Boras runs roughly 88% less than in Lisbon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Lisbon or in Boras?
At $1,958 in Boras versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Boras but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Boras the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisbon or Boras more family-friendly?
For families, Boras 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.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Boras?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Boras are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Boras gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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