😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $650 in Carthage.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,056 in Carthage.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $1,462 in Carthage.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 240% more expensive than Carthage, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Carthage is 52% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Carthage
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.69
$5.01TND 14.55
217.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.7
$25.83TND 75.0
150.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.04
$5.22TND 15.14
101.34%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$1.06TND 3.08
170.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$0.70TND 2.04
220.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$0.28TND 0.82
435.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.00
$1.68TND 4.87
107.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$1.92TND 5.57
102.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Carthage
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$0.49TND 1.43
132.65%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$0.20TND 0.58
775.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$1.74TND 5.04
1.15%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$1.64TND 4.77
96.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$10.47TND 30.39
28.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$6.11TND 17.75
29.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.65
$14.88TND 43.21
6.65%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$2.02TND 5.88
14.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$3.53TND 10.24
-51.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.12TND 3.26
79.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$0.74TND 2.14
232.43%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$0.78TND 2.27
135.90%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$0.66TND 1.92
203.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$0.46TND 1.34
319.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.31TND 0.91
154.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.68
$3.56TND 10.32
85.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.92
$7.78TND 22.59
-26.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.17
$1.30TND 3.77
5.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$1.26TND 3.65
135.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Carthage
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$0.36TND 1.03
558.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.19
$7.26TND 21.08
527.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$0.32TND 0.94
1240.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.31TND 0.89
164.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.74
$3.37TND 9.79
443.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$0.83TND 2.41
148.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$40.3KTND 117.1K
-15.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$36.2KTND 105.1K
8.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Carthage
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$45.69TND 133
223.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.65
$9.47TND 27.50
116.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.08
$18.94TND 55.0
109.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Carthage
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.16
$37.63TND 109
27.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.28
$13.48TND 39.15
40.36%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.90
$5.31TND 15.41
72.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Carthage
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€528
$109TND 316
463.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$3,369TND 9,781
376.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Carthage
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.0
$44.85TND 130
133.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.18
$61.5TND 178
-31.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.8
$97.0TND 282
-3.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$65.6TND 191
82.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Carthage
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,400
$168TND 487
870.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,080
$99.8TND 290
1158.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,607
$301TND 874
907.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,738
$239TND 695
744.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,709
$867TND 2,519
799.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,675
$413TND 1,198
935.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Carthage
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,379
$278TND 807
476.99%
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Carthage: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $168 in Carthage. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 477% 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: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $26.00 in Carthage for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $200 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 Carthage?
Lisbon and Carthage differ by about 240% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $650 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?
Lisbon pays 477% more on average, 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 Carthage?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 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 34% 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 $26.00 versus $65.0 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 $650 in Carthage versus $2,210 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 240% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.