Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and David Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and David

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,227 per month in Lisbon vs $987 in David, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,305 per month in Lisbon vs $1,140 in David, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,384 per month in Lisbon vs $1,293 in David, rent included.

Lisbon costs about 126% more than David, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Lisbon sits 66% above the global median, while David is 26% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.17 €13.84

$5.03 PAB 5.03

221.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.6 €55.3

$36.58 PAB 36.58

76.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.38 €8.88

$6.59 PAB 6.59

57.51%

Cappuccino

$2.77 €2.37

$2.75 PAB 2.75

0.73%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 €1.92

$1.39 PAB 1.39

61.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 €1.35

$1.46 PAB 1.46

7.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.49 €2.99

$1.53 PAB 1.53

128.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.00 €3.43

$2.27 PAB 2.27

76.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 €0.93

$1.70 PAB 1.70

-36.47%

White Bread (500g)

$1.74 €1.49

$2.15 PAB 2.15

-19.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.74 €1.49

$2.57 PAB 2.57

-32.30%

Eggs

$3.18 €2.72

$2.03 PAB 2.03

56.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.43 €11.50

$5.61 PAB 5.61

139.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.99 €6.84

$10.86 PAB 10.86

-26.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.09 €13.77

$2.78 PAB 2.78

478.78%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 €1.95

$7.94 PAB 7.94

-71.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 €1.48

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 €1.66

Tomato (1kg)

$2.54 €2.18

Potato (1kg)

$1.83 €1.57

Onion (1kg)

$2.04 €1.75

$2.56 PAB 2.56

-20.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 €1.69

$1.34 PAB 1.34

47.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 €0.73

$2.43 PAB 2.43

-65.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.85 €5.87

Wine (Bottle)

$5.78 €4.94

$9.86 PAB 9.86

-41.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 €1.18

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 €2.48

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.28 €1.95

$0.78 PAB 0.78

192.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.84 €40.10

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.08 €3.49

$3.04 PAB 3.04

34.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 €0.70

$1.96 PAB 1.96

-58.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.27 €15.64

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.01 €1.72

$0.99 PAB 0.99

103.03%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.3K €30.2K

$25.0K PAB 25.0K

40.88%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$38.5K €32.9K

$30.0K PAB 30.0K

28.22%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$145 €124

$174 PAB 174

-16.36%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$20.96 €17.94

$28.51 PAB 28.51

-26.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.05 €34.29

$43.31 PAB 43.31

-7.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.79 €41.76

$31.41 PAB 31.41

55.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.69 €16.00

Cinema Ticket

$9.06 €7.76

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$607 €519

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.3K €14.0K

$5,913 PAB 5,913

176.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €89.6

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.95 €35.06

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.6 €80.1

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 €101

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,604 €1,373

$349 PAB 349

359.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,236 €1,058

$354 PAB 354

248.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,046 €2,607

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,057 €1,761

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,709 €6,599

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,266 €3,652

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,584 €1,356

$589 PAB 589

168.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.81

-45.57%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026

Last update for David: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,604 in Lisbon versus $349 in David. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 169% higher in Lisbon, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Lisbon versus $37.00 in David. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $271 vs $235 – making David the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 David: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Lisbon is pricier by about 126%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,341 per month in Lisbon and $1,481 in David. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in David, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% more in Lisbon, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Lisbon and $37.00 in David. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in David, where all-in costs run around $987, than in Lisbon at $2,227. In David it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward David – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with David. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lisbon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.