Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Cham Cost 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: Lisbon 65% above, Cham 164% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Cham
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.71 €13.81
$30.86 CHF 25.23
-49.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9 €55.3
$147 CHF 121
-57.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.53 €9.26
$19.66 CHF 16.08
-46.44%
Cappuccino
$2.88 €2.54
$6.74 CHF 5.51
-57.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 €1.98
$5.51 CHF 4.51
-59.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 €1.37
$4.98 CHF 4.07
-68.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.39 €2.98
$10.05 CHF 8.22
-66.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90 €3.43
$7.68 CHF 6.28
-49.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Cham
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.95
$2.24 CHF 1.83
-51.79%
White Bread (500g)
$1.73 €1.52
$3.33 CHF 2.72
-48.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.55
$4.15 CHF 3.39
-57.59%
Eggs
$3.16 €2.78
$7.22 CHF 5.91
-56.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.29 €11.68
$28.77 CHF 23.52
-53.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.87 €6.92
$33.10 CHF 27.07
-76.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.84 €13.92
$44.54 CHF 36.42
-64.44%
Apples (1kg)
$2.40 €2.11
$4.02 CHF 3.29
-40.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.50
$2.72 CHF 2.22
-37.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.03 €1.78
$2.98 CHF 2.44
-31.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.52 €2.21
$5.05 CHF 4.13
-50.10%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 €1.63
$2.87 CHF 2.34
-35.19%
Onion (1kg)
$2.06 €1.81
$2.30 CHF 1.88
-10.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.00 €1.76
$2.57 CHF 2.10
-22.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 €0.69
$1.52 CHF 1.24
-48.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.65 €5.84
$11.20 CHF 9.16
-40.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.78 €5.08
$13.01 CHF 10.64
-55.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 €1.22
$2.38 CHF 1.94
-42.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 €2.65
$3.17 CHF 2.59
-4.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Cham
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.33 €2.05
$3.88 CHF 3.17
-39.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.45 €39.96
$99.1 CHF 81.0
-54.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.08 €3.58
$7.77 CHF 6.35
-47.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.80 €0.70
$4.15 CHF 3.40
-80.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.65 €16.39
$86.3 CHF 70.6
-78.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.00 €1.76
$2.25 CHF 1.84
-11.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K €31.1K
$41.1K CHF 33.6K
-13.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.1K €34.3K
$39.9K CHF 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
$255 CHF 209
-41.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.55 €18.07
$35.13 CHF 28.73
-41.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.45 €34.68
$58.9 CHF 48.16
-33.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Cham
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.06 €42.25
$86.2 CHF 70.5
-44.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.70 €16.44
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.30 €8.18
$22.76 CHF 18.61
-59.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Cham
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$628 €552
$2,609 CHF 2,133
-75.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K €14.5K
$34.0K CHF 27.8K
-51.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Cham
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 €89.3
$132 CHF 108
-22.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.55 €36.52
$60.6 CHF 49.57
-31.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.5 €81.3
$148 CHF 121
-37.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 €108
$204 CHF 167
-39.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Cham
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,431
$1,705 CHF 1,394
-4.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,233 €1,084
$1,469 CHF 1,201
-16.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,126 €2,748
$2,825 CHF 2,310
10.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,058 €1,809
$2,506 CHF 2,049
-17.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,762 €6,824
$16.9K CHF 13.8K
-54.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,386 €3,856
$14.1K CHF 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.

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