Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Lagos Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Lagos

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,210 per month in Lisbon vs $1,123 in Lagos, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,311 per month in Lisbon vs $1,882 in Lagos, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,411 per month in Lisbon vs $2,641 in Lagos, rent included.

Lisbon costs about 97% more than Lagos, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Lisbon sits 65% above the global median, while Lagos is 16% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Lagos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.69
$2.61 ₦3,551
509.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.7
$49.01 ₦66.7K
32.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.04
$5.28 ₦7,193
99.05%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$2.17 ₦2,955
32.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$0.36 ₦492
522.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$0.22 ₦300
581.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.00
$0.79 ₦1,078
341.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$1.39 ₦1,897
179.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Lagos
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$2.34 ₦3,183
-51.28%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$1.25 ₦1,698
40.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$2.23 ₦3,037
-21.08%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$1.68 ₦2,287
91.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.61
$6.15 ₦8,375
119.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$4.29 ₦5,844
84.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.65
$5.25 ₦7,154
202.29%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$3.48 ₦4,742
-33.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$2.06 ₦2,801
-17.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$2.21 ₦3,011
-9.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$2.28 ₦3,105
7.89%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$2.40 ₦3,271
-23.33%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$2.02 ₦2,753
-0.99%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$2.02 ₦2,746
-4.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$0.39 ₦529
102.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.68
$1.27 ₦1,727
420.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.92
$2.49 ₦3,397
129.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.17
$0.63 ₦856
117.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$0.88 ₦1,196
237.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Lagos
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$0.69 ₦934
243.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.19
$36.96 ₦50.3K
23.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$1.25 ₦1,702
243.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$2.24 ₦3,048
-63.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.74
$4.68 ₦6,368
291.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$0.79 ₦1,070
160.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$20.2K ₦27.5M
69.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$20.7K ₦28.2M
89.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Lagos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$41.11 ₦56.0K
259.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.65
$10.16 ₦13.8K
101.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.08
$33.75 ₦46.0K
17.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Lagos
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.16
$30.68 ₦41.8K
55.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.28
$12.80 ₦17.4K
47.81%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.90
$6.30 ₦8,577
45.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Lagos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €528
$84.5 ₦115.1K
626.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$2,314 ₦3.2M
593.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Lagos
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.0
$19.07 ₦26.0K
448.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.18
$24.51 ₦33.4K
71.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.8
$65.0 ₦88.5K
44.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$57.7 ₦78.5K
107.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Lagos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,400
$1,087 ₦1.5M
49.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,080
$632 ₦861.1K
98.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,607
$2,746 ₦3.7M
10.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,738
$1,347 ₦1.8M
49.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,709
$3,278 ₦4.5M
137.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,675
$1,622 ₦2.2M
163.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Lagos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,379
$116 ₦158.0K
1281.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
16.33
-76.67%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Lagos: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,628 in Lisbon versus $1,087 in Lagos. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 1282% higher in Lisbon, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Lisbon versus $49.00 in Lagos. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $269 vs $191 – making Lagos the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Lagos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Lagos?
Lisbon costs about 97% more than Lagos, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Lisbon vs Lagos?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,315 per month in Lisbon and $1,685 in Lagos. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Lisbon or Lagos?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Lagos, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Lisbon and Lagos?
Kindergarten costs $614 per month in Lisbon and $84.5 in Lagos. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Lisbon or Lagos?
Groceries cost about 41% more in Lisbon, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Lisbon or Lagos?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Lagos, where all-in costs run around $1,123, than in Lisbon at $2,210. In Lagos it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Lagos?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Lagos costs $1,123 versus $2,210 in Lisbon. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Lagos?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Lisbon or Lagos?
If budget matters most, go with Lagos. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lisbon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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