Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Itapema Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Itapema

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,217 in Lisbon versus $782 in Itapema.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,245 in Lisbon versus $1,222 in Itapema.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,272 in Lisbon versus $1,662 in Itapema.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 183% more expensive than in Itapema, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Itapema is 41% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Itapema
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.78 €13.77
$5.47 R$28.24
188.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.5 €54.5
$27.60 R$142
126.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.54 €9.19
$6.31 R$32.58
67.04%
Cappuccino
$2.77 €2.41
$1.79 R$9.25
54.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 €1.99
$1.12 R$5.78
103.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 €1.35
$0.66 R$3.40
134.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.55 €3.09
$1.78 R$9.17
99.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98 €3.47
$2.73 R$14.10
45.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Itapema
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.94
$0.96 R$4.95
12.50%
White Bread (500g)
$1.77 €1.54
$1.44 R$7.43
22.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 €1.54
$1.14 R$5.90
55.26%
Eggs
$3.12 €2.72
$1.92 R$9.93
62.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.34 €11.64
$8.33 R$43.00
60.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.99 €6.98
$3.66 R$18.91
118.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.92 €13.89
$7.26 R$37.49
119.28%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 €1.99
$2.13 R$10.98
7.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 €1.43
$1.25 R$6.47
31.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.98 €1.73
$1.14 R$5.88
73.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.45 €2.14
$1.52 R$7.86
61.18%
Potato (1kg)
$1.77 €1.54
$1.16 R$5.97
52.59%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 €1.72
$1.09 R$5.61
80.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 €1.72
$0.71 R$3.66
177.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 €0.70
$0.61 R$3.17
31.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.54 €5.70
$2.11 R$10.87
209.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.75 €5.01
$7.52 R$38.79
-23.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32 €1.15
$1.22 R$6.31
8.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 €2.60
$2.08 R$10.75
43.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Itapema
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.34 €2.04
$0.87 R$4.50
168.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.85 €40.01
$38.07 R$197
20.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.26 €3.71
$1.10 R$5.69
287.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.84 €0.74
$0.75 R$3.88
12.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.86 €16.45
$6.25 R$32.24
201.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.07 €1.81
$1.09 R$5.62
89.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.2K €30.8K
$20.7K R$106.9K
70.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.6K €33.7K
$27.2K R$140.3K
42.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Itapema
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$151 €132
$60.5 R$312
149.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.91 €18.24
$13.39 R$69.1
56.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.54 €34.50
$18.72 R$96.6
111.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Itapema
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.39 €42.22
$22.30 R$115
117.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.61 €16.24
$21.45 R$111
-13.24%
Cinema Ticket
$9.04 €7.89
$6.29 R$32.46
43.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Itapema
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$610 €532
$285 R$1,469
114.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K €14.2K
$6,368 R$32.9K
155.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Itapema
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 €88.3
$47.56 R$245
112.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.58 €35.41
$42.38 R$219
-4.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.0 €81.2
$76.5 R$395
21.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €104
$63.3 R$327
87.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Itapema
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,603 €1,398
$321 R$1,657
399.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,239 €1,081
$214 R$1,102
480.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,019 €2,634
$584 R$3,014
416.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,061 €1,798
$431 R$2,225
378.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,981 €6,963
$1,484 R$7,657
437.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,533 €3,955
$1,011 R$5,217
348.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Itapema
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,628 €1,421
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
10.92
-65.11%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 15, 2026

Last update for Itapema: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,603 in Lisbon and $321 in Itapema. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $62.0 in Lisbon vs $28.00 in Itapema for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $173 per month, with Itapema 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 Itapema: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Itapema cheaper than Lisbon?
Itapema is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 183% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,325 in Lisbon and $1,173 in Itapema to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Lisbon and Itapema?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,603 in Lisbon versus $321 in Itapema. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Lisbon and in Itapema?
All in, you'll spend $2,217 per month in Lisbon versus $782 in Itapema – a 183% 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 Itapema runs roughly 20% 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 living in Lisbon or in Itapema?
At $782 in Itapema versus $2,217 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Itapema but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Itapema the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisbon or Itapema more family-friendly?
For families, Itapema 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 Itapema?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Itapema 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 Itapema gentler on the wallet – expenses run 183% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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