😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $348 in Ismailia.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $598 in Ismailia.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $847 in Ismailia.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 558% more expensive than in Ismailia, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Ismailia is 74% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Ismailia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.18
$3.50E£179
362.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.5
$15.57E£795
306.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.04
$4.49E£229
129.84%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$1.01E£51.6
180.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.01
$0.29E£14.81
689.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$0.09E£4.83
1655.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$1.20E£61.5
183.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.53
$1.99E£102
102.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Ismailia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.96
$0.82E£41.71
32.93%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$0.39E£19.89
348.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$0.61E£31.35
188.52%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$1.40E£71.6
126.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.56
$3.00E£153
339.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.98
$3.61E£184
120.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.60
$8.14E£415
90.79%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$1.43E£73.0
65.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$0.58E£29.74
194.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$0.39E£19.80
415.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$0.29E£14.68
737.93%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$0.38E£19.36
363.16%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$0.39E£19.88
420.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$0.21E£10.78
814.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$0.17E£8.84
400.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$1.64E£83.7
301.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.89
$6.01E£307
-7.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$1.02E£51.9
30.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$2.02E£103
47.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Ismailia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$0.27E£13.81
744.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.10
$4.01E£205
1041.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$0.31E£15.63
1264.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$0.43E£21.92
88.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.15
$2.02E£103
812.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$0.33E£17.03
530.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.4K
$30.0KE£1.5M
15.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$16.0KE£815.9K
145.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Ismailia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$11.32E£578
1207.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.92
$5.73E£292
257.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.64
$7.68E£392
415.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Ismailia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€42.03
$12.00E£613
299.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.29
$19.86E£1,014
-6.34%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.08
$2.01E£103
358.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Ismailia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€540
$89.2E£4,553
590.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$1,243E£63.5K
1222.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Ismailia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€90.0
$12.72E£649
707.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.55
$9.69E£495
330.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€83.0
$107E£5,451
-11.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$50.6E£2,581
141.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Ismailia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,430
$89.2E£4,553
1730.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,079
$40.26E£2,055
2960.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,713
$146E£7,430
2028.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,779
$87.8E£4,480
2214.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,858
$505E£25.8K
1450.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,844
$138E£7,034
3085.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Ismailia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,408
$109E£5,567
1373.89%
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: July 14, 2026
Last update for Ismailia: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $89.2 in Ismailia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 1374% 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: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $16.00 in Ismailia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 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 558% 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 in Ismailia?
Average pay runs 1374% higher in Lisbon, 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 compared to Ismailia?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $89.2 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 in Ismailia?
Childcare runs $616 in Lisbon versus $89.2 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 in Ismailia?
Supermarket bills run roughly 140% 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 in Ismailia?
At $348 in Ismailia versus $2,291 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 $348 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 558% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.