🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $2,356 in Pembroke.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $3,897 in Pembroke.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $5,439 in Pembroke.
🙂Living in Lisbon costs roughly 6% less than in Pembroke, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon65% above, Pembroke76% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Pembroke
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.69
$60.1BMD 60.1
-73.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.7
$152BMD 152
-57.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.04
$14.72BMD 14.72
-28.60%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$4.54BMD 4.54
-36.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$3.51BMD 3.51
-36.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$2.97BMD 2.97
-49.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.00
$8.22BMD 8.22
-57.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$8.73BMD 8.73
-55.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Pembroke
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$4.34BMD 4.34
-73.73%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$8.66BMD 8.66
-79.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$5.61BMD 5.61
-68.63%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$7.39BMD 7.39
-56.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$11.75BMD 11.75
14.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$24.61BMD 24.61
-67.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.65
$32.66BMD 32.66
-51.41%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$10.52BMD 10.52
-78.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$6.32BMD 6.32
-73.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$12.69BMD 12.69
-84.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$11.37BMD 11.37
-78.36%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$8.44BMD 8.44
-78.20%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$5.17BMD 5.17
-61.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$5.87BMD 5.87
-67.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$3.27BMD 3.27
-75.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.68
$17.65BMD 17.65
-62.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.92
$24.90BMD 24.90
-77.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.17
$5.33BMD 5.33
-74.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$4.37BMD 4.37
-32.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Pembroke
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$3.89BMD 3.89
-39.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.19
$69.0BMD 69.0
-33.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$6.13BMD 6.13
-30.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.74
$53.2BMD 53.2
-65.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$2.39BMD 2.39
-13.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$35.0KBMD 35.0K
-2.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$39.1KBMD 39.1K
0.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Pembroke
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$235BMD 235
-37.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.65
$117BMD 117
-82.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.08
$159BMD 159
-75.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Pembroke
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.16
$80.7BMD 80.7
-40.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.28
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.90
$13.70BMD 13.70
-32.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Pembroke
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€528
$1,333BMD 1,333
-53.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$24.0KBMD 24.0K
-33.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Pembroke
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.0
$80.6BMD 80.6
29.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.18
$58.8BMD 58.8
-28.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.8
$136BMD 136
-30.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$128BMD 128
-6.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Pembroke
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,400
$3,708BMD 3,708
-56.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,080
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,607
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,738
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,709
$5,624BMD 5,624
38.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,675
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Pembroke
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,379
$7,856BMD 7,856
-79.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
7.22
-47.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Pembroke: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $3,708 in Pembroke. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Pembroke pays 390% 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: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $152 in Pembroke for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $820 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 Pembroke: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Pembroke?
Lisbon and Pembroke differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $2,356 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Pembroke earns 390% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Pembroke?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $3,708 in Pembroke. 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 Pembroke?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $1,333 in Pembroke. 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 204% higher in Pembroke. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Lisbon is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Pembroke?
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 Pembroke safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Pembroke 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 Pembroke?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Pembroke. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.