😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,243 in Lisbon versus $1,315 in Garliava.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $2,038 in Garliava.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,387 in Lisbon versus $2,762 in Garliava.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 71% more expensive than Garliava, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 67% above, Garliava is 2% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Garliava
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.73€13.42
$11.65€9.93
35.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.2€53.9
$62.8€53.6
0.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€8.80
$6.83€5.82
51.10%
Cappuccino
$2.81€2.40
$3.04€2.59
-7.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33€1.99
$2.29€1.96
1.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51€1.29
$1.71€1.46
-11.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.37€2.87
$5.05€4.31
-33.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.34
$4.36€3.72
-10.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Garliava
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.92
$1.44€1.23
-25.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.49
$1.81€1.54
-3.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75€1.50
$2.35€2.00
-25.53%
Eggs
$3.10€2.64
$2.88€2.45
7.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.28€11.33
$10.70€9.13
24.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.85€6.70
$7.77€6.62
1.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.05€13.69
$10.23€8.73
56.89%
Apples(1kg)
$2.39€2.04
$1.37€1.17
74.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.47
$1.62€1.38
6.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97€1.68
$2.20€1.88
-10.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.17
$3.56€3.04
-28.37%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
$0.75€0.64
138.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97€1.68
$1.00€0.85
97.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.96€1.67
$1.68€1.44
16.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.71
$0.86€0.74
-2.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.82€5.82
$5.93€5.05
15.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.85€4.99
$10.46€8.92
-44.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.18
$1.72€1.46
-19.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92€2.49
$1.78€1.52
64.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Garliava
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.29€1.95
$1.13€0.97
102.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.88€39.99
$33.72€28.76
39.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.12€3.51
$2.94€2.51
40.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.69
$1.02€0.87
-20.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.94€16.16
$8.99€7.67
110.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09€1.78
$1.60€1.36
30.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K€30.0K
$39.4K€33.6K
-10.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7K€33.9K
$29.4K€25.1K
34.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Garliava
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150€128
$213€182
-29.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.49€17.48
$15.64€13.35
31.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.15€33.40
$14.81€12.63
164.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Garliava
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.65€42.35
$41.49€35.39
19.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.47€15.76
$22.75€19.40
-18.81%
Cinema Ticket
$9.20€7.84
$9.02€7.69
2.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Garliava
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$624€533
$457€389
36.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9K€13.6K
$7,667€6,540
107.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Garliava
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€87.2
$85.3€72.8
19.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.88€34.87
$42.70€36.43
-4.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.7€81.6
$82.7€70.6
15.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121€103
$117€99.5
3.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Garliava
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,653€1,410
$531€453
211.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,233€1,051
$362€309
240.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,043€2,596
$834€712
264.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,059€1,756
$642€547
220.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,879€6,720
$2,678€2,284
194.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,303€3,671
$1,627€1,388
164.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Garliava
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,566€1,336
$1,409€1,202
11.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
4.13
-7.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 21, 2026
Last update for Garliava: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,653 in Lisbon and $531 in Garliava. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 11% 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 in Lisbon vs $63 in Garliava. Groceries flip the comparison at $270 vs $253, with Garliava cheaper for home cooking.
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 Garliava: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Garliava cheaper than Lisbon?
Garliava is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 71% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or Garliava?
Lisbon pays 11% 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 Garliava?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,653 in Lisbon versus $531 in Garliava. 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 Garliava runs roughly 39% 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 $624 in Lisbon versus $457 in Garliava. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Lisbon or Garliava?
At $1,315 in Garliava versus $2,243 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Garliava but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Garliava the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisbon or Garliava more family-friendly?
For families, Garliava 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 Garliava?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Garliava 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 Garliava gentler on the wallet – expenses run 71% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.