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: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $443 in Benin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $795 in Benin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $1,147 in Benin.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 411% more expensive than Benin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Benin is 67% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Benin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94 €13.73
$2.52 ₦3,427
532.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4 €54.6
$49.18 ₦66.9K
28.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 €8.95
$5.46 ₦7,430
90.11%
Cappuccino
$2.79 €2.40
$2.15 ₦2,923
29.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 €2.01
$0.34 ₦461
588.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 €1.35
$0.22 ₦300
613.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.43 €2.95
$0.85 ₦1,151
303.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 €3.37
$1.38 ₦1,870
183.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Benin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.93
$2.25 ₦3,065
-52.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.77 €1.52
$1.24 ₦1,687
42.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 €1.47
$2.33 ₦3,175
-26.61%
Eggs
$3.15 €2.71
$1.75 ₦2,386
80.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.68 €11.79
$6.42 ₦8,734
113.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.01 €6.90
$4.20 ₦5,712
90.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.52 €13.37
$5.48 ₦7,449
183.21%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 €1.98
$3.49 ₦4,748
-34.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 €1.41
$2.03 ₦2,756
-19.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 €1.67
$2.21 ₦3,010
-12.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.51 €2.17
$2.41 ₦3,276
4.15%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 €1.54
$2.39 ₦3,256
-25.10%
Onion (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$2.00 ₦2,718
0.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 €1.69
$1.92 ₦2,612
2.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 €0.73
$0.38 ₦521
121.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79 €5.85
$1.29 ₦1,758
426.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.67 €4.89
$2.60 ₦3,536
118.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 €1.20
$0.63 ₦857
120.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 €2.60
$0.88 ₦1,198
243.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Benin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.27 €1.95
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.44 €39.15
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.70
$1.20 ₦1,630
257.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 €0.73
$2.25 ₦3,059
-62.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.28 €15.75
$4.63 ₦6,302
294.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.99 €1.71
$0.72 ₦982
176.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K €30.2K
$20.2K ₦27.4M
73.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K €34.1K
$20.6K ₦28.0M
92.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Benin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$146 €126
$41.15 ₦56.0K
255.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45 €17.62
$10.16 ₦13.8K
101.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98 €33.58
$33.79 ₦45.9K
15.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Benin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.98 €42.21
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83 €16.22
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.52 €8.21
$6.37 ₦8,667
49.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Benin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$608 €524
$82.1 ₦111.6K
641.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K €14.2K
$2,287 ₦3.1M
621.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Benin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 €89.5
$19.21 ₦26.1K
440.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12 €36.29
$24.49 ₦33.3K
71.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.2 €79.5
$64.8 ₦88.0K
42.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$57.7 ₦78.4K
108.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Benin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,621 €1,397
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,268 €1,092
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,048 €2,626
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,009 €1,731
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,663 €6,602
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,329 €3,730
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Benin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,585 €1,366
$112 ₦152.6K
1311.90%
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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Benin: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Lisbon pays 1312% 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: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $49.00 in Benin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 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
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Benin?
Lisbon and Benin differ by about 411% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $443 including rent). Benin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Benin?
Lisbon pays 1312% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 40% 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 Benin?
All in, you'll spend $2,263 per month in Lisbon versus $443 in Benin – a 411% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $443 in Benin versus $2,263 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.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Benin?
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 Benin safer for residents?
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.
Where should expats move: Lisbon or Benin?
Expats usually find Benin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 411% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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