😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $724 in Ouarzazate.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $1,136 in Ouarzazate.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $1,548 in Ouarzazate.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 217% more expensive than in Ouarzazate, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Ouarzazate is 47% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Ouarzazate
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59€15.33
$3.60MAD 34.12
388.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€54.8
$31.85MAD 302
97.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.58€10.10
$6.25MAD 59.3
85.28%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$2.23MAD 21.19
39.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.17
$0.65MAD 6.21
283.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74€1.52
$0.38MAD 3.56
357.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.48€3.03
$7.00MAD 66.4
-50.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€3.00
$5.57MAD 52.8
-38.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Ouarzazate
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15€1.00
$0.83MAD 7.89
38.55%
White Bread(500g)
$1.91€1.66
$0.82MAD 7.76
132.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50€1.31
$1.60MAD 15.21
-6.25%
Eggs
$3.98€3.47
$1.53MAD 14.49
160.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.59
$7.82MAD 74.1
69.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.98
$4.68MAD 44.37
71.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.04€15.73
$11.86MAD 113
52.11%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35€2.05
$0.76MAD 7.25
209.21%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75€1.53
$1.23MAD 11.70
42.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85€1.62
$0.65MAD 6.19
184.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.22
$0.81MAD 7.72
214.81%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.61
$0.69MAD 6.59
166.67%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10€1.83
$0.84MAD 7.93
150.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.30
$0.23MAD 2.17
547.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.71
$0.58MAD 5.46
41.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10€6.19
$4.18MAD 39.60
69.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.91€5.15
$7.82MAD 74.2
-24.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.15
$2.40MAD 22.74
-45.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.86
$3.40MAD 32.21
-37.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Ouarzazate
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.36€2.05
$0.50MAD 4.71
372.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.62€40.63
$16.70MAD 158
179.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.55
$0.52MAD 4.92
684.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.99
$0.64MAD 6.10
78.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.09€14.90
$7.36MAD 69.8
132.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.31€2.01
$1.52MAD 14.42
51.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.7K
$35.4KMAD 335.8K
-3.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€36.1K
$30.4KMAD 288.4K
36.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Ouarzazate
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169€147
$36.93MAD 350
356.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33€16.85
$5.12MAD 48.55
277.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51€29.21
$26.66MAD 253
25.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Ouarzazate
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.84€42.57
$26.09MAD 247
87.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43€16.94
$20.47MAD 194
-5.08%
Cinema Ticket
$9.57€8.34
$6.47MAD 61.4
47.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Ouarzazate
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696€607
$100MAD 953
592.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.4K€15.1K
$8,459MAD 80.2K
105.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Ouarzazate
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€91.8
$32.84MAD 311
220.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75€41.62
$45.96MAD 436
3.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.6
$84.7MAD 803
18.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€108
$85.5MAD 811
45.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Ouarzazate
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,662€1,449
$271MAD 2,569
513.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,246€1,086
$171MAD 1,623
628.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,965€2,584
$545MAD 5,166
444.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,049€1,786
$311MAD 2,952
558.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,834€6,829
$1,222MAD 11.6K
541.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,464€3,892
$847MAD 8,035
426.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Ouarzazate
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,632€1,422
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
3.5
8.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Last update for Ouarzazate: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $271 in Ouarzazate. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $32.00 in Ouarzazate for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $175 per month, with Ouarzazate 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 Ouarzazate: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Ouarzazate?
Lisbon and Ouarzazate differ by about 217% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $724 including rent). Ouarzazate 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 Ouarzazate?
You'd need roughly $3,444 in Lisbon and $1,085 in Ouarzazate 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in Ouarzazate?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $271 in Ouarzazate. 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 Ouarzazate?
Childcare runs $696 in Lisbon versus $100 in Ouarzazate. 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 58% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $724 in Ouarzazate versus $2,296 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ouarzazate but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Ouarzazate the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Ouarzazate?
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 Ouarzazate safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Ouarzazate 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 Ouarzazate?
Expats usually find Ouarzazate gentler on the wallet – expenses run 217% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.