Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Maroua

For one person, living is cheaper in Maroua: $352 a month against $2,223 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $22,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,223
/mo nomad
Maroua
🇨🇲 Cameroon
$352
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Maroua

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 Maroua actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,223 in Lisbon versus $352 in Maroua.

  • Lisbon $2,223
  • Maroua $352

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,271 in Lisbon versus $522 in Maroua.

  • Lisbon $3,271
  • Maroua $522

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,319 in Lisbon versus $693 in Maroua.

  • Lisbon $4,319
  • Maroua $693

Living in Lisbon is roughly 532% more expensive than in Maroua, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Maroua is 74% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Maroua
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.50 €14.67
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.3 €54.5
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.27 €10.03
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.06 €2.72
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 €2.01
-
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 €1.54
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.39 €3.02
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40 €3.02
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Maroua
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 €1.00
$1.66 FCFA 970
-32.53%
White Bread (500g)
$1.86 €1.65
$0.87 FCFA 505
113.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 €1.36
$2.95 FCFA 1,723
-48.14%
Eggs
$3.96 €3.53
$5.80 FCFA 3,380
-31.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.76 €11.35
$5.21 FCFA 3,040
144.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.90 €7.02
$4.99 FCFA 2,912
58.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.97 €15.09
$3.33 FCFA 1,941
409.61%
Apples (1kg)
$2.27 €2.02
$1.75 FCFA 1,018
29.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.55
$0.83 FCFA 482
110.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 €1.64
$0.88 FCFA 511
110.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.57 €2.28
$1.66 FCFA 967
54.82%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 €1.65
$2.50 FCFA 1,458
-25.60%
Onion (1kg)
$2.02 €1.80
$1.73 FCFA 1,009
16.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 €1.28
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 €0.73
$0.87 FCFA 506
-5.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.56 €5.83
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$5.62 €5.00
$11.00 FCFA 6,416
-48.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 €1.14
$0.82 FCFA 480
56.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 €1.84
$1.74 FCFA 1,016
18.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Maroua
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.35 €2.09
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.18 €39.30
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.99 €3.55
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.09 €0.97
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.64 €14.81
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.28 €2.03
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.7K €30.0K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €35.0K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Maroua
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$167 €149
$52.0 FCFA 30.3K
222.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.80 €16.72
$8.74 FCFA 5,095
115.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.09 €29.43
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Maroua
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.01 €40.93
$17.16 FCFA 10.0K
168.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.19 €17.07
$1.71 FCFA 999
1022.22%
Cinema Ticket
$9.84 €8.75
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Maroua
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$677 €602
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.9K €15.1K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Maroua
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 €90.1
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.76 €40.70
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100.0 €88.9
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 €109
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Maroua
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,614 €1,436
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,197 €1,065
$86.4 FCFA 50.4K
1284.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,862 €2,545
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,990 €1,770
$155 FCFA 90.4K
1183.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,577 €6,740
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,307 €3,831
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Maroua
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,588 €1,412
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
0
-

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

Last update for Lisbon: October 11, 2026

Last update for Maroua: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Maroua
–
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$269
Maroua
–
Eating Out
Lisbon
$242
Maroua
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$219
Maroua
–
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$166
Maroua
–
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$66
Maroua
–
Getting Around
Lisbon
$63
Maroua
–
Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇨🇲 Maroua
🕒 Local time
00:46 12:46 AM
00:46 12:46 AM
Same time as Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
3,119,000
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

XAF, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Central African CFA Franc exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 583 XAF (1,000 XAF = 1.71 USD). 1 EUR = 656 XAF (1,000 XAF = 1.53 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Maroua 3,900 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Maroua

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 Maroua: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Maroua?
Lisbon and Maroua differ by about 532% in total monthly costs ($2,223 vs $352 including rent). Maroua 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 Maroua?
You'd need roughly $3,335 in Lisbon and $528 in Maroua 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?
Supermarket bills run roughly 44% 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 Maroua?
All in, you'll spend $2,223 per month in Lisbon versus $352 in Maroua – a 532% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $352 in Maroua versus $2,223 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Maroua but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Maroua the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Maroua?
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 Maroua safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Maroua 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 Maroua?
Expats usually find Maroua gentler on the wallet – expenses run 532% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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