Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Dili Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Dili

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,316 per month in Lisbon vs $1,553 in Dili, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,361 per month in Lisbon vs $2,403 in Dili, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,405 per month in Lisbon vs $3,252 in Dili, rent included.

Lisbon costs about 49% more than Dili, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Lisbon and Dili sit above the global median – Lisbon by 69%, Dili by 13%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.30 €14.87

$4.88 $4.88

254.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.3 €54.4

$41.79 $41.79

51.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.39 €9.80

$8.08 $8.08

40.97%

Cappuccino

$3.19 €2.74

$4.24 $4.24

-24.76%

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

$2.45 €2.10

$1.64 $1.64

49.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 €1.52

$2.35 $2.35

-25.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.59 €3.09

$2.49 $2.49

44.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 €2.92

$4.53 $4.53

-25.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 €1.06

$2.30 $2.30

-46.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.98 €1.71

$2.50 $2.50

-20.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 €1.31

$0.90 $0.90

68.89%

Eggs

$4.04 €3.47

$2.62 $2.62

54.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.54 €11.64

$2.05 $2.05

560.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.39 €7.21

$9.66 $9.66

-13.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.25 €15.69

$16.28 $16.28

12.10%

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 €1.97

$3.23 $3.23

-29.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 €1.50

$1.88 $1.88

-7.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.86 €1.60

$2.56 $2.56

-27.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.63 €2.26

$2.27 $2.27

15.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 €1.65

$1.25 $1.25

53.60%

Onion (1kg)

$2.09 €1.80

$1.14 $1.14

83.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.44 €1.24

$0.93 $0.93

54.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 €0.72

$0.98 $0.98

-14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.78 €5.83

$2.95 $2.95

129.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.71 €4.91

$11.95 $11.95

-52.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 €1.18

$2.30 $2.30

-40.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 €1.91

$2.86 $2.86

-22.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.40 €2.06

$0.24 $0.24

900.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.78 €40.22

$29.95 $29.95

56.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.17 €3.59

$3.60 $3.60

15.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.14 €0.98

$3.75 $3.75

-69.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.68 €15.20

$19.73 $19.73

-10.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.32 €2.00

$1.49 $1.49

55.70%

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

$35.3K €30.4K

$18.3K $18.3K

92.96%

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

$41.4K €35.6K

$17.2K $17.2K

140.45%

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

$170 €146

$150 $150

13.23%

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

$19.34 €16.63

$27.04 $27.04

-28.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.64 €28.92

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.10 €41.35

$49.22 $49.22

-2.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.90 €17.11

Cinema Ticket

$9.92 €8.53

$6.07 $6.07

63.43%

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

$717 €617

$1,520 $1,520

-52.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.5K €15.0K

$15.7K $15.7K

10.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €90.1

$60.1 $60.1

74.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.95 €40.37

$29.47 $29.47

59.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 €88.9

$81.2 $81.2

27.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 €107

$61.1 $61.1

102.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,677 €1,441

$824 $824

103.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,271 €1,093

$755 $755

68.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,985 €2,566

$2,681 $2,681

11.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,992 €1,713

$1,499 $1,499

32.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,826 €6,729

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,658 €4,005

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,583 €1,361

$3,634 $3,634

-56.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.79

5.37

-29.42%

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

Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026

Last update for Dili: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,677 in Lisbon versus $824 in Dili. 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 130% higher in Dili, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Lisbon versus $42.00 in Dili. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $283 vs $277 – making Dili 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 Dili: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Lisbon is pricier by about 49%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,474 per month in Lisbon and $2,330 in Dili. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Lisbon and $42.00 in Dili. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,316 in Lisbon and $1,553 in Dili. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Dili, where all-in costs run around $1,553, than in Lisbon at $2,316. In Dili it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Dili – 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 Dili. 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.