Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Benin Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Benin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $452 in Benin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $810 in Benin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $1,169 in Benin.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 393% more expensive than Benin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Benin is 66% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.17 €13.81

$2.52 ₦3,443

541.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.6 €55.1

$50.8 ₦69.3K

27.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.38 €8.86

$5.43 ₦7,415

91.16%

Cappuccino

$2.77 €2.37

$2.21 ₦3,020

25.34%

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

$2.25 €1.92

$0.36 ₦492

525.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 €1.34

$0.20 ₦273

685.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.49 €2.98

$0.84 ₦1,154

315.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.00 €3.42

$1.38 ₦1,890

189.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 €0.93

$2.23 ₦3,052

-51.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.74 €1.49

$1.25 ₦1,705

39.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.74 €1.48

$2.23 ₦3,042

-21.97%

Eggs

$3.18 €2.71

$1.78 ₦2,429

78.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.43 €11.47

$6.20 ₦8,467

116.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.99 €6.83

$4.17 ₦5,691

91.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.09 €13.74

$5.34 ₦7,292

201.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 €1.95

$3.60 ₦4,915

-36.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 €1.47

$2.09 ₦2,859

-17.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 €1.66

$2.10 ₦2,864

-7.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.54 €2.17

$2.40 ₦3,272

5.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.83 €1.56

$2.34 ₦3,191

-21.79%

Onion (1kg)

$2.04 €1.74

$1.92 ₦2,628

6.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 €1.69

$1.94 ₦2,655

2.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 €0.73

$0.35 ₦482

142.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.85 €5.85

$1.24 ₦1,700

452.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.78 €4.93

$3.15 ₦4,303

83.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 €1.17

$0.68 ₦923

101.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 €2.48

$0.89 ₦1,216

225.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.28 €1.95

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.84 €40.00

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.08 €3.48

$1.23 ₦1,681

231.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 €0.70

$2.18 ₦2,977

-62.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.27 €15.60

$4.68 ₦6,386

290.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.01 €1.71

$0.74 ₦1,016

171.62%

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

$35.3K €30.1K

$20.7K ₦28.3M

70.44%

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

$38.5K €32.9K

$20.8K ₦28.4M

85.33%

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

$145 €124

$41.78 ₦57.1K

248.01%

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

$20.96 €17.90

$10.22 ₦14.0K

105.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.05 €34.21

$34.62 ₦47.3K

15.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.79 €41.66

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.69 €15.97

Cinema Ticket

$9.06 €7.74

$6.18 ₦8,439

46.60%

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

$607 €518

$82.2 ₦112.2K

638.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.3K €13.9K

$2,304 ₦3.1M

608.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €89.4

$19.56 ₦26.7K

435.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.95 €34.97

$25.13 ₦34.3K

62.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.6 €79.9

$64.3 ₦87.8K

45.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 €101

$57.1 ₦78.0K

107.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,604 €1,370

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,236 €1,055

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,046 €2,601

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,057 €1,756

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,709 €6,583

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,266 €3,644

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,584 €1,353

$113 ₦154.1K

1303.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.81

16.33

-76.67%

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

Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026

Last update for Benin: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Lisbon pays 1304% 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 $51.0 in Benin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $192 per month, with Benin 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 Benin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lisbon and Benin differ by about 393% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $452 including rent). Benin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Lisbon pays 1304% 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 41% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,227 per month in Lisbon versus $452 in Benin – a 393% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $452 in Benin versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Benin but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Benin 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 Benin 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 Benin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 393% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.