😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $344 in Ismailia.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $582 in Ismailia.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $819 in Ismailia.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 542% more expensive than Ismailia, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Ismailia is 74% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Ismailia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.70
$3.58E£186
344.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.8
$15.66E£813
313.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.05
$4.50E£234
133.56%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$0.95E£49.38
202.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$0.27E£13.84
729.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$0.11E£5.62
1263.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.01
$1.20E£62.3
190.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$1.96E£102
97.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Ismailia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$0.85E£44.28
34.12%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$0.41E£21.35
326.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$0.66E£34.11
166.67%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$1.40E£72.5
130.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.62
$3.01E£156
348.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$3.72E£193
112.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.67
$7.78E£404
103.98%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$1.46E£76.0
58.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$0.54E£28.01
214.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$0.41E£21.36
390.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$0.29E£14.90
748.28%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$0.37E£19.45
397.30%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$0.41E£21.39
387.80%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$0.19E£9.75
915.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.17E£8.61
364.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.69
$1.63E£84.6
305.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.93
$5.85E£303
-2.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$1.02E£53.1
34.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$1.95E£101
52.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Ismailia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$0.25E£12.93
848.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.23
$4.04E£210
1027.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$0.33E£17.19
1200.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.45E£23.58
82.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.76
$1.94E£101
843.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$0.33E£17.32
524.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$30.1KE£1.6M
13.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$16.1KE£835.7K
144.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Ismailia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$11.33E£588
1205.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.67
$5.68E£295
261.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.11
$7.72E£401
413.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Ismailia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.20
$11.67E£606
310.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.29
$19.66E£1,020
-3.76%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.91
$2.01E£104
356.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Ismailia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€529
$86.9E£4,509
606.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$1,214E£63.0K
1222.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Ismailia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.1
$12.65E£657
727.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.22
$10.12E£525
315.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.9
$107E£5,537
-11.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$49.96E£2,593
139.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Ismailia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,402
$89.7E£4,653
1715.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,081
$39.40E£2,045
3085.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,609
$142E£7,384
2029.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,740
$88.5E£4,591
2184.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,716
$485E£25.2K
1507.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,679
$133E£6,897
3115.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Ismailia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,381
$107E£5,570
1394.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
17
-77.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Ismailia: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $89.7 in Ismailia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 1394% 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: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $16.00 in Ismailia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $111 per month, with Ismailia 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 Ismailia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Ismailia?
Ismailia wins on cost – living expenses run 542% lower than in Lisbon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ismailia the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lisbon or Ismailia?
Lisbon pays 1394% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lisbon vs Ismailia?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $89.7 in Ismailia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Lisbon and Ismailia?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $86.9 in Ismailia. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Lisbon or Ismailia?
Supermarket bills run roughly 143% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Lisbon or Ismailia?
At $344 in Ismailia versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ismailia but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Ismailia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Ismailia?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ismailia delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $344 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ismailia hard to pass up.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Ismailia?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Ismailia 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ismailia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 542% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.