😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $715 in Old Harbour.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $1,163 in Old Harbour.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $1,610 in Old Harbour.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 220% more expensive than in Old Harbour, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Old Harbour is 46% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Old Harbour
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.17
$6.43JMD 1,013
151.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.4
$31.66JMD 4,990
100.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.03
$4.93JMD 777
109.33%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$4.43JMD 698
-36.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.00
$0.93JMD 146
146.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$0.61JMD 96.9
159.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$2.46JMD 388
38.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.52
$3.04JMD 479
32.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Old Harbour
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.95
$4.24JMD 669
-74.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$3.60JMD 567
-51.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.61JMD 254
9.32%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$3.49JMD 550
-9.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.54
$3.37JMD 531
291.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.97
$6.31JMD 995
26.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.59
$7.55JMD 1,190
105.70%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$5.88JMD 927
-59.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$3.16JMD 497
-45.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$4.12JMD 649
-51.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$2.06JMD 325
17.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$2.08JMD 328
-15.38%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$2.00JMD 315
1.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$2.99JMD 471
-35.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$1.49JMD 235
-42.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$8.64JMD 1,362
-23.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.88
$11.51JMD 1,814
-51.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$2.77JMD 437
-51.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$3.05JMD 481
-2.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Old Harbour
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.06
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$1.12JMD 176
277.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$3.24JMD 510
-75.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.13
$6.31JMD 995
192.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$1.07JMD 169
94.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.3K
$43.3KJMD 6.8M
-19.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$34.2KJMD 5.4M
14.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Old Harbour
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$49.50JMD 7,800
199.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.90
$22.09JMD 3,481
-7.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.61
$43.72JMD 6,890
-9.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Old Harbour
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€41.99
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.27
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.07
$13.11JMD 2,066
-29.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Old Harbour
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€539
$228JMD 35.9K
170.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$2,483JMD 391.3K
562.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Old Harbour
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€89.9
$25.67JMD 4,045
300.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.52
$25.43JMD 4,007
64.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€82.9
$70.0JMD 11.0K
35.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$76.5JMD 12.1K
59.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Old Harbour
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,428
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,078
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,711
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,777
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,851
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,840
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Old Harbour
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,406
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
9.15
-58.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Last update for Old Harbour: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $32.00 in Old Harbour. Groceries flip the comparison at $267 vs $321, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.
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 Old Harbour: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Old Harbour?
Lisbon and Old Harbour differ by about 220% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $715 including rent). Old Harbour is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Old Harbour?
You'd need roughly $3,437 in Lisbon and $1,073 in Old Harbour to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 20% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Old Harbour?
All in, you'll spend $2,291 per month in Lisbon versus $715 in Old Harbour – a 220% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $715 in Old Harbour versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Old Harbour but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Old Harbour the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Old Harbour?
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 Old Harbour safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Old Harbour 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 Old Harbour?
Expats usually find Old Harbour gentler on the wallet – expenses run 220% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.