Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Paradise Island Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Paradise Island

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $1,706 in Paradise Island.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $2,952 in Paradise Island.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $4,198 in Paradise Island.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 33% more expensive than Paradise Island, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 68% above, Paradise Island 27% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Paradise Island
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94 €13.73
$40.69 BSD 40.69
-60.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4 €54.6
$151 BSD 151
-57.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 €8.95
$9.96 BSD 9.96
4.22%
Cappuccino
$2.79 €2.40
$4.86 BSD 4.86
-42.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 €2.01
$2.36 BSD 2.36
-0.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 €1.35
$1.79 BSD 1.79
-12.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.43 €2.95
$4.06 BSD 4.06
-15.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 €3.37
$5.89 BSD 5.89
-33.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Paradise Island
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.93
$4.66 BSD 4.66
-76.82%
White Bread (500g)
$1.77 €1.52
$2.91 BSD 2.91
-39.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 €1.47
$6.15 BSD 6.15
-72.20%
Eggs
$3.15 €2.71
$7.84 BSD 7.84
-59.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.68 €11.79
$8.57 BSD 8.57
59.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.01 €6.90
$11.91 BSD 11.91
-32.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.52 €13.37
$20.96 BSD 20.96
-25.95%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 €1.98
$5.19 BSD 5.19
-55.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 €1.41
$3.49 BSD 3.49
-53.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 €1.67
$4.76 BSD 4.76
-59.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.51 €2.17
$7.20 BSD 7.20
-65.14%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 €1.54
$5.14 BSD 5.14
-65.18%
Onion (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$4.49 BSD 4.49
-55.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 €1.69
$3.60 BSD 3.60
-45.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 €0.73
$3.00 BSD 3.00
-72.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79 €5.85
$13.94 BSD 13.94
-51.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.67 €4.89
$34.57 BSD 34.57
-83.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 €1.20
$3.86 BSD 3.86
-63.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 €2.60
$4.27 BSD 4.27
-29.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Paradise Island
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.27 €1.95
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.44 €39.15
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.70
$6.02 BSD 6.02
-28.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 €0.73
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.28 €15.75
$101 BSD 101
-81.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.99 €1.71
$1.40 BSD 1.40
42.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K €30.2K
$37.6K BSD 37.6K
-6.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K €34.1K
$42.8K BSD 42.8K
-7.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Paradise Island
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$146 €126
$199 BSD 199
-26.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45 €17.62
$70.8 BSD 70.8
-71.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98 €33.58
$101 BSD 101
-61.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Paradise Island
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.98 €42.21
$129 BSD 129
-62.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83 €16.22
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.52 €8.21
$14.75 BSD 14.75
-35.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Paradise Island
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$608 €524
$730 BSD 730
-16.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K €14.2K
$15.0K BSD 15.0K
9.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Paradise Island
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 €89.5
$64.6 BSD 64.6
60.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12 €36.29
$77.3 BSD 77.3
-45.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.2 €79.5
$114 BSD 114
-19.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$129 BSD 129
-6.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Paradise Island
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,621 €1,397
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,268 €1,092
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,048 €2,626
$5,475 BSD 5,475
-44.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,009 €1,731
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,663 €6,602
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,329 €3,730
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Paradise Island
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,585 €1,366
$2,474 BSD 2,474
-35.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
7.05
-45.96%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026

Last update for Paradise Island: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Paradise Island pays 56% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $151 in Paradise Island for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $554 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 Paradise Island: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Paradise Island?
Lisbon and Paradise Island differ by about 33% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $1,706 including rent). Paradise Island is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Paradise Island earns 56% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 106% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Paradise Island?
All in, you'll spend $2,263 per month in Lisbon versus $1,706 in Paradise Island – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,706 in Paradise Island versus $2,263 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Paradise Island but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Paradise Island the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Paradise Island?
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 Paradise Island safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Paradise Island 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 Paradise Island?
Expats usually find Paradise Island gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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