Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Catania

For one person, living is cheaper in Catania: $1,561 a month against $2,202 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $7,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,202
/mo nomad
Catania
🇮🇹 Italy
$1,561
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Catania

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 Catania actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,202 in Lisbon versus $1,561 in Catania.

  • Lisbon $2,202
  • Catania $1,561

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,274 in Lisbon versus $2,390 in Catania.

  • Lisbon $3,274
  • Catania $2,390

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,346 in Lisbon versus $3,219 in Catania.

  • Lisbon $4,346
  • Catania $3,219

Living in Lisbon is roughly 41% more expensive than in Catania, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 62% above, Catania 15% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Catania
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.04 €15.15
$17.12 €15.23
-0.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.3 €55.4
$55.8 €49.62
11.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.02 €9.80
$11.11 €9.88
-0.81%
Cappuccino
$3.12 €2.78
$2.10 €1.86
48.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 €2.02
$2.90 €2.58
-21.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.55
$2.07 €1.84
-15.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.42 €3.04
$6.70 €5.96
-48.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74 €3.33
$4.09 €3.64
-8.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Catania
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 €1.04
$1.31 €1.17
-10.69%
White Bread (500g)
$1.86 €1.66
$1.59 €1.41
16.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.54 €1.37
$2.68 €2.39
-42.54%
Eggs
$4.06 €3.61
$3.41 €3.03
19.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.91 €11.49
$11.37 €10.12
13.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.90 €7.03
$12.04 €10.71
-34.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.64 €15.69
$15.66 €13.93
12.64%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 €2.01
$1.99 €1.77
13.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.55
$1.68 €1.50
4.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 €1.68
$1.38 €1.23
36.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.56 €2.27
$2.66 €2.37
-3.76%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 €1.64
$1.76 €1.56
5.11%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 €1.75
$1.31 €1.16
50.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 €1.29
$1.23 €1.09
17.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 €0.69
$0.47 €0.42
63.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.71 €5.97
$6.57 €5.84
2.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.67 €5.04
$7.89 €7.02
-28.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.22
$1.75 €1.56
-21.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 €1.88
$1.53 €1.36
37.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Catania
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.32 €2.07
$1.60 €1.43
45.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.43 €39.52
$36.97 €32.89
20.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.95 €3.51
$4.44 €3.95
-11.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.05 €0.93
$1.10 €0.98
-4.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.15 €15.26
$22.19 €19.74
-22.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.19 €1.95
$2.13 €1.90
2.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.8K €30.0K
$36.7K €32.6K
-7.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.3K €34.0K
$37.0K €32.9K
3.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Catania
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$164 €146
$315 €280
-48.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.48 €16.43
$10.58 €9.41
74.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.96 €29.32
$34.75 €30.91
-5.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Catania
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.87 €40.80
$60.0 €53.4
-23.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.68 €16.61
$14.53 €12.92
28.56%
Cinema Ticket
$9.75 €8.67
$9.16 €8.15
6.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Catania
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$684 €608
$447 €397
53.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.6K €15.7K
$6,707 €5,966
162.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Catania
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 €92.3
$85.8 €76.3
20.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.20 €41.09
$33.89 €30.15
36.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.7 €88.7
$88.2 €78.4
13.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 €111
$128 €114
-2.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Catania
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,589 €1,414
$607 €539
162.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,169 €1,040
$381 €339
206.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,851 €2,536
$1,153 €1,026
147.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,993 €1,773
$783 €696
154.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,793 €6,932
$2,254 €2,005
245.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,418 €3,930
$1,522 €1,354
190.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Catania
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,600 €1,423
$1,763 €1,568
-9.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
3.55
8.45%

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

Last update for Lisbon: October 19, 2026

Last update for Catania: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Catania
$381 67.4% $788
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$273
Catania
$280 2.4% $6.5
Eating Out
Lisbon
$247
Catania
$257 3.8% $9.5
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$215
Catania
$361 67.5% $145
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$168
Catania
$151 10.3% $17
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$65
Catania
$78 19.8% $13
Getting Around
Lisbon
$63
Catania
$53 15.2% $9.6

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,589 in Lisbon and $607 in Catania. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Catania pays 10% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $62.0 in Lisbon vs $56.0 in Catania. Groceries flip the comparison at $273 vs $280, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇮🇹 Catania
🕒 Local time
16:15 4:15 PM
17:15 5:15 PM
1 h ahead of Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
298,037
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Catania 2,120 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Catania

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 Catania: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Catania cheaper than Lisbon?
Catania is cheaper overall, especially in clothing, transport, and utilities. The 41% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or Catania?
On paper, salaries run 10% lower in Catania. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Lisbon and Catania?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,589 in Lisbon versus $607 in Catania. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Lisbon and in Catania?
All in, you'll spend $2,202 per month in Lisbon versus $1,561 in Catania – a 41% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Catania runs roughly 20% less than in Lisbon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Lisbon or in Catania?
At $1,561 in Catania versus $2,202 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Catania but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Catania the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisbon or Catania more family-friendly?
For families, Catania 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 Catania?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Catania 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 Catania gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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