Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Ilsan Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Ilsan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,515 in Ilsan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $2,438 in Ilsan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $3,362 in Ilsan.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 46% more expensive than Ilsan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 65% above, Ilsan 13% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Ilsan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.69
$7.44 ₩11.3K
113.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.7
$55.8 ₩84.5K
16.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.04
$6.42 ₩9,731
63.71%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$3.82 ₩5,785
-24.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$1.68 ₩2,544
33.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$0.76 ₩1,149
97.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.00
$3.74 ₩5,668
-6.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$5.86 ₩8,873
-33.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Ilsan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$2.14 ₩3,244
-46.73%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$3.31 ₩5,015
-47.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$3.12 ₩4,724
-43.59%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$3.21 ₩4,870
0.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.61
$14.50 ₩22.0K
-6.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$11.00 ₩16.7K
-28.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.65
$33.89 ₩51.4K
-53.17%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$7.76 ₩11.8K
-70.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$3.57 ₩5,405
-52.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$5.49 ₩8,311
-63.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$6.43 ₩9,741
-61.74%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$3.97 ₩6,013
-53.65%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$2.86 ₩4,329
-30.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$2.59 ₩3,923
-25.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$1.20 ₩1,815
-34.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.68
$3.27 ₩4,950
102.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.92
$16.48 ₩25.0K
-65.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.17
$2.37 ₩3,594
-42.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$3.32 ₩5,031
-10.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Ilsan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$1.07 ₩1,624
121.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.19
$48.43 ₩73.4K
-5.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$2.45 ₩3,710
75.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$0.54 ₩814
51.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.74
$9.07 ₩13.7K
101.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$1.13 ₩1,713
82.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$28.1K ₩42.5M
22.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$24.7K ₩37.4M
59.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Ilsan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$162 ₩246.1K
-8.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.65
$34.91 ₩52.9K
-41.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.08
$22.01 ₩33.3K
79.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Ilsan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.16
$48.11 ₩72.9K
-0.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.28
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.90
$11.19 ₩17.0K
-17.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Ilsan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €528
$409 ₩620.4K
49.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$23.1K ₩35.1M
-30.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Ilsan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.0
$58.6 ₩88.8K
78.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.18
$47.37 ₩71.8K
-11.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.8
$79.9 ₩121.0K
17.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$115 ₩173.7K
4.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Ilsan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,400
$450 ₩681.5K
261.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,080
$377 ₩571.8K
232.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,607
$1,057 ₩1.6M
186.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,738
$764 ₩1.2M
164.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,709
$9,975 ₩15.1M
-21.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,675
$4,957 ₩7.5M
-13.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Ilsan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,379
$3,121 ₩4.7M
-48.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
4.14
-7.97%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ilsan: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $450 in Ilsan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ilsan pays 95% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $56.0 in Ilsan. Groceries flip the comparison at $269 vs $488, with Lisbon 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 Ilsan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ilsan cheaper than Lisbon?
Ilsan is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 46% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or Ilsan?
On paper, Ilsan earns 95% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Lisbon and Ilsan?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $450 in Ilsan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Lisbon vs Ilsan?
All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $1,515 in Ilsan – a 46% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Ilsan runs roughly 6% 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 Ilsan?
At $1,515 in Ilsan versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ilsan but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Ilsan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisbon or Ilsan more family-friendly?
For families, Ilsan 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 Ilsan?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Ilsan 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 Ilsan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 46% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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