Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Nouakchott

For one person, living is cheaper in Nouakchott: $809 a month against $2,202 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $16,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,202
/mo nomad
Nouakchott
🇲🇷 Mauritania
$809
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Nouakchott

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,202 in Lisbon versus $809 in Nouakchott.

  • Lisbon $2,202
  • Nouakchott $809

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,274 in Lisbon versus $1,337 in Nouakchott.

  • Lisbon $3,274
  • Nouakchott $1,337

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,346 in Lisbon versus $1,864 in Nouakchott.

  • Lisbon $4,346
  • Nouakchott $1,864

Living in Lisbon is roughly 172% more expensive than in Nouakchott, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 62% above, Nouakchott is 40% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Nouakchott
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.04 €15.15
$2.43 MRU 97.5
601.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.3 €55.4
$24.78 MRU 993
151.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.02 €9.80
$5.91 MRU 237
86.46%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.74 MRU 69.6
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.80 MRU 72.0
-
Cappuccino
$3.12 €2.78
$2.26 MRU 90.7
38.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 €2.02
$1.76 MRU 70.3
28.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.55
$2.17 MRU 87.1
-19.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.42 €3.04
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74 €3.33
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Nouakchott
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 €1.04
$1.58 MRU 63.1
-25.95%
White Bread (500g)
$1.86 €1.66
$0.28 MRU 11.29
564.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.54 €1.37
$1.34 MRU 53.6
14.93%
Eggs
$4.06 €3.61
$2.39 MRU 95.7
69.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.91 €11.49
$6.01 MRU 241
114.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.90 €7.03
$5.49 MRU 220
43.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.64 €15.69
$7.03 MRU 282
150.92%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 €2.01
$3.20 MRU 128
-29.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.55
$1.85 MRU 74.0
-5.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 €1.68
$1.60 MRU 64.2
18.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.56 €2.27
$1.12 MRU 44.90
128.57%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 €1.64
$1.00 MRU 40.17
85.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 €1.75
$0.89 MRU 35.51
121.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 €1.29
$0.75 MRU 29.89
93.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 €0.69
$0.64 MRU 25.69
20.31%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$9.94 MRU 398
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.55 MRU 102
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.67 MRU 66.9
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.71 €5.97
$2.46 MRU 98.4
172.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.67 €5.04
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.22
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 €1.88
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Nouakchott
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.32 €2.07
$0.43 MRU 17.38
439.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.43 €39.52
$21.81 MRU 874
103.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.95 €3.51
$0.89 MRU 35.63
343.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.05 €0.93
$0.36 MRU 14.26
191.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.15 €15.26
$3.72 MRU 149
361.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.19 €1.95
$1.41 MRU 56.6
55.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.8K €30.0K
$7,372 MRU 295.3K
358.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.3K €34.0K
$9,263 MRU 371.1K
313.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Nouakchott
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$164 €146
$128 MRU 5,147
27.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.48 €16.43
$22.12 MRU 886
-16.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.96 €29.32
$60.9 MRU 2,440
-45.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Nouakchott
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.87 €40.80
$87.5 MRU 3,506
-47.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.68 €16.61
$252 MRU 10.1K
-92.59%
Cinema Ticket
$9.75 €8.67
$4.03 MRU 162
141.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Nouakchott
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$684 €608
$437 MRU 17.5K
56.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.6K €15.7K
$7,506 MRU 300.7K
134.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Nouakchott
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 €92.3
$15.49 MRU 621
569.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.20 €41.09
$23.29 MRU 933
98.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.7 €88.7
$67.4 MRU 2,701
47.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 €111
$46.80 MRU 1,875
166.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Nouakchott
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,589 €1,414
$295 MRU 11.8K
439.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,169 €1,040
$172 MRU 6,878
580.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,851 €2,536
$731 MRU 29.3K
290.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,993 €1,773
$325 MRU 13.0K
513.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,793 €6,932
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,418 €3,930
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Nouakchott
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,600 €1,423
$639 MRU 25.6K
150.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
20
-80.75%

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

Last update for Lisbon: October 19, 2026

Last update for Nouakchott: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Nouakchott
$172 85.3% $997
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$273
Nouakchott
$155 43.4% $118
Eating Out
Lisbon
$247
Nouakchott
$80 67.6% $167
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$215
Nouakchott
$212 1.7% $3.8
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$168
Nouakchott
$69 59.1% $100
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$65
Nouakchott
$96 46.2% $30
Getting Around
Lisbon
$63
Nouakchott
$26 58.3% $37

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,589 in Lisbon and $295 in Nouakchott. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 150% 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: $62.0 in Lisbon vs $25.00 in Nouakchott for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $273 vs $155 per month, with Nouakchott cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇲🇷 Nouakchott
🕒 Local time
17:57 5:57 PM
16:57 4:57 PM
1 h behind Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
958,399 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

MRU, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Mauritanian Ouguiya exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 40.06 MRU (100 MRU = 2.5 USD). 1 EUR = 45.04 MRU (100 MRU = 2.22 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Nouakchott 2,390 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Nouakchott

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 Nouakchott: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Nouakchott?
Lisbon and Nouakchott differ by about 172% in total monthly costs ($2,202 vs $809 including rent). Nouakchott is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Nouakchott?
Average pay runs 150% higher in Lisbon, 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 in Nouakchott?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,589 in Lisbon versus $295 in Nouakchott. 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 Nouakchott?
Childcare runs $684 in Lisbon versus $437 in Nouakchott. 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 77% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $809 in Nouakchott versus $2,202 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Nouakchott but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Nouakchott the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Nouakchott?
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 Nouakchott safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Nouakchott 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 Nouakchott?
Expats usually find Nouakchott gentler on the wallet – expenses run 172% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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