Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Mary Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Mary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $378 in Mary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $573 in Mary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $768 in Mary.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 485% more expensive than Mary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Mary is 72% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.91 €13.69

$11.27 TMT 37.88

41.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.8 €55.7

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.51 €9.04

$8.54 TMT 28.70

23.07%

Cappuccino

$2.87 €2.47

$8.53 TMT 28.66

-66.35%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 €1.93

$6.49 TMT 21.80

-65.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 €1.29

$1.40 TMT 4.71

7.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.49 €3.00

$6.70 TMT 22.50

-47.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 €3.34

$11.49 TMT 38.61

-66.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 €0.98

$2.87 TMT 9.65

-60.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.75 €1.51

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 €1.51

Eggs

$3.22 €2.77

$6.66 TMT 22.38

-51.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.49 €11.61

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.91 €6.81

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.87 €13.65

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 €1.99

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 €1.46

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 €1.73

Tomato (1kg)

$2.46 €2.12

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 €1.59

Onion (1kg)

$2.00 €1.72

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.93 €1.66

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 €0.68

$1.12 TMT 3.75

-29.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.61 €5.68

Wine (Bottle)

$5.72 €4.92

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 €1.17

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 €2.56

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

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 €0.70

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.30 €15.74

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.06 €1.78

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.3K €29.5K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$39.3K €33.8K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$148 €127

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$20.52 €17.65

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.61 €34.08

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.85 €41.16

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.92 €16.28

Cinema Ticket

$9.18 €7.90

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$614 €528

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.0K €13.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €90.0

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.06 €36.18

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.0 €80.8

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 €103

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

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,603 €1,379

$214 TMT 719

649.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.81

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Mary: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Lisbon pays 649% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

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 Mary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lisbon and Mary differ by about 485% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $378 including rent). Mary is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Lisbon pays 649% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 292% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $378 in Mary – a 485% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $378 in Mary versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mary but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Mary the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Lisbon and Mary are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Mary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 485% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.