😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $915 in Marabella.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,603 in Marabella.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $2,290 in Marabella.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 141% more expensive than Marabella, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Marabella is 32% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Marabella
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.69
$10.41TTD 69.7
52.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.7
$87.2TTD 584
-25.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.04
$7.49TTD 50.2
40.32%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$3.72TTD 24.93
-22.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$1.05TTD 7.05
113.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$0.84TTD 5.60
78.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.00
$1.88TTD 12.58
85.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$3.08TTD 20.65
25.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Marabella
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$2.66TTD 17.84
-57.14%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$2.79TTD 18.68
-37.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$2.66TTD 17.81
-33.83%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$5.13TTD 34.34
-37.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$8.04TTD 53.9
67.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$10.20TTD 68.4
-22.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.65
$14.50TTD 97.1
9.45%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$5.73TTD 38.39
-59.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$2.62TTD 17.58
-35.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$4.35TTD 29.11
-53.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$4.65TTD 31.17
-47.10%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$1.43TTD 9.56
28.67%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$1.67TTD 11.17
19.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$1.96TTD 13.12
-1.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$1.47TTD 9.85
-46.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.68
$6.08TTD 40.74
8.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.92
$18.68TTD 125
-69.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.17
$2.13TTD 14.29
-35.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$2.71TTD 18.13
9.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Marabella
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.19
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$1.01TTD 6.75
324.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$1.26TTD 8.45
-34.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.74
$14.86TTD 99.6
23.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$1.10TTD 7.37
87.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$34.0KTTD 228.1K
0.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$37.9KTTD 253.9K
3.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Marabella
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$78.6TTD 527
88.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.65
$47.50TTD 318
-56.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.08
$62.9TTD 421
-37.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Marabella
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.16
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.28
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.90
$9.91TTD 66.4
-7.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Marabella
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€528
$328TTD 2,195
87.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$7,316TTD 49.0K
119.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Marabella
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.0
$59.8TTD 400
75.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.18
$38.92TTD 261
8.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.8
$146TTD 978
-35.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$126TTD 842
-4.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Marabella
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,400
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,080
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,607
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,738
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,709
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,675
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Marabella
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,379
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
5.38
-29.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Marabella: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $87.0 in Marabella for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $376 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 Marabella: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Marabella?
Lisbon and Marabella differ by about 141% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $915 including rent). Marabella 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 Marabella?
You'd need roughly $3,315 in Lisbon and $1,373 in Marabella 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.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 39% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Marabella?
All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $915 in Marabella – a 141% 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 $915 in Marabella versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Marabella but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Marabella the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Marabella?
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 Marabella safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Marabella 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 Marabella?
Expats usually find Marabella gentler on the wallet – expenses run 141% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.