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: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $946 in Foca.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,406 in Foca.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $1,866 in Foca.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 134% more expensive than Foca, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Foca is 29% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Foca
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.69
$7.04BAM 11.83
125.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.7
$16.61BAM 27.90
289.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.04
$8.86BAM 14.89
18.62%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$1.66BAM 2.80
72.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$1.02BAM 1.72
119.61%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$0.55BAM 0.93
172.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.00
$2.08BAM 3.49
67.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$2.88BAM 4.84
34.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Foca
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.16BAM 1.95
-1.72%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$1.16BAM 1.96
50.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$1.63BAM 2.74
7.98%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$3.03BAM 5.08
6.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$9.38BAM 15.76
43.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$5.37BAM 9.03
47.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.65
$12.23BAM 20.55
29.76%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$0.91BAM 1.54
153.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$1.59BAM 2.66
6.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.95BAM 3.27
3.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$1.95BAM 3.27
26.15%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$1.19BAM 1.99
54.62%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$1.25BAM 2.10
60.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$1.22BAM 2.05
58.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.72BAM 1.21
9.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.68
$3.71BAM 6.24
78.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.92
$8.28BAM 13.91
-30.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.17
$0.72BAM 1.20
90.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$1.12BAM 1.89
165.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Foca
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$1.75BAM 2.94
35.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.19
$34.84BAM 58.5
30.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$1.46BAM 2.45
193.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.56BAM 0.94
46.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.74
$9.08BAM 15.26
101.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$1.54BAM 2.59
33.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$29.1KBAM 48.8K
17.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$27.1KBAM 45.6K
44.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Foca
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$174BAM 292
-14.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.65
$18.69BAM 31.41
9.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.08
$23.44BAM 39.39
68.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Foca
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.16
$29.75BAM 49.98
60.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.28
$11.01BAM 18.49
71.84%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.90
$4.69BAM 7.88
95.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Foca
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€528
$238BAM 400
158.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$3,653BAM 6,137
339.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Foca
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.0
$75.4BAM 127
38.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.18
$36.88BAM 62.0
14.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.8
$71.9BAM 121
30.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$123BAM 207
-2.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Foca
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,400
$158BAM 265
931.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,080
$171BAM 287
634.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,607
$364BAM 612
732.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,738
$316BAM 531
538.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,709
$2,551BAM 4,286
205.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,675
$1,858BAM 3,122
129.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Foca
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,379
-
-
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Foca: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $158 in Foca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $17.00 in Foca for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 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 134% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,315 in Lisbon and $1,418 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: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $158 in Foca. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $238 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 Foca?
Supermarket bills run roughly 30% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Lisbon or Foca?
At $946 in Foca versus $2,210 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 134% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.