Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and FocaCost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Foca
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $921 in Foca.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $1,387 in Foca.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $1,853 in Foca.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 149% more expensive than in Foca, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Foca is 31% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Foca
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.18
$6.98BAM 11.96
131.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.5
$16.76BAM 28.70
277.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.04
$8.97BAM 15.37
15.05%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$1.57BAM 2.70
80.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.01
$0.98BAM 1.68
133.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$0.57BAM 0.97
177.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$2.01BAM 3.44
69.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.53
$2.79BAM 4.77
44.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Foca
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.96
$1.20BAM 2.05
-9.17%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$1.19BAM 2.04
47.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.57BAM 2.69
12.10%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$2.96BAM 5.06
7.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.56
$9.60BAM 16.44
37.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.98
$5.24BAM 8.97
52.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.60
$11.92BAM 20.42
30.29%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$0.84BAM 1.43
182.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$1.65BAM 2.83
3.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$1.86BAM 3.18
8.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$1.95BAM 3.34
24.62%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.19BAM 2.04
47.90%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$1.31BAM 2.24
54.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$1.22BAM 2.09
57.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$0.76BAM 1.31
11.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$3.68BAM 6.30
78.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.89
$8.47BAM 14.51
-34.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$0.70BAM 1.19
90.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$1.08BAM 1.85
175.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Foca
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$1.85BAM 3.16
23.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.10
$35.83BAM 61.4
27.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$1.48BAM 2.54
185.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$0.52BAM 0.90
55.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.15
$9.06BAM 15.52
103.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$1.52BAM 2.60
36.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.4K
$28.3KBAM 48.4K
22.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$27.0KBAM 46.2K
45.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Foca
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$169BAM 289
-12.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.92
$19.25BAM 32.98
6.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.64
$23.25BAM 39.82
70.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Foca
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€42.03
$29.29BAM 50.2
63.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.29
$10.84BAM 18.56
71.59%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.08
$4.59BAM 7.87
100.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Foca
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€540
$237BAM 405
160.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$3,714BAM 6,360
342.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Foca
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€90.0
$75.5BAM 129
35.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.55
$37.18BAM 63.7
12.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€83.0
$69.5BAM 119
36.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$122BAM 208
0.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Foca
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,430
$157BAM 269
938.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,079
$172BAM 295
615.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,713
$361BAM 617
759.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,779
$320BAM 547
535.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,858
$2,544BAM 4,358
207.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,844
$1,760BAM 3,014
149.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Foca
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,408
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
5.02
-24.10%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Last update for Foca: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $157 in Foca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $17.00 in Foca for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $207 per month, with Foca 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 Foca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Foca cheaper than Lisbon?
Foca is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 149% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,437 in Lisbon and $1,382 in Foca to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Lisbon and Foca?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $157 in Foca. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $616 in Lisbon versus $237 in Foca. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Lisbon and in Foca?
Supermarket bills run roughly 29% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Lisbon or in Foca?
At $921 in Foca versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Foca but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Foca the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisbon or Foca more family-friendly?
For families, Foca 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 Foca?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Foca 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 Foca gentler on the wallet – expenses run 149% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.