Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Magenta Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Magenta

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,966 in Magenta.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $3,031 in Magenta.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $4,096 in Magenta.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 12% more expensive than Magenta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 65% above, Magenta 47% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Magenta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.69
$22.82 €19.63
-30.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.7
$91.3 €78.5
-29.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.04
$13.99 €12.03
-24.87%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$1.98 €1.71
44.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$3.72 €3.20
-39.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$1.70 €1.46
-11.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.00
$7.00 €6.02
-50.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$5.36 €4.61
-27.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Magenta
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$1.99 €1.71
-42.71%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$3.13 €2.69
-44.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$3.25 €2.80
-45.85%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$4.34 €3.74
-25.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.61
$17.72 €15.24
-23.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$13.88 €11.94
-43.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.65
$26.54 €22.83
-40.20%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$2.08 €1.79
11.06%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$2.29 €1.97
-25.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$3.11 €2.68
-35.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$4.34 €3.73
-43.32%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$2.80 €2.41
-34.29%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$2.16 €1.86
-7.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$1.52 €1.30
26.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$0.61 €0.53
29.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.68
$7.00 €6.02
-5.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.92
$9.04 €7.78
-36.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.17
$2.28 €1.96
-39.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$3.02 €2.60
-1.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Magenta
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$1.78 €1.53
33.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.19
$43.88 €37.75
3.83%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$8.98 €7.73
-52.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$1.11 €0.96
-26.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.74
$40.99 €35.26
-55.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$2.05 €1.76
0.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$34.9K €30.1K
-1.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$36.5K €31.4K
7.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Magenta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$274 €235
-45.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.65
$11.35 €9.76
80.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.08
$31.68 €27.25
25.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Magenta
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.16
$54.8 €47.13
-12.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.28
$22.89 €19.69
-17.34%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.90
$11.71 €10.07
-21.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Magenta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €528
$942 €811
-34.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$17.6K €15.2K
-8.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Magenta
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.0
$108 €92.7
-2.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.18
$41.25 €35.49
1.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.8
$126 €108
-25.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$172 €148
-30.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Magenta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,400
$765 €658
112.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,080
$579 €498
116.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,607
$1,239 €1,066
144.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,738
$942 €810
114.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,709
$2,475 €2,129
215.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,675
$2,189 €1,883
95.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Magenta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,379
$1,764 €1,518
-9.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
4.63
-17.71%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Magenta: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $765 in Magenta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Magenta pays 10% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $91.0 in Magenta for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $404 per month, with Lisbon 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 Magenta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Magenta?
Lisbon and Magenta differ by about 12% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $1,966 including rent). Magenta is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Magenta earns 10% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Magenta?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $765 in Magenta. 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 Magenta?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $942 in Magenta. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 50% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,966 in Magenta versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Magenta but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Magenta the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Magenta?
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 Magenta safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Magenta 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 Magenta?
Expats usually find Magenta gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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