Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Carbonia Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Carbonia

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $1,519 in Carbonia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $2,372 in Carbonia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $3,225 in Carbonia.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 47% more expensive than Carbonia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 66% above, Carbonia 13% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Carbonia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17 €13.84
$11.68 €10.00
38.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6 €55.3
$82.0 €70.2
-21.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 €8.88
$11.17 €9.56
-7.07%
Cappuccino
$2.77 €2.37
$1.36 €1.16
103.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 €1.92
$1.18 €1.01
90.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 €1.35
$0.57 €0.48
175.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €2.99
$2.27 €1.94
53.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00 €3.43
$4.58 €3.92
-12.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Carbonia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.93
$1.66 €1.42
-34.94%
White Bread (500g)
$1.74 €1.49
$2.33 €2.00
-25.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 €1.49
$3.32 €2.84
-47.59%
Eggs
$3.18 €2.72
$3.49 €2.99
-8.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.43 €11.50
$17.19 €14.72
-21.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.99 €6.84
$13.19 €11.29
-39.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.09 €13.77
$19.34 €16.55
-16.80%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 €1.95
$2.36 €2.02
-3.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 €1.48
$1.70 €1.45
1.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 €1.66
$2.21 €1.89
-12.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.54 €2.18
$3.56 €3.04
-28.65%
Potato (1kg)
$1.83 €1.57
$1.90 €1.63
-3.68%
Onion (1kg)
$2.04 €1.75
$2.04 €1.75
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.98 €1.69
$1.47 €1.26
34.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.73
$0.22 €0.19
286.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85 €5.87
$7.10 €6.08
-3.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.78 €4.94
$8.42 €7.20
-31.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.18
$1.18 €1.01
16.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 €2.48
$1.43 €1.22
102.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Carbonia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €1.95
$1.72 €1.47
32.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.84 €40.10
$43.42 €37.17
7.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.08 €3.49
$3.85 €3.30
5.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$1.16 €0.99
-29.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.27 €15.64
$29.71 €25.43
-38.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.01 €1.72
$2.13 €1.82
-5.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K €30.2K
$27.9K €23.9K
26.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K €32.9K
$32.7K €28.0K
17.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Carbonia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$145 €124
$117 €100.0
24.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96 €17.94
$12.94 €11.08
61.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05 €34.29
$26.82 €22.96
49.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Carbonia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.79 €41.76
$54.4 €46.59
-10.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69 €16.00
$23.51 €20.12
-20.50%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06 €7.76
$10.63 €9.10
-14.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Carbonia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$607 €519
$412 €353
47.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K €14.0K
$7,868 €6,735
107.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Carbonia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €89.6
$91.8 €78.6
14.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95 €35.06
$63.1 €54.0
-35.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.6 €80.1
$85.0 €72.8
10.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €101
$121 €103
-1.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Carbonia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,604 €1,373
$746 €638
115.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,236 €1,058
$578 €494
113.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,046 €2,607
$1,233 €1,055
147.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,057 €1,761
$929 €795
121.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,709 €6,599
$3,344 €2,862
130.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,266 €3,652
$2,033 €1,740
109.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Carbonia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,584 €1,356
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
4.87
-21.77%

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

Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026

Last update for Carbonia: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $746 in Carbonia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $82.0 in Carbonia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $335 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 Carbonia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Carbonia cheaper than Lisbon?
Carbonia is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 47% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,341 in Lisbon and $2,279 in Carbonia 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.
What is the rent difference between Lisbon and Carbonia?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $746 in Carbonia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $607 in Lisbon versus $412 in Carbonia. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Lisbon and Carbonia?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 24% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Lisbon or Carbonia?
At $1,519 in Carbonia versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Carbonia but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Carbonia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisbon or Carbonia more family-friendly?
For families, Carbonia 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 Carbonia?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Carbonia 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 Carbonia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% 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