😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $435 in El Faiyum.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $732 in El Faiyum.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $1,028 in El Faiyum.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 408% more expensive than El Faiyum, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, El Faiyum is 68% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
El Faiyum
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.70
$2.31E£120
588.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.8
$13.75E£712
371.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.05
$4.70E£243
123.62%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$1.24E£64.2
131.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$0.31E£16.30
622.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$0.10E£5.06
1400.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.01
$1.16E£60.2
200.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$3.02E£157
28.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
El Faiyum
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$0.72E£37.20
58.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$0.78E£40.39
124.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$0.66E£34.02
166.67%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$1.19E£61.8
170.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$2.95E£153
357.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$4.46E£231
77.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.67
$8.21E£425
93.30%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$1.49E£77.3
55.03%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$0.54E£27.94
214.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$0.43E£22.05
367.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$0.36E£18.78
583.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$0.38E£19.59
384.21%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$0.43E£22.21
365.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$0.24E£12.45
704.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.17E£8.73
364.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.69
$2.02E£104
227.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.93
$5.66E£293
1.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$1.34E£69.4
2.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$2.29E£119
29.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
El Faiyum
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$0.06E£2.89
3850.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.22
$6.09E£316
648.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$0.42E£21.95
921.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.29E£14.89
182.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.76
$0.94E£48.90
1846.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$0.33E£17.34
524.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$35.7KE£1.8M
-3.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$33.0KE£1.7M
19.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
El Faiyum
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$11.20E£580
1220.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.67
$5.75E£297
256.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.10
$9.96E£515
297.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
El Faiyum
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.19
$25.46E£1,318
87.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.29
$25.58E£1,324
-26.04%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.91
$2.39E£124
284.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
El Faiyum
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€529
$25.66E£1,328
2292.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$879E£45.5K
1725.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
El Faiyum
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.1
$27.77E£1,438
276.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.21
$44.38E£2,298
-5.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.9
$107E£5,552
-12.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$47.03E£2,435
154.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
El Faiyum
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,401
$188E£9,732
765.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,081
$85.5E£4,424
1368.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,609
$327E£17.0K
825.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,739
$185E£9,574
992.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,715
$411E£21.3K
1795.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,678
$201E£10.4K
2024.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
El Faiyum
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,380
$70.6E£3,654
2172.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
6
-36.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for El Faiyum: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $188 in El Faiyum. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 2172% 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: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $14.00 in El Faiyum for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $120 per month, with El Faiyum 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 El Faiyum: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is El Faiyum cheaper than Lisbon?
El Faiyum is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 408% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or El Faiyum?
Lisbon pays 2172% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Lisbon and El Faiyum?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $188 in El Faiyum. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in El Faiyum runs roughly 648% less than in Lisbon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $25.66 in El Faiyum. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Lisbon or El Faiyum?
At $435 in El Faiyum versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in El Faiyum but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes El Faiyum the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisbon or El Faiyum more family-friendly?
For families, El Faiyum is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lisbon, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or El Faiyum?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and El Faiyum 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find El Faiyum gentler on the wallet – expenses run 408% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.