Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and ChamCost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Cham
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $3,528 in Cham.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,289 in Lisbon versus $5,360 in Cham.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,369 in Lisbon versus $7,192 in Cham.
🌍Living in Lisbon costs roughly 37% less than in Cham, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon65% above, Cham164% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Cham
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.71€13.81
$30.86CHF 25.23
-49.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€55.3
$147CHF 121
-57.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.53€9.26
$19.66CHF 16.08
-46.44%
Cappuccino
$2.88€2.54
$6.74CHF 5.51
-57.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.98
$5.51CHF 4.51
-59.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56€1.37
$4.98CHF 4.07
-68.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.39€2.98
$10.05CHF 8.22
-66.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90€3.43
$7.68CHF 6.28
-49.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Cham
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.95
$2.24CHF 1.83
-51.79%
White Bread(500g)
$1.73€1.52
$3.33CHF 2.72
-48.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.55
$4.15CHF 3.39
-57.59%
Eggs
$3.16€2.78
$7.22CHF 5.91
-56.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.68
$28.77CHF 23.52
-53.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.87€6.92
$33.10CHF 27.07
-76.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.84€13.92
$44.54CHF 36.42
-64.44%
Apples(1kg)
$2.40€2.11
$4.02CHF 3.29
-40.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.50
$2.72CHF 2.22
-37.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$2.98CHF 2.44
-31.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.52€2.21
$5.05CHF 4.13
-50.10%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86€1.63
$2.87CHF 2.34
-35.19%
Onion(1kg)
$2.06€1.81
$2.30CHF 1.88
-10.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.00€1.76
$2.57CHF 2.10
-22.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78€0.69
$1.52CHF 1.24
-48.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.65€5.84
$11.20CHF 9.16
-40.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€5.08
$13.01CHF 10.64
-55.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.22
$2.38CHF 1.94
-42.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.65
$3.17CHF 2.59
-4.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Cham
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.33€2.05
$3.88CHF 3.17
-39.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.45€39.96
$99.1CHF 81.0
-54.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.58
$7.77CHF 6.35
-47.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.80€0.70
$4.15CHF 3.40
-80.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.65€16.39
$86.3CHF 70.6
-78.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.00€1.76
$2.25CHF 1.84
-11.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K€31.1K
$41.1KCHF 33.6K
-13.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.1K€34.3K
$39.9KCHF 32.6K
-2.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Cham
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150€132
$255CHF 209
-41.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.55€18.07
$35.13CHF 28.73
-41.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.45€34.68
$58.9CHF 48.16
-33.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Cham
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.06€42.25
$86.2CHF 70.5
-44.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.70€16.44
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.30€8.18
$22.76CHF 18.61
-59.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Cham
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$628€552
$2,609CHF 2,133
-75.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.5K
$34.0KCHF 27.8K
-51.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Cham
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€89.3
$132CHF 108
-22.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.55€36.52
$60.6CHF 49.57
-31.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.5€81.3
$148CHF 121
-37.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123€108
$204CHF 167
-39.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Cham
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,431
$1,705CHF 1,394
-4.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,233€1,084
$1,469CHF 1,201
-16.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,126€2,748
$2,825CHF 2,310
10.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,058€1,809
$2,506CHF 2,049
-17.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,762€6,824
$16.9KCHF 13.8K
-54.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,386€3,856
$14.1KCHF 11.5K
-68.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Cham
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,621€1,425
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
2.09
82.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 21, 2026
Last update for Cham: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $1,705 in Cham. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $147 in Cham for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $646 per month, with Lisbon 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 Cham: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cham cheaper than Lisbon?
Lisbon is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 60% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,315 in Lisbon and $5,293 in Cham to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Lisbon and Cham?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $1,705 in Cham. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $628 in Lisbon versus $2,609 in Cham. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Lisbon and in Cham?
Supermarket bills run roughly 140% higher in Cham. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $3,000 enough to cover costs in Lisbon or in Cham?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Lisbon is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is Lisbon or Cham more family-friendly?
For families, Lisbon is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cham, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Cham?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Cham 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 Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 60% less than in Cham. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.