Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Msaken Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Msaken

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $670 in Msaken.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,077 in Msaken.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $1,483 in Msaken.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 230% more expensive than Msaken, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Msaken is 50% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Msaken
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.69
$4.96 TND 14.42
220.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.7
$24.14 TND 70.1
168.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.04
$5.06 TND 14.69
107.71%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$1.02 TND 2.97
181.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$0.69 TND 2.02
224.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$0.29 TND 0.84
417.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.00
$1.17 TND 3.41
198.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$2.76 TND 8.01
40.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Msaken
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$0.49 TND 1.43
132.65%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$0.17 TND 0.48
929.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$1.29 TND 3.75
36.43%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$1.67 TND 4.86
92.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.61
$12.06 TND 35.00
11.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$6.33 TND 18.37
24.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.65
$13.76 TND 39.95
15.33%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$2.09 TND 6.06
10.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$3.20 TND 9.30
-46.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$1.12 TND 3.26
79.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$0.75 TND 2.19
228.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$0.70 TND 2.02
162.86%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$0.59 TND 1.71
238.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$0.40 TND 1.17
382.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$0.29 TND 0.84
172.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.68
$3.43 TND 9.96
92.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.92
$5.93 TND 17.23
-3.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.17
$1.15 TND 3.35
19.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$1.33 TND 3.86
123.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Msaken
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$0.35 TND 1.03
577.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.19
$9.97 TND 28.96
356.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$0.31 TND 0.89
1283.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$0.31 TND 0.89
164.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.74
$3.49 TND 10.14
424.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$0.88 TND 2.56
134.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$40.0K TND 116.1K
-14.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$35.9K TND 104.1K
9.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Msaken
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$58.2 TND 169
153.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.65
$9.99 TND 28.99
105.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.08
$18.91 TND 54.9
109.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Msaken
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.16
$23.79 TND 69.1
101.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.28
$12.54 TND 36.42
50.88%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.90
$5.32 TND 15.44
72.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Msaken
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €528
$106 TND 308
479.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$3,137 TND 9,109
411.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Msaken
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.0
$41.07 TND 119
154.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.18
$60.7 TND 176
-30.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.8
$101 TND 293
-6.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$79.2 TND 230
51.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Msaken
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,400
$195 TND 566
735.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,080
$136 TND 395
823.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,607
$373 TND 1,083
712.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,738
$269 TND 780
651.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,709
$987 TND 2,866
690.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,675
$715 TND 2,076
497.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Msaken
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,379
$248 TND 719
547.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
10.96
-65.24%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Msaken: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $195 in Msaken. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 548% 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: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $24.00 in Msaken for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $194 per month, with Msaken 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 Msaken: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Msaken?
Lisbon and Msaken differ by about 230% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $670 including rent). Msaken is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Msaken?
Lisbon pays 548% more on average, 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 Msaken?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $195 in Msaken. 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 Msaken?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $106 in Msaken. 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 39% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $670 in Msaken versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Msaken but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Msaken the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Msaken?
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 Msaken safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Msaken 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 Msaken?
Expats usually find Msaken gentler on the wallet – expenses run 230% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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