😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $544 in Mariano Roque Alonso.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $747 in Mariano Roque Alonso.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $950 in Mariano Roque Alonso.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 321% more expensive than in Mariano Roque Alonso, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Mariano Roque Alonso is 59% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.18
$4.50₲27.1K
259.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.5
$22.41₲135.2K
182.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.04
$3.59₲21.7K
187.47%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$1.49₲9,011
89.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.01
$0.68₲4,102
236.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$0.38₲2,279
315.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$1.41₲8,499
141.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.53
$0.72₲4,342
459.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.96
$0.74₲4,446
47.30%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$0.90₲5,451
94.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$0.81₲4,912
117.28%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$1.65₲9,960
92.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.56
$5.13₲30.9K
157.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.98
$3.12₲18.8K
155.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.60
$5.38₲32.5K
188.66%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$1.54₲9,262
53.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$0.51₲3,085
235.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$0.65₲3,941
209.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$1.60₲9,633
51.88%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.10₲6,640
60.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$0.52₲3,132
290.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$0.53₲3,182
262.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$0.39₲2,382
117.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$1.36₲8,199
383.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.89
$3.93₲23.7K
41.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$0.66₲3,953
101.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$0.84₲5,058
253.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$0.45₲2,714
406.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.10
$38.93₲234.8K
17.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$0.65₲3,892
550.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$0.72₲4,370
12.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.15
$8.59₲51.8K
114.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$0.81₲4,874
156.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.4K
$13.4K₲80.7M
158.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$21.6K₲130.1M
81.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$38.40₲231.6K
285.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.92
$13.87₲83.6K
47.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.64
$14.82₲89.4K
166.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€42.03
$21.05₲127.0K
127.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.29
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.08
$4.31₲26.0K
113.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€540
$165₲994.8K
273.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$894₲5.4M
1739.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€90.0
$43.88₲264.6K
134.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.55
$31.71₲191.2K
31.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€83.0
$63.0₲380.1K
50.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$51.1₲308.1K
138.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,430
$187₲1.1M
771.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,079
$126₲759.8K
878.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,713
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,779
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,858
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,844
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,408
$808₲4.9M
98.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
10.17
-62.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Last update for Mariano Roque Alonso: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $187 in Mariano Roque Alonso. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 99% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $22.00 in Mariano Roque Alonso for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $119 per month, with Mariano Roque Alonso 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 Mariano Roque Alonso: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Mariano Roque Alonso?
Lisbon and Mariano Roque Alonso differ by about 321% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $544 including rent). Mariano Roque Alonso is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Mariano Roque Alonso?
Average pay runs 99% higher in Lisbon, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in Mariano Roque Alonso?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $187 in Mariano Roque Alonso. 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 Mariano Roque Alonso?
Childcare runs $616 in Lisbon versus $165 in Mariano Roque Alonso. 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 125% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $544 in Mariano Roque Alonso versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mariano Roque Alonso but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Mariano Roque Alonso the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Mariano Roque Alonso?
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 Mariano Roque Alonso safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Mariano Roque Alonso 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 Mariano Roque Alonso?
Expats usually find Mariano Roque Alonso gentler on the wallet – expenses run 321% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.