Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Margaret River

For one person, living is cheaper in Lisbon: $2,206 a month against $2,642 in Margaret River, rent and utilities included – about $5,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Lisbon, Portugal
Margaret River, Australia
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,206
/mo nomad
Margaret River
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,642
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Margaret River

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lisbon and in Margaret River actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,206 in Lisbon versus $2,642 in Margaret River.

  • Lisbon $2,206
  • Margaret River $2,642

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,276 in Lisbon versus $3,774 in Margaret River.

  • Lisbon $3,276
  • Margaret River $3,774

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,346 in Lisbon versus $4,907 in Margaret River.

  • Lisbon $4,346
  • Margaret River $4,907

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 17% less than in Margaret River, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 63% above, Margaret River 95% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Margaret River
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.86 €15.02
$20.91 A$29.80
-19.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.0 €54.4
$84.1 A$120
-27.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.98 €9.78
$10.91 A$15.55
0.64%
Cappuccino
$3.05 €2.72
$4.51 A$6.43
-32.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 €2.03
$2.92 A$4.16
-21.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 €1.50
$2.22 A$3.17
-24.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.44 €3.06
$8.27 A$11.79
-58.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 €3.48
$8.36 A$11.92
-53.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Margaret River
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 €1.02
$1.74 A$2.48
-33.91%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 €1.68
$3.10 A$4.41
-39.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 €1.34
$2.06 A$2.94
-27.18%
Eggs
$4.12 €3.67
$5.17 A$7.37
-20.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.01 €11.59
$9.34 A$13.31
39.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.04 €7.17
$9.30 A$13.26
-13.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.89 €15.94
$14.12 A$20.12
26.70%
Apples (1kg)
$2.27 €2.02
$4.67 A$6.66
-51.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 €1.55
$3.15 A$4.48
-44.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.82 €1.62
$3.43 A$4.89
-46.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.69 €2.39
$4.78 A$6.82
-43.72%
Potato (1kg)
$1.77 €1.57
$2.83 A$4.03
-37.46%
Onion (1kg)
$1.94 €1.73
$1.91 A$2.72
1.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.46 €1.30
$2.20 A$3.13
-33.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 €0.68
$1.41 A$2.01
-46.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.66 €5.93
$42.03 A$59.9
-84.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.64 €5.02
$12.83 A$18.29
-56.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29 €1.15
$4.36 A$6.21
-70.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 €1.91
$3.53 A$5.03
-39.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Margaret River
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.30 €2.05
$2.72 A$3.87
-15.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.02 €39.21
$84.9 A$121
-48.13%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.98 €3.55
$3.54 A$5.04
12.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 €0.57
$1.41 A$2.01
-54.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.93 €16.86
$40.36 A$57.5
-53.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.28 €2.03
$1.43 A$2.04
59.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.4K €29.7K
$30.6K A$43.6K
9.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K €34.3K
$28.1K A$40.1K
36.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Margaret River
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$158 €141
$202 A$287
-21.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.54 €15.62
$32.62 A$46.48
-46.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.18 €27.78
$64.3 A$91.6
-51.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Margaret River
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.64 €39.77
$56.9 A$81.1
-21.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.98 €16.91
$17.68 A$25.19
7.35%
Cinema Ticket
$9.58 €8.53
$17.47 A$24.90
-45.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Margaret River
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$674 €600
$2,300 A$3,277
-70.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.7K €16.7K
$23.4K A$33.3K
-19.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Margaret River
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 €91.0
$78.6 A$112
30.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.90 €40.89
$63.2 A$90.0
-27.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 €91.0
$124 A$176
-17.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 €109
$164 A$233
-25.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Margaret River
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 €1,461
$1,387 A$1,976
18.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,187 €1,058
$1,253 A$1,785
-5.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,825 €2,516
$2,279 A$3,247
23.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,018 €1,798
$1,798 A$2,562
12.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,836 €6,980
$5,747 A$8,190
36.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,701 €4,188
$4,919 A$7,010
-4.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Margaret River
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,687 €1,503
$2,984 A$4,252
-43.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.82
5.96
-35.91%

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

Last update for Lisbon: November 1, 2026

Last update for Margaret River: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Margaret River
$1.3K 5.5% $65
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$275
Margaret River
$367 33.5% $92
Eating Out
Lisbon
$245
Margaret River
$333 35.7% $88
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$207
Margaret River
$299 44.3% $92
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$168
Margaret River
$193 15.3% $26
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$64
Margaret River
$92 43.9% $28
Getting Around
Lisbon
$60
Margaret River
$106 76% $46

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,641 in Lisbon and $1,387 in Margaret River. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Margaret River pays 77% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $61 in Lisbon vs $84 in Margaret River for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $275 vs $367 per month, with Lisbon cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇦🇺 Margaret River
🕒 Local time
15:59 3:59 PM
23:59 11:59 PM
8 h ahead of Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
8,000
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

AUD, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 0.891 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 AUD (1 AUD = 0.702 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 AUD (1 AUD = 0.624 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Margaret River 15,070 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Margaret River

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Margaret River: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Margaret River?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $2,206 in Lisbon and $2,642 in Margaret River, so Lisbon is about 17% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 43% lower in Lisbon. 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 in Margaret River?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,641 in Lisbon versus $1,387 in Margaret River. 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 Margaret River?
Childcare runs $674 in Lisbon versus $2,300 in Margaret River. 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 34% higher in Margaret River. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How far does $3,000 go in Lisbon compared to Margaret River?
Either city works on $3,000 a month, though Lisbon gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Margaret River?
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 Margaret River safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Margaret River are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
How do I decide between Lisbon and Margaret River?
It comes down to priorities – Lisbon wins on affordability, Margaret River on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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