Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Palma Soriano Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Palma Soriano

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,268 in Lisbon versus $1,582 in Palma Soriano.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,348 in Lisbon versus $1,882 in Palma Soriano.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,429 in Lisbon versus $2,181 in Palma Soriano.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 43% more expensive than in Palma Soriano, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 64% above, Palma Soriano 15% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Palma Soriano
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.55 €15.09
$4.89 CUP 117
258.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.5 €55.5
$25.23 CUP 606
155.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.65 €10.01
$5.03 CUP 121
131.61%
Cappuccino
$3.26 €2.80
$3.23 CUP 77.6
0.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 €2.14
$1.29 CUP 30.88
93.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 €1.44
$0.88 CUP 21.16
89.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.47 €2.99
$2.95 CUP 70.8
17.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 €3.07
$2.38 CUP 57.1
50.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Palma Soriano
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 €1.02
$1.96 CUP 47.10
-39.80%
White Bread (500g)
$1.95 €1.67
$1.43 CUP 34.37
36.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 €1.34
$1.03 CUP 24.68
51.46%
Eggs
$4.01 €3.45
$1.22 CUP 29.25
228.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.27 €11.41
$6.09 CUP 146
117.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.42 €7.24
$6.08 CUP 146
38.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.23 €15.68
$11.21 CUP 269
62.62%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 €2.00
$1.86 CUP 44.67
24.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 €1.49
$1.21 CUP 29.11
42.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 €1.66
$1.47 CUP 35.22
31.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.64 €2.27
$1.53 CUP 36.70
72.55%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 €1.63
$1.02 CUP 24.51
86.27%
Onion (1kg)
$2.11 €1.82
$0.97 CUP 23.29
117.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 €1.24
$1.01 CUP 24.36
42.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 €0.69
$1.07 CUP 25.73
-25.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.01 €6.03
$3.04 CUP 73.1
130.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.92 €5.09
$9.99 CUP 240
-40.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 €1.17
$2.96 CUP 71.2
-54.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 €1.85
$1.96 CUP 46.92
9.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Palma Soriano
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.38 €2.05
$0.24 CUP 5.75
891.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.22 €39.74
$30.20 CUP 725
53.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.19 €3.60
$1.83 CUP 43.85
128.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.10 €0.94
$0.37 CUP 8.76
197.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.26 €14.84
$12.88 CUP 309
34.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.25 €1.93
$1.18 CUP 28.42
90.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K €29.6K
$65.7K CUP 1.6M
-47.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.6K €35.8K
$46.7K CUP 1.1M
-10.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Palma Soriano
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$171 €147
$55.2 CUP 1,325
209.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.01 €16.34
$10.15 CUP 244
87.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.28 €29.48
$150 CUP 3,593
-77.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Palma Soriano
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.65 €42.69
$40.60 CUP 974
22.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.51 €16.77
$10.12 CUP 243
92.79%
Cinema Ticket
$10.10 €8.68
$0.98 CUP 23.50
930.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Palma Soriano
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$699 €601
$100 CUP 2,407
597.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.8K €15.3K
$11.9K CUP 285.6K
49.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Palma Soriano
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €89.9
$64.5 CUP 1,549
62.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.97 €41.24
$34.65 CUP 831
38.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 €87.6
$83.6 CUP 2,006
21.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128 €110
$111 CUP 2,652
16.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Palma Soriano
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,661 €1,428
$867 CUP 20.8K
91.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,228 €1,056
$791 CUP 19.0K
55.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,915 €2,506
$742 CUP 17.8K
293.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,023 €1,740
$646 CUP 15.5K
213.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,129 €6,989
$322 CUP 7,737
2421.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,635 €3,985
$326 CUP 7,818
1322.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Palma Soriano
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,619 €1,392
$40.19 CUP 964
3928.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.78
8.33
-54.62%

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

Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026

Last update for Palma Soriano: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,661 in Lisbon and $867 in Palma Soriano. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 3929% 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: $64.0 in Lisbon vs $25.00 in Palma Soriano for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $281 vs $216 per month, with Palma Soriano 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 Palma Soriano: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Palma Soriano?
Lisbon and Palma Soriano differ by about 43% in total monthly costs ($2,268 vs $1,582 including rent). Palma Soriano is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Palma Soriano?
Average pay runs 3929% 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 Palma Soriano?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,661 in Lisbon versus $867 in Palma Soriano. 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 Palma Soriano?
Childcare runs $699 in Lisbon versus $100 in Palma Soriano. 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 30% 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 $1,582 in Palma Soriano versus $2,268 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Palma Soriano but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Palma Soriano the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Palma Soriano?
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 Palma Soriano safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Palma Soriano 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 Palma Soriano?
Expats usually find Palma Soriano gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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