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: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $1,757 in Paradise Island.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $2,914 in Paradise Island.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $4,070 in Paradise Island.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 27% more expensive than Paradise Island, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 66% above, Paradise Island 31% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.17 €13.84

$40.45 BSD 40.45

-60.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.6 €55.3

$150 BSD 150

-56.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.38 €8.88

$9.97 BSD 9.97

4.11%

Cappuccino

$2.77 €2.37

$5.05 BSD 5.05

-45.15%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 €1.92

$2.23 BSD 2.23

0.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 €1.35

$1.70 BSD 1.70

-7.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.49 €2.99

$4.05 BSD 4.05

-13.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.00 €3.43

$6.03 BSD 6.03

-33.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 €0.93

$4.84 BSD 4.84

-77.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.74 €1.49

$3.04 BSD 3.04

-42.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.74 €1.49

$6.28 BSD 6.28

-72.29%

Eggs

$3.18 €2.72

$7.83 BSD 7.83

-59.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.43 €11.50

$8.46 BSD 8.46

58.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.99 €6.84

$12.22 BSD 12.22

-34.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.09 €13.77

$20.93 BSD 20.93

-23.12%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 €1.95

$5.23 BSD 5.23

-56.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 €1.48

$3.40 BSD 3.40

-49.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 €1.66

$4.82 BSD 4.82

-59.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.54 €2.18

$7.02 BSD 7.02

-63.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.83 €1.57

$4.96 BSD 4.96

-63.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.04 €1.75

$4.42 BSD 4.42

-53.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 €1.69

$3.48 BSD 3.48

-43.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 €0.73

$3.08 BSD 3.08

-72.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.85 €5.87

$13.73 BSD 13.73

-50.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.78 €4.94

$34.33 BSD 34.33

-83.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 €1.18

$3.86 BSD 3.86

-64.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 €2.48

$4.29 BSD 4.29

-32.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.28 €1.95

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.84 €40.10

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.08 €3.49

$6.18 BSD 6.18

-33.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 €0.70

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.27 €15.64

$100 BSD 100

-81.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.01 €1.72

$1.41 BSD 1.41

42.55%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.3K €30.2K

$36.8K BSD 36.8K

-4.22%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$38.5K €32.9K

$43.0K BSD 43.0K

-10.43%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$145 €124

$197 BSD 197

-26.18%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$20.96 €17.94

$71.7 BSD 71.7

-70.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.05 €34.29

$98.5 BSD 98.5

-59.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.79 €41.76

$129 BSD 129

-62.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.69 €16.00

Cinema Ticket

$9.06 €7.76

$14.77 BSD 14.77

-38.66%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$607 €519

$712 BSD 712

-14.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.3K €14.0K

$15.3K BSD 15.3K

6.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €89.6

$64.4 BSD 64.4

62.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.95 €35.06

$76.8 BSD 76.8

-46.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.6 €80.1

$117 BSD 117

-19.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 €101

$129 BSD 129

-8.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,604 €1,373

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,236 €1,058

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,046 €2,607

$5,536 BSD 5,536

-44.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,057 €1,761

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,709 €6,599

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,266 €3,652

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,584 €1,356

$2,486 BSD 2,486

-36.28%

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Paradise Island: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Paradise Island pays 57% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $150 in Paradise Island for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $557 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

Lisbon and Paradise Island differ by about 27% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $1,757 including rent). Paradise Island is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Paradise Island earns 57% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 106% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $2,227 per month in Lisbon versus $1,757 in Paradise Island – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,757 in Paradise Island versus $2,227 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.

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.

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.

Expats usually find Paradise Island gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.