Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and El Congo Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and El Congo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,316 per month in Lisbon vs $566 in El Congo, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,361 per month in Lisbon vs $592 in El Congo, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,405 per month in Lisbon vs $618 in El Congo, rent included.

Lisbon costs about 309% more than El Congo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Lisbon sits 69% above the global median, while El Congo is 59% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.30 €14.89

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.3 €54.5

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.39 €9.81

Cappuccino

$3.19 €2.75

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

$2.45 €2.11

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 €1.52

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.59 €3.09

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 €2.92

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 €1.06

White Bread (500g)

$1.98 €1.71

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 €1.31

Eggs

$4.04 €3.48

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.54 €11.65

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.39 €7.22

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.25 €15.71

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 €1.97

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 €1.50

Oranges (1kg)

$1.86 €1.60

Tomato (1kg)

$2.63 €2.26

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 €1.65

Onion (1kg)

$2.09 €1.80

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.44 €1.24

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 €0.72

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.78 €5.84

Wine (Bottle)

$5.71 €4.92

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 €1.18

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 €1.91

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.40 €2.07

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.78 €40.27

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.17 €3.59

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.14 €0.98

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.68 €15.22

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.32 €2.00

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

$35.3K €30.4K

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

$41.4K €35.7K

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

$170 €147

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

$19.34 €16.65

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.64 €28.96

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.10 €41.40

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.90 €17.13

Cinema Ticket

$9.92 €8.54

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

$717 €617

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.5K €15.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €90.2

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.95 €40.41

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 €89.0

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 €107

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,677 €1,443

$727 $727

130.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,271 €1,094

$577 $577

120.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,985 €2,569

$937 $937

218.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,992 €1,715

$619 $619

221.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,826 €6,737

$4,220 $4,220

85.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,658 €4,010

$1,310 $1,310

255.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,583 €1,362

$949 $949

66.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.79

5.72

-33.74%

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

Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026

Last update for El Congo: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,677 in Lisbon versus $727 in El Congo. 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 67% higher in Lisbon, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 El Congo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,316 in Lisbon, $566 in El Congo – roughly 309% apart. Lisbon costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,474 per month in Lisbon and $849 in El Congo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in El Congo, where all-in costs run around $566, than in Lisbon at $2,316. In El Congo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Lisbon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $566 in El Congo to $2,316 in Lisbon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 El Congo. 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.