😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,316 in Lisbon versus $451 in El Faiyum.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,361 in Lisbon versus $759 in El Faiyum.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,405 in Lisbon versus $1,067 in El Faiyum.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 414% more expensive than in El Faiyum, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 69% above, El Faiyum is 67% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
El Faiyum
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.30€14.89
$2.43E£124
611.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€54.4
$13.87E£706
356.16%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.39€9.80
$4.95E£252
130.10%
Cappuccino
$3.19€2.75
$1.26E£64.1
153.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45€2.10
$0.34E£17.35
620.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.52
$0.12E£6.33
1366.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.59€3.09
$1.40E£71.3
156.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39€2.92
$2.99E£152
13.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
El Faiyum
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.06
$0.72E£36.73
72.22%
White Bread(500g)
$1.98€1.71
$0.76E£38.78
160.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.52€1.31
$0.66E£33.83
130.30%
Eggs
$4.04€3.48
$1.21E£61.7
233.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.54€11.65
$2.99E£152
352.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.39€7.22
$4.40E£224
90.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.25€15.70
$8.09E£412
125.59%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.97
$1.57E£80.1
45.86%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74€1.50
$0.68E£34.59
155.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86€1.60
$0.58E£29.43
220.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.63€2.26
$0.35E£18.05
651.43%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$0.25E£12.69
668.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09€1.80
$0.34E£17.05
514.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.24
$0.27E£13.73
433.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.72
$0.20E£10.15
320.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.83
$2.01E£102
237.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.71€4.91
$5.92E£301
-3.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.18
$1.31E£66.7
5.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22€1.91
$2.27E£116
-2.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
El Faiyum
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.40€2.06
$0.07E£3.48
3328.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.78€40.25
$5.77E£293
710.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.17€3.59
$0.46E£23.37
806.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.98
$0.31E£15.81
267.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.68€15.21
$1.01E£51.6
1650.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.32€2.00
$0.39E£19.97
494.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.4K
$32.7KE£1.7M
8.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€35.7K
$28.7KE£1.5M
44.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
El Faiyum
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170€147
$14.37E£731
1085.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.34€16.64
$7.43E£378
160.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.64€28.95
$13.93E£709
141.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
El Faiyum
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.10€41.39
$24.75E£1,259
94.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.90€17.12
$25.10E£1,277
-20.72%
Cinema Ticket
$9.92€8.54
$2.39E£121
315.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
El Faiyum
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$717€617
$26.07E£1,327
2651.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.5K€15.0K
$896E£45.6K
1851.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
El Faiyum
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.2
$33.13E£1,686
216.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.95€40.40
$45.20E£2,300
3.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.0
$125E£6,339
-16.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€107
$46.90E£2,386
164.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
El Faiyum
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,677€1,443
$185E£9,388
808.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,271€1,094
$84.6E£4,305
1402.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,985€2,568
$334E£17.0K
792.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,992€1,715
$180E£9,164
1006.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,826€6,734
$419E£21.3K
1769.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,658€4,008
$210E£10.7K
2118.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
El Faiyum
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,583€1,362
$71.2E£3,621
2123.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.79
6
-36.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Last update for El Faiyum: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,677 in Lisbon and $185 in El Faiyum. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 2124% 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: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $14.00 in El Faiyum for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $283 vs $121 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 414% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or El Faiyum?
Average pay runs 2124% higher in Lisbon, 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: $1,677 in Lisbon versus $185 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 711% 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 $717 in Lisbon versus $26.07 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 living in Lisbon or in El Faiyum?
At $451 in El Faiyum versus $2,316 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 414% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.