😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,280 in Lisbon versus $568 in Ouarzazate.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,294 in Lisbon versus $907 in Ouarzazate.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,307 in Lisbon versus $1,245 in Ouarzazate.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 302% more expensive than in Ouarzazate, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Ouarzazate is 57% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Ouarzazate
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75€13.64
$4.78MAD 44.60
229.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5€55.0
$10.98MAD 102
478.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.45€9.05
$4.50MAD 41.97
132.22%
Cappuccino
$2.91€2.52
$1.07MAD 10.00
171.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€1.98
$0.42MAD 3.92
445.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$0.36MAD 3.32
316.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.56€3.09
$2.82MAD 26.28
26.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96€3.43
$2.69MAD 25.07
47.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Ouarzazate
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.94
$0.77MAD 7.20
40.26%
White Bread(500g)
$1.76€1.53
$0.56MAD 5.24
214.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70€1.47
$1.45MAD 13.55
17.24%
Eggs
$3.25€2.81
$1.66MAD 15.46
95.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.25€11.47
$7.83MAD 73.0
69.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.70€6.67
$4.15MAD 38.65
85.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.77€13.66
$6.54MAD 61.0
141.13%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.97
$0.97MAD 9.08
135.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66€1.43
$1.39MAD 12.95
19.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.02€1.75
$0.63MAD 5.85
220.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47€2.14
$0.68MAD 6.33
263.24%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.55
$0.64MAD 5.98
179.69%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07€1.79
$0.46MAD 4.28
350.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.71
$0.23MAD 2.15
756.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.72
$0.60MAD 5.57
38.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55€5.68
$4.29MAD 40.01
52.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.57€4.82
$8.20MAD 76.5
-32.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.15
$2.61MAD 24.38
-49.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01€2.60
$3.05MAD 28.43
-1.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Ouarzazate
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.97
$0.47MAD 4.41
382.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.35€40.14
$16.20MAD 151
186.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.66
$0.54MAD 5.03
683.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$0.51MAD 4.76
66.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.83€16.31
$2.78MAD 25.89
577.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02€1.75
$1.52MAD 14.17
32.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.3K
$37.9KMAD 353.2K
-7.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K€34.3K
$29.5KMAD 275.3K
34.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Ouarzazate
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€128
$32.17MAD 300
359.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.77
$5.41MAD 50.5
279.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52€34.23
$25.05MAD 234
57.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Ouarzazate
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.17€41.72
$15.08MAD 141
219.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39€15.92
$23.53MAD 219
-21.84%
Cinema Ticket
$9.10€7.88
$3.82MAD 35.60
138.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Ouarzazate
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$615€532
$75.8MAD 707
710.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.1K
$6,303MAD 58.8K
158.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Ouarzazate
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€88.0
$38.89MAD 363
161.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09€36.45
$50.6MAD 471
-16.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.3€79.9
$50.2MAD 468
83.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€106
$67.0MAD 625
82.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Ouarzazate
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,612€1,396
$251MAD 2,343
541.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254€1,086
$130MAD 1,208
867.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,069€2,658
$502MAD 4,676
512.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,037€1,764
$309MAD 2,880
559.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,751€6,712
$1,231MAD 11.5K
529.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,286€3,712
$896MAD 8,359
378.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Ouarzazate
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,602€1,387
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
4.75
-19.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026
Last update for Ouarzazate: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Lisbon and $251 in Ouarzazate. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $11.00 in Ouarzazate for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $155 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 302% in total monthly costs ($2,280 vs $568 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 $3,420 in Lisbon and $852 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: $1,612 in Lisbon versus $251 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 $615 in Lisbon versus $75.8 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 72% 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 $568 in Ouarzazate versus $2,280 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 302% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.