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: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,947 in Boras.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $2,766 in Boras.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $3,586 in Boras.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 14% more expensive than Boras, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 65% above, Boras 45% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Boras
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.69
$12.77 SEK 119
24.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.7
$70.4 SEK 656
-7.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.04
$10.65 SEK 99.4
-1.31%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$4.56 SEK 42.56
-37.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$2.24 SEK 20.89
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$2.14 SEK 20.00
-29.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.00
$7.94 SEK 74.1
-56.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$7.27 SEK 67.9
-46.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Boras
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$1.67 SEK 15.57
-31.74%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$2.23 SEK 20.82
-21.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$3.04 SEK 28.33
-42.11%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$4.50 SEK 42.00
-28.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.61
$13.10 SEK 122
2.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$11.63 SEK 109
-31.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.65
$17.39 SEK 162
-8.74%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$2.69 SEK 25.13
-14.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$2.87 SEK 26.78
-40.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$2.81 SEK 26.25
-28.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$3.59 SEK 33.45
-31.48%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$1.61 SEK 15.06
14.29%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$1.60 SEK 14.94
25.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$1.42 SEK 13.25
35.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$1.46 SEK 13.67
-45.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.68
$8.24 SEK 76.9
-19.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.92
$9.83 SEK 91.8
-41.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.17
$1.94 SEK 18.13
-29.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$1.71 SEK 15.99
73.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Boras
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$3.73 SEK 34.82
-36.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.19
$86.6 SEK 808
-47.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$6.18 SEK 57.7
-30.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$1.89 SEK 17.68
-56.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.74
$63.9 SEK 596
-71.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$1.90 SEK 17.76
8.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$26.3K SEK 245.5K
30.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$25.0K SEK 233.5K
57.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Boras
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$75.9 SEK 709
94.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.65
$28.10 SEK 262
-26.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.08
$27.50 SEK 257
44.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Boras
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.16
$34.14 SEK 319
40.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.28
$23.96 SEK 224
-21.04%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.90
$15.89 SEK 148
-42.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Boras
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €528
$160 SEK 1,496
282.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$4,124 SEK 38.5K
289.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Boras
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.0
$81.5 SEK 761
28.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.18
$40.01 SEK 373
5.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.8
$95.3 SEK 889
-1.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$110 SEK 1,027
8.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Boras
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,400
$846 SEK 7,891
92.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,080
$902 SEK 8,419
39.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,607
$1,367 SEK 12.8K
121.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,738
$1,096 SEK 10.2K
84.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,709
$3,942 SEK 36.8K
97.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,675
$3,388 SEK 31.6K
26.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Boras
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,379
$2,547 SEK 23.8K
-37.05%
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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Boras: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $846 in Boras. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Boras pays 59% 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 $70.0 in Boras for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $343 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 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or Boras?
On paper, Boras earns 59% less. 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: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $846 in Boras. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Lisbon vs Boras?
All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $1,947 in Boras – a 14% 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 90% 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 Lisbon or Boras?
At $1,947 in Boras versus $2,210 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 14% 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