😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,280 in Lisbon versus $959 in Mahebourg.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,294 in Lisbon versus $1,549 in Mahebourg.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,307 in Lisbon versus $2,140 in Mahebourg.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 138% more expensive than in Mahebourg, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Mahebourg is 28% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Mahebourg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75€13.64
$5.28MUR 248
198.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5€55.0
$43.92MUR 2,057
44.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.45€9.05
$6.53MUR 306
60.03%
Cappuccino
$2.91€2.52
$2.68MUR 125
8.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€1.98
$1.02MUR 47.99
124.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$0.55MUR 25.99
172.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.56€3.09
$2.24MUR 105
58.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96€3.43
$3.36MUR 157
17.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Mahebourg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.94
$0.96MUR 44.86
12.50%
White Bread(500g)
$1.76€1.53
$0.45MUR 21.16
291.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70€1.47
$1.28MUR 60.2
32.81%
Eggs
$3.25€2.81
$1.80MUR 84.5
80.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.25€11.47
$5.69MUR 267
132.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.70€6.67
$6.04MUR 283
27.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.77€13.66
$12.75MUR 597
23.69%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.97
$1.67MUR 78.3
36.53%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66€1.43
$1.94MUR 90.9
-14.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.02€1.75
$1.44MUR 67.4
40.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47€2.14
$2.64MUR 123
-6.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.55
$0.98MUR 46.04
82.65%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07€1.79
$0.95MUR 44.73
117.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.71
$0.80MUR 37.61
146.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.72
$0.47MUR 21.83
76.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55€5.68
$6.54MUR 306
0.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.57€4.82
$8.28MUR 388
-32.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.15
$1.28MUR 60.1
3.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01€2.60
$1.62MUR 76.0
85.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Mahebourg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.97
$0.97MUR 45.64
134.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.35€40.14
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.66
$4.38MUR 205
-3.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$2.63MUR 123
-67.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.83€16.31
$19.58MUR 917
-3.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02€1.75
$1.40MUR 65.8
44.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.3K
$35.5KMUR 1.7M
-1.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K€34.3K
$28.3KMUR 1.3M
40.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Mahebourg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€128
$43.53MUR 2,039
239.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.77
$18.04MUR 845
13.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52€34.23
$32.87MUR 1,540
20.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Mahebourg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.17€41.72
$37.77MUR 1,769
27.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39€15.92
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.10€7.88
$5.59MUR 262
62.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Mahebourg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$615€532
$156MUR 7,303
294.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.1K
$3,963MUR 185.6K
310.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Mahebourg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€88.0
$67.2MUR 3,145
51.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09€36.45
$44.03MUR 2,062
-4.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.3€79.9
$77.0MUR 3,608
19.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€106
$70.7MUR 3,312
72.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Mahebourg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,612€1,396
$519MUR 24.3K
210.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254€1,086
$349MUR 16.3K
259.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,069€2,658
$933MUR 43.7K
229.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,037€1,764
$719MUR 33.7K
183.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,751€6,712
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,286€3,712
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Mahebourg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,602€1,387
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
6.67
-42.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026
Last update for Mahebourg: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Lisbon and $519 in Mahebourg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $44.00 in Mahebourg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $191 per month, with Mahebourg 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 Mahebourg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Mahebourg?
Lisbon and Mahebourg differ by about 138% in total monthly costs ($2,280 vs $959 including rent). Mahebourg 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 Mahebourg?
You'd need roughly $3,420 in Lisbon and $1,439 in Mahebourg 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 Mahebourg?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,612 in Lisbon versus $519 in Mahebourg. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 40% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Mahebourg?
All in, you'll spend $2,280 per month in Lisbon versus $959 in Mahebourg – a 138% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $959 in Mahebourg versus $2,280 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mahebourg but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Mahebourg the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Mahebourg?
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 Mahebourg safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Mahebourg 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 Mahebourg?
Expats usually find Mahebourg gentler on the wallet – expenses run 138% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.