Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Paro Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Paro

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,217 in Lisbon versus $150 in Paro.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,245 in Lisbon versus $186 in Paro.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,272 in Lisbon versus $222 in Paro.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 1379% more expensive than Paro, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Paro is 89% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.78 €13.59

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.5 €53.8

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.54 €9.07

Cappuccino

$2.77 €2.38

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

$2.28 €1.97

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 €1.33

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.55 €3.05

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 €3.43

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 €0.93

White Bread (500g)

$1.77 €1.52

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 €1.52

Eggs

$3.12 €2.69

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.34 €11.49

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.99 €6.88

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.92 €13.70

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 €1.97

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 €1.42

Oranges (1kg)

$1.98 €1.70

Tomato (1kg)

$2.45 €2.11

Potato (1kg)

$1.77 €1.52

Onion (1kg)

$1.97 €1.69

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 €1.70

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 €0.69

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.54 €5.63

Wine (Bottle)

$5.75 €4.95

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 €1.13

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 €2.57

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.34 €2.01

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.85 €39.48

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.26 €3.66

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.84 €0.73

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.86 €16.24

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.07 €1.78

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

$35.2K €30.3K

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

$38.6K €33.2K

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

$151 €130

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

$20.91 €18.00

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.54 €34.05

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.39 €41.67

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.61 €16.02

$3.58 BTN 302

419.83%

Cinema Ticket

$9.04 €7.79

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

$610 €525

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.3K €14.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 €87.2

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.58 €34.94

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.0 €80.1

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 €102

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,603 €1,380

$204 BTN 17.2K

686.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,239 €1,067

$150 BTN 12.7K

724.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,019 €2,599

$243 BTN 20.5K

1143.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,061 €1,775

$215 BTN 18.1K

859.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,981 €6,872

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,533 €3,903

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,628 €1,402

$592 BTN 50.0K

174.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.81

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 15, 2026

Last update for Paro: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,603 in Lisbon and $204 in Paro. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 175% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

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 Paro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lisbon and Paro differ by about 1379% in total monthly costs ($2,217 vs $150 including rent). Paro is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Lisbon pays 175% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,603 in Lisbon versus $204 in Paro. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

At $150 in Paro versus $2,217 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Paro but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Paro 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 Paro 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 Paro gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1379% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.