😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,243 in Lisbon versus $835 in Cimislia.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $1,264 in Cimislia.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,387 in Lisbon versus $1,692 in Cimislia.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 168% more expensive than Cimislia, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 67% above, Cimislia is 38% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Cimislia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.73€13.42
$6.88MDL 118
128.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.2€53.9
$23.29MDL 401
171.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€8.80
$7.64MDL 132
35.08%
Cappuccino
$2.81€2.40
$1.71MDL 29.44
64.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33€1.99
$0.92MDL 15.84
153.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51€1.29
$0.70MDL 11.99
115.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.37€2.87
$1.16MDL 19.91
190.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.34
$2.38MDL 40.99
64.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Cimislia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.92
$1.03MDL 17.80
4.85%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.49
$0.42MDL 7.27
316.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75€1.50
$1.50MDL 25.87
16.67%
Eggs
$3.10€2.64
$2.13MDL 36.70
45.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.28€11.33
$9.01MDL 155
47.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.85€6.70
$4.15MDL 71.6
89.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.05€13.69
$8.67MDL 149
85.12%
Apples(1kg)
$2.39€2.04
$0.60MDL 10.40
298.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.47
$1.80MDL 31.05
-4.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97€1.68
$1.50MDL 25.84
31.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.17
$2.06MDL 35.58
23.79%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
$0.61MDL 10.48
193.44%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97€1.68
$0.55MDL 9.51
258.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.96€1.67
$1.32MDL 22.73
48.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.71
$0.82MDL 14.11
2.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.82€5.82
$3.30MDL 56.9
106.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.85€4.99
$4.52MDL 78.0
29.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.18
$1.15MDL 19.89
20.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92€2.49
$1.99MDL 34.28
46.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Cimislia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.29€1.95
$0.30MDL 5.22
663.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.88€39.99
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.12€3.51
$2.01MDL 34.60
104.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.69
$0.25MDL 4.27
224.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.94€16.16
$5.13MDL 88.4
269.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09€1.78
$1.44MDL 24.80
45.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K€30.0K
$32.7KMDL 563.1K
7.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7K€33.9K
$31.0KMDL 534.8K
27.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Cimislia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150€128
$169MDL 2,920
-11.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.49€17.48
$7.62MDL 131
168.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.15€33.40
$10.94MDL 188
257.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Cimislia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.65€42.35
$17.20MDL 296
188.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.47€15.76
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.20€7.84
$7.74MDL 133
18.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Cimislia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$624€533
$390MDL 6,721
60.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9K€13.6K
$7,514MDL 129.5K
111.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Cimislia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€87.2
$64.7MDL 1,115
57.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.88€34.87
$54.8MDL 944
-25.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.7€81.6
$112MDL 1,936
-14.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121€103
$120MDL 2,075
0.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Cimislia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,653€1,410
$235MDL 4,042
604.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,233€1,051
$172MDL 2,962
616.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,043€2,596
$347MDL 5,981
776.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,059€1,756
$293MDL 5,048
602.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,879€6,720
$773MDL 13.3K
919.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,303€3,671
$702MDL 12.1K
512.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Cimislia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,566€1,336
$437MDL 7,526
258.58%
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: April 21, 2026
Last update for Cimislia: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,653 in Lisbon and $235 in Cimislia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 259% 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 in Lisbon vs $23 in Cimislia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $270 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 168% 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 259% 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: $1,653 in Lisbon versus $235 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 59% 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 $2,243 per month in Lisbon versus $835 in Cimislia – a 168% 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 $835 in Cimislia versus $2,243 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 $835 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 168% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.