😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,709 in Oristano.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $2,672 in Oristano.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $3,635 in Oristano.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 29% more expensive than Oristano, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon65% above, Oristano28% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Oristano
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.70
$23.51€20.24
-32.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.8
$93.5€80.5
-30.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.05
$5.77€4.97
82.15%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$1.72€1.48
66.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$2.88€2.48
-22.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$1.19€1.02
26.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.01
$5.95€5.12
-41.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$3.41€2.94
13.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Oristano
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.63€1.40
-30.06%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$2.24€1.93
-21.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$3.29€2.83
-46.50%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$3.47€2.98
-7.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$13.95€12.01
-3.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$13.20€11.36
-40.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.67
$19.34€16.65
-17.94%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$1.75€1.51
32.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$1.54€1.32
10.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$2.27€1.95
-11.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$3.67€3.16
-32.97%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$1.83€1.57
0.55%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$2.13€1.83
-6.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$1.44€1.24
34.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.59€0.51
33.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.69
$7.11€6.12
-7.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.93
$8.05€6.93
-28.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$1.70€1.46
-19.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$1.43€1.23
107.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Oristano
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$1.72€1.48
37.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.22
$43.43€37.39
4.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$3.68€3.17
16.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$1.12€0.97
-26.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.76
$29.23€25.16
-37.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$2.10€1.80
-1.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$34.1K€29.4K
0.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$35.0K€30.1K
12.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Oristano
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$176€151
-15.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.67
$13.08€11.26
56.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.10
$28.25€24.32
40.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Oristano
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.19
$54.4€46.87
-12.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.29
$23.37€20.12
-19.04%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.91
$9.54€8.21
-3.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Oristano
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€529
$536€461
14.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$7,976€6,867
101.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Oristano
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.1
$90.6€78.0
15.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.21
$62.8€54.0
-32.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.9
$86.0€74.0
9.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$119€103
0.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Oristano
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,401
$743€640
119.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,081
$571€491
119.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,609
$1,238€1,066
144.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,739
$917€790
120.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,715
$2,892€2,490
169.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,678
$2,062€1,775
107.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Oristano
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,380
$1,952€1,680
-17.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
4.87
-21.77%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Oristano: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $743 in Oristano. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Oristano pays 22% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $94.0 in Oristano for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $327 per month, with Lisbon 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 Oristano: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Oristano?
Lisbon and Oristano differ by about 29% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $1,709 including rent). Oristano is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Oristano earns 22% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Oristano?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $743 in Oristano. 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 Oristano?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $536 in Oristano. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 21% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,709 in Oristano versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Oristano but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Oristano the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Oristano?
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 Oristano safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Oristano 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 Oristano?
Expats usually find Oristano gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.