Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Faro Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Faro

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,268 per month in Lisbon vs $1,885 in Faro, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,348 per month in Lisbon vs $2,781 in Faro, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,429 per month in Lisbon vs $3,677 in Faro, rent included.

Lisbon costs about 20% more than Faro, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Lisbon and Faro sit above the global median – Lisbon by 64%, Faro by 37%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.55 €15.12

$13.83 €11.92

26.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.5 €55.6

$47.05 €40.55

37.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.65 €10.04

$11.46 €9.87

1.66%

Cappuccino

$3.26 €2.81

$1.95 €1.68

67.18%

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

$2.49 €2.15

$2.47 €2.13

0.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 €1.44

$1.77 €1.52

-5.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.47 €2.99

$2.84 €2.45

22.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 €3.08

$2.58 €2.22

38.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 €1.02

$1.10 €0.95

7.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.95 €1.68

$1.50 €1.30

30.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 €1.35

$1.80 €1.55

-13.33%

Eggs

$4.01 €3.46

$3.39 €2.92

18.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.27 €11.44

$14.14 €12.19

-6.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.42 €7.26

$6.17 €5.32

36.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.23 €15.72

$11.47 €9.89

58.94%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 €2.00

$2.73 €2.35

-15.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 €1.49

$1.36 €1.18

27.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 €1.67

$1.56 €1.34

23.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.64 €2.27

$2.63 €2.26

0.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 €1.64

$3.28 €2.83

-42.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.11 €1.82

$2.60 €2.24

-18.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.44 €1.24

$1.46 €1.26

-1.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 €0.69

$1.22 €1.05

-34.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.01 €6.04

$6.62 €5.71

5.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.92 €5.11

$5.18 €4.47

14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 €1.18

$0.99 €0.85

37.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 €1.85

$3.42 €2.95

-37.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.38 €2.05

$3.46 €2.99

-31.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.22 €39.85

$42.48 €36.62

8.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.19 €3.61

$3.91 €3.37

7.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 €0.95

$1.13 €0.97

-2.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.26 €14.88

$21.91 €18.89

-21.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.25 €1.94

$2.18 €1.88

3.21%

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

$34.5K €29.7K

$34.3K €29.6K

0.40%

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

$41.6K €35.9K

$39.2K €33.8K

6.16%

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

$171 €147

$136 €118

25.22%

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

$19.01 €16.38

$20.36 €17.55

-6.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.28 €29.55

$38.88 €33.52

-11.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.65 €42.80

$44.32 €38.20

12.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.51 €16.81

$22.38 €19.29

-12.82%

Cinema Ticket

$10.10 €8.71

$11.71 €10.09

-13.75%

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

$699 €603

$468 €403

49.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.8K €15.3K

$11.2K €9,651

58.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €90.2

$73.5 €63.4

42.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.97 €41.35

$46.76 €40.31

2.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 €87.8

$108 €93.1

-5.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 €111

$105 €90.6

22.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,661 €1,432

$1,054 €908

57.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,228 €1,059

$927 €799

32.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,915 €2,513

$1,793 €1,546

62.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,023 €1,744

$1,537 €1,325

31.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,129 €7,007

$4,848 €4,179

67.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,635 €3,996

$3,692 €3,183

25.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,619 €1,396

$1,374 €1,184

17.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.78

3.57

5.88%

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

Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026

Last update for Faro: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,661 in Lisbon versus $1,054 in Faro. 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 18% 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 $64.0 in Lisbon versus $47.00 in Faro. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $281 vs $253 – making Faro 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 Faro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Lisbon is pricier by about 20%, 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 $3,402 per month in Lisbon and $2,827 in Faro. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $699 per month in Lisbon and $468 in Faro. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 11% 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 $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Faro, where all-in costs run around $1,885, than in Lisbon at $2,268. In Faro it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Faro – 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 Faro. 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.