😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $854 in Cimislia.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $1,271 in Cimislia.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $1,687 in Cimislia.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 165% more expensive than Cimislia, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Cimislia is 36% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Cimislia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94€13.73
$6.81MDL 118
134.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4€54.6
$23.43MDL 405
170.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.95
$7.55MDL 130
37.48%
Cappuccino
$2.79€2.40
$1.77MDL 30.54
57.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34€2.01
$0.91MDL 15.71
157.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$0.68MDL 11.79
130.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43€2.95
$1.16MDL 19.99
195.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.37
$2.37MDL 40.88
64.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Cimislia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.07MDL 18.46
0.93%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.52
$0.42MDL 7.33
321.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71€1.47
$1.51MDL 25.99
13.25%
Eggs
$3.15€2.71
$2.16MDL 37.26
45.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.68€11.79
$8.60MDL 149
59.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.90
$4.14MDL 71.5
93.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.52€13.37
$8.72MDL 151
77.98%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.98
$0.56MDL 9.67
308.93%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.41
$1.81MDL 31.24
-9.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.67
$1.47MDL 25.44
31.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.51€2.17
$2.01MDL 34.68
24.88%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.54
$0.61MDL 10.45
193.44%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$0.55MDL 9.53
265.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.69
$1.35MDL 23.35
45.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.85MDL 14.63
-1.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79€5.85
$3.17MDL 54.7
114.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.67€4.89
$4.71MDL 81.4
20.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$1.19MDL 20.62
16.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.60
$2.00MDL 34.49
51.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Cimislia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.95
$0.28MDL 4.81
710.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.44€39.15
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.70
$2.04MDL 35.15
110.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$0.27MDL 4.67
214.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.28€15.75
$5.41MDL 93.4
237.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99€1.71
$1.44MDL 24.87
38.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.2K
$32.5KMDL 561.3K
7.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K€34.1K
$31.5KMDL 543.8K
25.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Cimislia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146€126
$169MDL 2,919
-13.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45€17.62
$7.50MDL 130
172.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98€33.58
$11.01MDL 190
254.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Cimislia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.98€42.21
$17.35MDL 300
182.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83€16.22
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.52€8.21
$7.66MDL 132
24.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Cimislia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$608€524
$383MDL 6,621
58.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.2K
$7,740MDL 133.7K
113.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Cimislia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€89.5
$64.8MDL 1,119
60.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12€36.29
$53.6MDL 925
-21.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.2€79.5
$113MDL 1,959
-18.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$124MDL 2,137
-3.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Cimislia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621€1,397
$228MDL 3,940
610.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,268€1,092
$172MDL 2,965
638.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,048€2,626
$342MDL 5,912
790.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,009€1,731
$287MDL 4,950
600.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,663€6,602
$757MDL 13.1K
912.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,329€3,730
$701MDL 12.1K
517.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Cimislia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,585€1,366
$429MDL 7,410
269.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
9.24
-58.77%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026
Last update for Cimislia: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $228 in Cimislia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 269% 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: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $23.00 in Cimislia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $170 per month, with Cimislia 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 Cimislia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Cimislia?
Cimislia wins on cost – living expenses run 165% lower than in Lisbon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cimislia the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lisbon or Cimislia?
Lisbon pays 269% 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lisbon vs Cimislia?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $228 in Cimislia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Lisbon or Cimislia?
Supermarket bills run roughly 58% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Lisbon compared to Cimislia?
All in, you'll spend $2,263 per month in Lisbon versus $854 in Cimislia – a 165% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Lisbon or Cimislia?
At $854 in Cimislia versus $2,263 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Cimislia but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Cimislia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Cimislia?
Both work as nomad bases, but Cimislia delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $854 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Cimislia hard to pass up.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Cimislia?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Cimislia 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Cimislia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 165% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.