😐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: Lisbon64% above, Palma Soriano15% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Palma Soriano
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.55€15.09
$4.89CUP 117
258.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.5€55.5
$25.23CUP 606
155.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.65€10.01
$5.03CUP 121
131.61%
Cappuccino
$3.26€2.80
$3.23CUP 77.6
0.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.14
$1.29CUP 30.88
93.02%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67€1.44
$0.88CUP 21.16
89.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47€2.99
$2.95CUP 70.8
17.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58€3.07
$2.38CUP 57.1
50.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Palma Soriano
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18€1.02
$1.96CUP 47.10
-39.80%
White Bread(500g)
$1.95€1.67
$1.43CUP 34.37
36.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56€1.34
$1.03CUP 24.68
51.46%
Eggs
$4.01€3.45
$1.22CUP 29.25
228.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.27€11.41
$6.09CUP 146
117.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.42€7.24
$6.08CUP 146
38.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.23€15.68
$11.21CUP 269
62.62%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32€2.00
$1.86CUP 44.67
24.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73€1.49
$1.21CUP 29.11
42.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93€1.66
$1.47CUP 35.22
31.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$1.53CUP 36.70
72.55%
Potato(1kg)
$1.90€1.63
$1.02CUP 24.51
86.27%
Onion(1kg)
$2.11€1.82
$0.97CUP 23.29
117.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.24
$1.01CUP 24.36
42.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80€0.69
$1.07CUP 25.73
-25.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.01€6.03
$3.04CUP 73.1
130.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.92€5.09
$9.99CUP 240
-40.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36€1.17
$2.96CUP 71.2
-54.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15€1.85
$1.96CUP 46.92
9.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Palma Soriano
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.38€2.05
$0.24CUP 5.75
891.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.22€39.74
$30.20CUP 725
53.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.19€3.60
$1.83CUP 43.85
128.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.10€0.94
$0.37CUP 8.76
197.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.26€14.84
$12.88CUP 309
34.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.25€1.93
$1.18CUP 28.42
90.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K€29.6K
$65.7KCUP 1.6M
-47.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.6K€35.8K
$46.7KCUP 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
$55.2CUP 1,325
209.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.01€16.34
$10.15CUP 244
87.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.28€29.48
$150CUP 3,593
-77.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Palma Soriano
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.65€42.69
$40.60CUP 974
22.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.51€16.77
$10.12CUP 243
92.79%
Cinema Ticket
$10.10€8.68
$0.98CUP 23.50
930.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Palma Soriano
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$699€601
$100CUP 2,407
597.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.8K€15.3K
$11.9KCUP 285.6K
49.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Palma Soriano
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.9
$64.5CUP 1,549
62.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.97€41.24
$34.65CUP 831
38.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.6
$83.6CUP 2,006
21.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128€110
$111CUP 2,652
16.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Palma Soriano
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,661€1,428
$867CUP 20.8K
91.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,228€1,056
$791CUP 19.0K
55.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,915€2,506
$742CUP 17.8K
293.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,023€1,740
$646CUP 15.5K
213.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,129€6,989
$322CUP 7,737
2421.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,635€3,985
$326CUP 7,818
1322.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Palma Soriano
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,619€1,392
$40.19CUP 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.