😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $629 in Carthage.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $1,053 in Carthage.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $1,476 in Carthage.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 264% more expensive than in Carthage, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Carthage is 53% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Carthage
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.18
$5.05TND 14.77
220.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.5
$25.25TND 73.9
150.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.04
$5.06TND 14.80
103.95%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$1.07TND 3.14
164.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.01
$0.71TND 2.09
222.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$0.26TND 0.76
507.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$1.72TND 5.04
97.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.53
$1.97TND 5.77
104.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Carthage
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.96
$0.47TND 1.36
131.91%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$0.20TND 0.57
775.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.70TND 4.99
3.53%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$1.64TND 4.80
93.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.56
$10.64TND 31.14
23.97%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.98
$6.03TND 17.66
32.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.60
$14.54TND 42.54
6.81%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$2.01TND 5.89
17.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$3.40TND 9.95
-49.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$1.12TND 3.29
79.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$0.73TND 2.14
232.88%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$0.75TND 2.19
134.67%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$0.65TND 1.90
212.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$0.43TND 1.26
346.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$0.29TND 0.83
193.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$3.43TND 10.03
91.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.89
$6.88TND 20.14
-18.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$1.35TND 3.94
-1.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$1.26TND 3.68
135.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Carthage
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$0.33TND 0.95
590.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.10
$7.39TND 21.61
519.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$0.32TND 0.94
1221.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$0.33TND 0.97
145.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.15
$3.41TND 9.96
440.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$0.82TND 2.40
153.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.4K
$41.4KTND 121.0K
-16.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$36.0KTND 105.3K
8.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Carthage
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$45.15TND 132
227.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.92
$9.42TND 27.56
117.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.64
$18.30TND 53.6
116.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Carthage
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€42.03
$37.88TND 111
26.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.29
$13.32TND 38.97
39.64%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.08
$5.17TND 15.11
78.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Carthage
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€540
$109TND 319
464.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$3,309TND 9,683
396.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Carthage
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€90.0
$46.19TND 135
122.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.55
$60.2TND 176
-30.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€83.0
$97.3TND 285
-2.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$65.7TND 192
85.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Carthage
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,430
$168TND 491
873.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,079
$101TND 296
1118.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,713
$304TND 890
918.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,779
$239TND 698
751.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,858
$957TND 2,800
718.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,844
$626TND 1,831
601.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Carthage
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,408
$270TND 789
496.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
10.96
-65.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Last update for Carthage: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $168 in Carthage. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 496% 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 $25.00 in Carthage for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $196 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 264% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $629 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 496% 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: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $168 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 36% 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 $25.00 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 $629 in Carthage versus $2,291 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 264% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.