😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,243 in Lisbon versus $1,069 in Port Louis.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $1,686 in Port Louis.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,387 in Lisbon versus $2,303 in Port Louis.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 110% more expensive than Port Louis, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 67% above, Port Louis is 20% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Port Louis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.73€13.42
$6.56MUR 305
139.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.2€53.9
$44.77MUR 2,082
41.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€8.80
$7.07MUR 329
45.97%
Cappuccino
$2.81€2.40
$2.56MUR 119
9.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33€1.99
$1.03MUR 48.12
126.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51€1.29
$0.59MUR 27.47
155.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.37€2.87
$2.24MUR 104
50.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.34
$3.28MUR 152
19.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Port Louis
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.92
$1.62MUR 75.2
-33.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.49
$0.66MUR 30.93
165.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75€1.50
$1.31MUR 61.1
33.59%
Eggs
$3.10€2.64
$2.30MUR 107
34.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.28€11.33
$11.99MUR 558
10.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.85€6.70
$6.27MUR 291
25.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.05€13.69
$12.43MUR 578
29.12%
Apples(1kg)
$2.39€2.04
$1.99MUR 92.4
20.10%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.47
$1.93MUR 89.6
-10.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97€1.68
$1.45MUR 67.4
35.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.17
$2.64MUR 123
-3.41%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
$1.04MUR 48.15
72.12%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97€1.68
$0.96MUR 44.43
105.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.96€1.67
$0.83MUR 38.72
136.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.71
$0.80MUR 36.99
5.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.82€5.82
$6.76MUR 314
0.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.85€4.99
$8.45MUR 393
-30.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.18
$1.81MUR 84.2
-23.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92€2.49
$2.22MUR 103
31.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Port Louis
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.29€1.95
$1.02MUR 47.28
124.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.88€39.99
$22.37MUR 1,041
109.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.12€3.51
$4.29MUR 199
-3.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.69
$2.68MUR 125
-69.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.94€16.16
$19.88MUR 925
-4.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09€1.78
$1.39MUR 64.6
50.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K€30.0K
$35.1KMUR 1.6M
0.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7K€33.9K
$28.3KMUR 1.3M
40.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Port Louis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150€128
$48.52MUR 2,257
208.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.49€17.48
$18.34MUR 853
11.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.15€33.40
$33.28MUR 1,548
17.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Port Louis
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.65€42.35
$24.29MUR 1,130
104.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.47€15.76
$4.14MUR 193
346.14%
Cinema Ticket
$9.20€7.84
$5.96MUR 277
54.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Port Louis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$624€533
$156MUR 7,251
300.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9K€13.6K
$4,025MUR 187.2K
295.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Port Louis
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€87.2
$86.5MUR 4,022
18.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.88€34.87
$80.2MUR 3,729
-49.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.7€81.6
$130MUR 6,054
-26.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121€103
$95.6MUR 4,447
26.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Port Louis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,653€1,410
$459MUR 21.4K
259.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,233€1,051
$348MUR 16.2K
254.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,043€2,596
$800MUR 37.2K
280.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,059€1,756
$630MUR 29.3K
226.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,879€6,720
$4,237MUR 197.1K
85.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,303€3,671
$1,064MUR 49.5K
304.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Port Louis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,566€1,336
$660MUR 30.7K
137.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
6.67
-42.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 21, 2026
Last update for Port Louis: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,653 in Lisbon and $459 in Port Louis. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 137% 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: $63 in Lisbon vs $45 in Port Louis for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $270 vs $231 per month, with Port Louis 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 Port Louis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Port Louis?
Lisbon and Port Louis differ by about 110% in total monthly costs ($2,243 vs $1,069 including rent). Port Louis is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Port Louis?
Lisbon pays 137% more on average, 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 Port Louis?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,653 in Lisbon versus $459 in Port Louis. 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 Port Louis?
Childcare runs $624 in Lisbon versus $156 in Port Louis. 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 17% 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 $1,069 in Port Louis versus $2,243 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Port Louis but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Port Louis the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Port Louis?
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 Port Louis safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Port Louis 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 Port Louis?
Expats usually find Port Louis gentler on the wallet – expenses run 110% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.