Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and LousãCost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Lousã
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $1,653 in Lousã.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $2,447 in Lousã.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $3,241 in Lousã.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 39% more expensive than in Lousã, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon68% above, Lousã21% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Lousã
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59€15.24
$13.75€11.92
27.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€54.5
$49.03€42.49
28.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.58€10.04
$9.05€7.84
27.96%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.69
$2.15€1.87
44.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.16
$2.09€1.81
19.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74€1.51
$1.54€1.33
12.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.48€3.02
$2.26€1.96
53.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€2.98
$2.96€2.56
16.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Lousã
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15€0.99
$1.09€0.94
5.50%
White Bread(500g)
$1.91€1.65
$1.62€1.41
17.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50€1.30
$1.83€1.58
-18.03%
Eggs
$3.98€3.45
$2.99€2.59
33.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.52
$11.95€10.35
11.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.94
$7.59€6.58
5.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.04€15.64
$15.09€13.08
19.55%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35€2.04
$2.03€1.76
15.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75€1.52
$1.62€1.41
8.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85€1.61
$1.86€1.61
-0.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.21
$2.50€2.17
2.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.60
$1.63€1.41
12.88%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10€1.82
$2.02€1.75
3.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.29
$1.58€1.37
-5.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.71
$0.75€0.65
9.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10€6.15
$6.50€5.63
9.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.91€5.12
$4.59€3.97
28.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.14
$1.35€1.17
-2.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.85
$2.24€1.94
-4.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Lousã
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.36€2.04
$2.60€2.25
-9.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.62€40.40
$42.68€36.98
9.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.53
$4.44€3.85
-8.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.99
$1.48€1.28
-22.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.09€14.81
$14.34€12.42
19.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.31€2.00
$2.14€1.85
7.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.6K
$35.1K€30.4K
-2.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€35.9K
$38.8K€33.6K
6.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Lousã
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169€146
$107€93.1
56.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33€16.75
$18.23€15.80
6.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51€29.04
$34.21€29.65
-2.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Lousã
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.84€42.32
$40.71€35.28
19.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43€16.84
$19.50€16.90
-0.36%
Cinema Ticket
$9.57€8.29
$8.47€7.34
12.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Lousã
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696€603
$468€406
48.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.4K€15.0K
$6,468€5,605
168.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Lousã
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€91.3
$99.0€85.8
6.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75€41.38
$37.13€32.18
28.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.1
$79.5€68.9
26.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€108
$106€91.6
17.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Lousã
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,662€1,440
$1,009€874
64.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,246€1,080
$776€672
60.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,965€2,569
$1,567€1,358
89.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,049€1,775
$1,220€1,058
67.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,834€6,789
$2,854€2,473
174.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,464€3,869
$2,382€2,064
87.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Lousã
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,632€1,414
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
3.7
2.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Last update for Lousã: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $1,009 in Lousã. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $49.00 in Lousã for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $250 per month, with Lousã 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 Lousã: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Lousã?
Lisbon and Lousã differ by about 39% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $1,653 including rent). Lousã is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Lousã?
You'd need roughly $3,444 in Lisbon and $2,480 in Lousã 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in Lousã?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $1,009 in Lousã. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lisbon and Lousã?
Childcare runs $696 in Lisbon versus $468 in Lousã. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 11% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,653 in Lousã versus $2,296 in Lisbon, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lousã but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Lousã the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Lousã?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Lisbon or Lousã safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Lousã are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Lisbon or Lousã?
Expats usually find Lousã gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.