😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $779 in Fuvahmulah.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,126 in Fuvahmulah.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $1,474 in Fuvahmulah.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 184% more expensive than Fuvahmulah, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Fuvahmulah is 42% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Fuvahmulah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.70
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.8
-
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.05
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
-
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.01
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Fuvahmulah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.61MVR 24.75
-29.19%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$0.92MVR 14.18
90.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$0.47MVR 7.28
274.47%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$1.53MVR 23.62
110.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.62
$6.52MVR 101
106.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$4.71MVR 72.6
67.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.67
$13.03MVR 201
21.80%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$3.20MVR 49.27
-27.81%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$1.29MVR 19.83
31.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$3.31MVR 51.1
-39.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$1.60MVR 24.61
53.75%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$1.08MVR 16.65
70.37%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$1.11MVR 17.16
80.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$1.60MVR 24.71
20.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.63MVR 9.74
25.40%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$3.81MVR 58.8
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.69
$6.93MVR 107
-4.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.93
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Fuvahmulah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$0.64MVR 9.80
270.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.23
$19.35MVR 298
135.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$1.65MVR 25.47
160.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$1.65MVR 25.51
-50.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.76
$6.58MVR 101
178.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$1.32MVR 20.29
56.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$19.5KMVR 301.2K
75.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$22.5KMVR 347.7K
74.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Fuvahmulah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$159MVR 2,456
-7.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.67
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.11
$38.49MVR 594
2.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Fuvahmulah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.20
$22.51MVR 347
112.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.29
$13.06MVR 201
44.87%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.91
$6.55MVR 101
40.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Fuvahmulah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€529
$154MVR 2,379
298.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$2,284MVR 35.2K
602.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Fuvahmulah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.1
$28.82MVR 444
263.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.22
$18.82MVR 290
123.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.9
$38.43MVR 593
144.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$52.1MVR 803
129.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Fuvahmulah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,402
$325MVR 5,014
400.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,081
$262MVR 4,040
379.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,609
$553MVR 8,532
447.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,740
$512MVR 7,899
294.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,716
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,679
$352MVR 5,430
1113.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Fuvahmulah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,381
$665MVR 10.3K
141.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Fuvahmulah: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $325 in Fuvahmulah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 141% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
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 Fuvahmulah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fuvahmulah cheaper than Lisbon?
Fuvahmulah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 184% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or Fuvahmulah?
Lisbon pays 141% 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 Fuvahmulah?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $325 in Fuvahmulah. 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 $154 in Fuvahmulah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Fuvahmulah runs roughly 135% less than in Lisbon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Lisbon or Fuvahmulah?
At $779 in Fuvahmulah versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Fuvahmulah but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Fuvahmulah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisbon or Fuvahmulah more family-friendly?
For families, Fuvahmulah 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 Fuvahmulah?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Fuvahmulah 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 Fuvahmulah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 184% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.