😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $719 in Carthage.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $1,125 in Carthage.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $1,532 in Carthage.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 219% more expensive than in Carthage, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Carthage is 47% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Carthage
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59€15.33
$5.25TND 15.23
235.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€54.8
$22.41TND 65.0
180.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.58€10.10
$5.96TND 17.30
94.30%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$1.12TND 3.24
176.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.17
$0.81TND 2.34
207.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74€1.52
$0.28TND 0.80
521.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.48€3.03
$1.66TND 4.82
109.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€3.00
$2.00TND 5.81
72.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Carthage
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15€1.00
$0.52TND 1.52
121.15%
White Bread(500g)
$1.91€1.66
$0.27TND 0.78
607.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50€1.31
$1.68TND 4.87
-10.71%
Eggs
$3.98€3.47
$1.76TND 5.09
126.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.59
$10.43TND 30.27
27.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.98
$6.13TND 17.77
30.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.04€15.73
$14.89TND 43.19
21.16%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35€2.05
$1.36TND 3.94
72.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75€1.53
$3.82TND 11.09
-54.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85€1.62
$1.17TND 3.39
58.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.22
$0.76TND 2.20
235.53%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.61
$0.93TND 2.70
97.85%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10€1.83
$0.66TND 1.90
218.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.30
$0.58TND 1.67
156.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.71
$0.32TND 0.92
156.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10€6.19
$3.88TND 11.24
82.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.91€5.15
$6.67TND 19.36
-11.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.15
$1.36TND 3.94
-3.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.86
$1.26TND 3.64
69.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Carthage
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.36€2.05
$0.41TND 1.20
475.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.62€40.63
$13.94TND 40.44
234.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.55
$0.32TND 0.92
1175.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.99
$0.36TND 1.03
216.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.09€14.90
$1.82TND 5.27
839.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.31€2.01
$0.84TND 2.43
175.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.7K
$40.5KTND 117.5K
-15.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€36.1K
$36.0KTND 104.4K
14.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Carthage
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169€147
$46.48TND 135
262.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33€16.85
$9.20TND 26.69
110.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51€29.21
$20.47TND 59.4
63.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Carthage
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.84€42.57
$33.61TND 97.5
45.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43€16.94
$13.84TND 40.13
40.39%
Cinema Ticket
$9.57€8.34
$5.17TND 14.98
85.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Carthage
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696€607
$113TND 327
517.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.4K€15.1K
$3,312TND 9,607
423.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Carthage
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€91.8
$51.2TND 148
105.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75€41.62
$65.9TND 191
-27.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.6
$116TND 336
-13.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€108
$67.9TND 197
83.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Carthage
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,662€1,449
$213TND 617
680.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,246€1,086
$159TND 460
685.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,965€2,584
$210TND 610
1309.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,049€1,786
$275TND 799
644.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,834€6,829
$989TND 2,868
692.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,464€3,892
$621TND 1,802
618.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Carthage
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,632€1,422
$277TND 805
488.16%
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 Carthage: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $213 in Carthage. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 488% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $22.00 in Carthage for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $199 per month, with Carthage 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 Carthage: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Carthage?
Lisbon and Carthage differ by about 219% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $719 including rent). Carthage is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Carthage?
Average pay runs 488% higher in Lisbon, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in Carthage?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $213 in Carthage. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 39% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Carthage – a meal for two runs $22.00 versus $63.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $719 in Carthage versus $2,296 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Carthage but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Carthage the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Carthage?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Lisbon or Carthage safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Carthage are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Lisbon or Carthage?
Expats usually find Carthage gentler on the wallet – expenses run 219% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.