Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Castel

For one person, living is cheaper in Lisbon: $2,223 a month against $2,393 in Castel, rent and utilities included – about $2,000 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Castel outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,223
/mo nomad
Castel
🇬🇬 Guernsey
$2,393
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Castel

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lisbon and in Castel actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,223 per month in Lisbon vs $2,393 in Castel, rent included.

  • Lisbon $2,223
  • Castel $2,393

A couple spends around $3,271 per month in Lisbon vs $3,776 in Castel, rent included.

  • Lisbon $3,271
  • Castel $3,776

A family of three spends $4,319 per month in Lisbon vs $5,160 in Castel, rent included.

  • Lisbon $4,319
  • Castel $5,160

Lisbon is about 7% cheaper than Castel, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Lisbon and Castel sit above the global median – Lisbon by 65%, Castel by 77%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Castel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.50 €14.67
$39.40 GGP 29.59
-58.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.3 €54.5
$78.7 GGP 59.1
-22.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.27 €10.03
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.06 €2.72
$4.83 GGP 3.62
-36.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 €2.01
$3.24 GGP 2.44
-30.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 €1.54
$3.89 GGP 2.92
-55.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.39 €3.02
$4.19 GGP 3.15
-19.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40 €3.02
$6.48 GGP 4.87
-47.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Castel
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 €1.00
$2.02 GGP 1.52
-44.55%
White Bread (500g)
$1.86 €1.65
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 €1.36
-
-
Eggs
$3.96 €3.53
-
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.76 €11.35
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.90 €7.02
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.97 €15.09
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.27 €2.02
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.55
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 €1.64
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$2.57 €2.28
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 €1.65
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$2.02 €1.80
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 €1.28
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 €0.73
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.56 €5.83
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$5.62 €5.00
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 €1.14
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 €1.84
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Castel
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.35 €2.09
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.18 €39.30
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.99 €3.55
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.09 €0.97
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.64 €14.81
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.28 €2.03
$2.24 GGP 1.68
1.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.7K €30.0K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €35.0K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Castel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$167 €149
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.80 €16.72
$26.89 GGP 20.19
-30.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.09 €29.43
$66.3 GGP 49.80
-50.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Castel
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.01 €40.93
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.19 €17.07
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.84 €8.75
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Castel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$677 €602
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.9K €15.1K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Castel
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 €90.1
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.76 €40.70
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100.0 €88.9
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 €109
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Castel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,614 €1,436
$2,009 GGP 1,509
-19.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,197 €1,065
$1,844 GGP 1,385
-35.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,862 €2,545
$3,929 GGP 2,950
-27.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,990 €1,770
$3,668 GGP 2,755
-45.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,577 €6,740
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,307 €3,831
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Castel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,588 €1,412
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
0
-

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

Last update for Lisbon: October 11, 2026

Last update for Castel: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Castel
–
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$269
Castel
–
Eating Out
Lisbon
$242
Castel
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$219
Castel
–
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$166
Castel
–
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$66
Castel
–
Getting Around
Lisbon
$63
Castel
–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,614 in Lisbon versus $2,009 in Castel. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Lisbon versus $79.0 in Castel. Groceries tell a different story – $269 in Lisbon vs $20.00 in Castel – so Castel wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇬🇬 Castel
🕒 Local time
01:15 1:15 AM
01:15 1:15 AM
Same time as Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
8,000
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

GGP, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Guernsey Pound exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.751 GGP (1 GGP = 1.33 USD). 1 EUR = 0.844 GGP (1 GGP = 1.18 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Castel 1,300 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Castel

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Castel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Castel cheaper than Lisbon?
Yes – Castel is pricier by about 8%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,335 per month in Lisbon and $3,589 in Castel. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Lisbon, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Lisbon and in Castel?
Interestingly, groceries are about 1233% cheaper in Castel – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is eating out cheaper in Lisbon or in Castel?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Lisbon and $79.0 in Castel. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Lisbon or in Castel?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Lisbon, where all-in costs run around $2,223, than in Castel at $2,393. In Lisbon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Castel it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Lisbon or Castel more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Lisbon – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Castel?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Lisbon. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Castel makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Lisbon vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?