😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,217 in Lisbon versus $1,599 in Marinha Grande.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,245 in Lisbon versus $2,330 in Marinha Grande.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,272 in Lisbon versus $3,061 in Marinha Grande.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 39% more expensive than in Marinha Grande, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon66% above, Marinha Grande20% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Marinha Grande
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.78€13.77
$12.58€10.98
25.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.5€54.5
$45.56€39.76
37.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.54€9.19
$9.51€8.30
10.83%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.41
$1.98€1.73
39.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28€1.99
$2.19€1.91
4.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55€1.35
$1.58€1.38
-1.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.55€3.09
$3.44€3.00
3.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98€3.47
$2.84€2.47
40.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Marinha Grande
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.94
$1.05€0.91
2.86%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.54
$1.83€1.60
-3.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77€1.54
$1.41€1.23
25.53%
Eggs
$3.12€2.72
$3.01€2.62
3.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.34€11.64
$12.27€10.70
8.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.98
$7.34€6.41
8.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.92€13.89
$11.40€9.95
39.65%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.99
$1.85€1.61
23.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.43
$1.51€1.32
8.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$1.86€1.62
6.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.45€2.14
$2.55€2.22
-3.92%
Potato(1kg)
$1.77€1.54
$1.29€1.13
37.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97€1.72
$1.88€1.64
4.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.72
$1.65€1.44
19.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80€0.70
$0.87€0.76
-8.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.54€5.70
$6.52€5.69
0.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.75€5.01
$5.89€5.14
-2.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32€1.15
$1.35€1.17
-2.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99€2.60
$1.58€1.38
89.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Marinha Grande
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.34€2.04
$2.27€1.98
3.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.85€40.01
$42.18€36.80
8.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.26€3.71
$4.52€3.95
-5.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.84€0.74
$1.31€1.14
-35.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.86€16.45
$21.73€18.96
-13.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.07€1.81
$2.02€1.76
2.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.2K€30.8K
$33.4K€29.1K
5.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.6K€33.7K
$39.5K€34.5K
-2.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Marinha Grande
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151€132
$115€100
31.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.91€18.24
$21.11€18.41
-0.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.54€34.50
$48.50€42.31
-18.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Marinha Grande
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.39€42.22
$43.26€37.74
11.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.61€16.24
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.04€7.89
$9.20€8.03
-1.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Marinha Grande
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$610€532
$268€233
128.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.2K
$6,305€5,501
158.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Marinha Grande
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101€88.3
$77.9€67.9
30.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.58€35.41
$31.08€27.12
30.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.0€81.2
$81.8€71.4
13.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€104
$70.6€61.6
68.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Marinha Grande
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,603€1,398
$936€817
71.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,239€1,081
$735€641
68.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,019€2,634
$789€689
282.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,061€1,798
$1,138€993
81.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,981€6,963
$3,030€2,643
163.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,533€3,955
$2,386€2,082
89.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Marinha Grande
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,628€1,421
$913€797
78.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
4.98
-23.49%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 15, 2026
Last update for Marinha Grande: June 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,603 in Lisbon and $936 in Marinha Grande. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 78% 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: $62.0 in Lisbon vs $46.00 in Marinha Grande for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $239 per month, with Marinha Grande 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 Marinha Grande: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Marinha Grande?
Lisbon and Marinha Grande differ by about 39% in total monthly costs ($2,217 vs $1,599 including rent). Marinha Grande is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Marinha Grande?
Average pay runs 78% 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 Marinha Grande?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,603 in Lisbon versus $936 in Marinha Grande. 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 Marinha Grande?
Childcare runs $610 in Lisbon versus $268 in Marinha Grande. 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 12% 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 $1,599 in Marinha Grande versus $2,217 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Marinha Grande but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Marinha Grande the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Marinha Grande?
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 Marinha Grande safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Marinha Grande 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 Marinha Grande?
Expats usually find Marinha Grande gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.