😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,268 in Lisbon versus $827 in Cimislia.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,348 in Lisbon versus $1,161 in Cimislia.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,429 in Lisbon versus $1,496 in Cimislia.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 174% more expensive than in Cimislia, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 64% above, Cimislia is 40% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Cimislia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.55€15.12
$7.15MDL 123
145.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.5€55.6
$22.96MDL 394
180.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.65€10.04
$10.82MDL 186
7.67%
Cappuccino
$3.26€2.81
$1.76MDL 30.25
85.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.15
$1.11MDL 19.00
124.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67€1.44
$0.68MDL 11.66
145.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47€2.99
$1.15MDL 19.76
201.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58€3.08
$2.35MDL 40.31
52.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Cimislia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18€1.02
$1.06MDL 18.20
11.32%
White Bread(500g)
$1.95€1.68
$0.43MDL 7.35
353.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56€1.35
$1.66MDL 28.42
-6.02%
Eggs
$4.01€3.46
$2.12MDL 36.32
89.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.27€11.44
$6.88MDL 118
92.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.42€7.26
$4.19MDL 72.0
100.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.23€15.72
$6.47MDL 111
181.76%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32€2.00
$0.60MDL 10.33
286.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73€1.49
$2.30MDL 39.45
-24.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93€1.67
$1.43MDL 24.62
34.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$2.09MDL 35.83
26.32%
Potato(1kg)
$1.90€1.64
$0.56MDL 9.60
239.29%
Onion(1kg)
$2.11€1.82
$0.56MDL 9.55
276.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.24
$0.46MDL 7.82
213.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80€0.69
$0.60MDL 10.29
33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.01€6.04
$3.39MDL 58.2
106.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.92€5.11
$4.53MDL 77.8
30.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36€1.18
$1.20MDL 20.53
13.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15€1.85
$2.08MDL 35.68
3.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Cimislia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.38€2.05
$0.30MDL 5.19
693.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.22€39.85
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.19€3.61
$2.97MDL 50.9
41.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.10€0.95
$0.27MDL 4.68
307.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.26€14.88
$5.78MDL 99.3
198.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.25€1.94
$1.50MDL 25.69
50.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K€29.7K
$35.3KMDL 605.8K
-2.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.6K€35.9K
$24.9KMDL 426.8K
67.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Cimislia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$171€147
$229MDL 3,930
-25.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.01€16.38
$8.26MDL 142
130.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.28€29.55
$11.48MDL 197
198.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Cimislia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.65€42.80
$17.84MDL 306
178.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.51€16.81
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.10€8.71
$8.12MDL 139
24.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Cimislia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$699€603
$115MDL 1,970
508.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.8K€15.3K
$5,514MDL 94.6K
222.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Cimislia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.2
$46.58MDL 799
124.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.97€41.35
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.8
$58.0MDL 995
75.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128€111
$51.5MDL 884
149.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Cimislia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,661€1,432
$230MDL 3,945
622.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,228€1,059
$175MDL 2,998
603.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,915€2,513
$352MDL 6,046
727.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,023€1,744
$289MDL 4,951
601.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,129€7,007
$758MDL 13.0K
971.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,635€3,996
$696MDL 11.9K
565.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Cimislia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,619€1,396
$434MDL 7,441
273.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
8
-52.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026
Last update for Cimislia: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,661 in Lisbon and $230 in Cimislia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 273% 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: $64.0 in Lisbon vs $23.00 in Cimislia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $281 vs $155 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 174% 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 in Cimislia?
Average pay runs 273% higher in Lisbon, 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 compared to Cimislia?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,661 in Lisbon versus $230 in Cimislia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Lisbon or in Cimislia?
Supermarket bills run roughly 82% 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 $2,268 per month in Lisbon versus $827 in Cimislia – a 174% 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 in Cimislia?
At $827 in Cimislia versus $2,268 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 $827 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 174% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.