😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,052 in Port Louis.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,289 in Lisbon versus $1,668 in Port Louis.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,369 in Lisbon versus $2,284 in Port Louis.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 110% more expensive than in Port Louis, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Port Louis is 21% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Port Louis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.71€13.76
$6.76MUR 318
132.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€55.1
$43.63MUR 2,056
44.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.53€9.23
$7.07MUR 333
48.94%
Cappuccino
$2.88€2.53
$2.65MUR 125
8.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.97
$0.94MUR 44.51
139.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56€1.36
$0.61MUR 28.62
155.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.39€2.97
$2.19MUR 103
54.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90€3.41
$3.20MUR 151
21.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Port Louis
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.95
$1.69MUR 79.6
-36.09%
White Bread(500g)
$1.73€1.51
$0.66MUR 30.95
162.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.27MUR 59.8
38.58%
Eggs
$3.16€2.77
$2.27MUR 107
39.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.64
$11.66MUR 549
13.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.87€6.89
$6.23MUR 293
26.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.84€13.88
$12.63MUR 595
25.42%
Apples(1kg)
$2.40€2.11
$1.98MUR 93.2
21.21%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.49
$2.01MUR 95.0
-15.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$1.48MUR 69.8
37.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.52€2.21
$2.61MUR 123
-3.45%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86€1.63
$1.03MUR 48.50
80.58%
Onion(1kg)
$2.06€1.81
$0.94MUR 44.18
119.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.00€1.75
$0.83MUR 39.25
140.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78€0.68
$0.76MUR 35.71
2.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.65€5.82
$6.56MUR 309
1.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€5.06
$8.24MUR 388
-29.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.21
$1.71MUR 80.5
-19.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.64
$2.16MUR 102
39.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Port Louis
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.33€2.04
$1.02MUR 48.00
128.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.45€39.82
$21.90MUR 1,032
107.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.57
$4.47MUR 211
-8.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.80€0.70
$2.62MUR 123
-69.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.65€16.34
$20.10MUR 947
-7.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.00€1.75
$1.39MUR 65.5
43.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K€31.0K
$35.4KMUR 1.7M
-0.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.1K€34.2K
$28.6KMUR 1.3M
36.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Port Louis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150€132
$50.3MUR 2,370
198.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.55€18.01
$18.27MUR 861
12.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.45€34.56
$34.22MUR 1,613
15.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Port Louis
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.06€42.11
$24.24MUR 1,142
98.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.70€16.38
$3.96MUR 187
372.22%
Cinema Ticket
$9.30€8.15
$5.92MUR 279
57.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Port Louis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$628€550
$155MUR 7,301
305.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.4K
$3,940MUR 185.7K
317.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Port Louis
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€89.0
$84.4MUR 3,977
20.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.55€36.40
$79.1MUR 3,730
-47.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.5€81.0
$131MUR 6,192
-29.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123€107
$96.4MUR 4,545
27.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Port Louis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,426
$458MUR 21.6K
255.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,233€1,080
$352MUR 16.6K
250.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,126€2,739
$785MUR 37.0K
298.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,058€1,803
$616MUR 29.0K
233.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,762€6,801
$4,113MUR 193.8K
88.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,386€3,843
$1,073MUR 50.6K
308.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Port Louis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,621€1,420
$698MUR 32.9K
132.11%
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: July 21, 2026
Last update for Port Louis: July 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $458 in Port Louis. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 132% 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: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $44.00 in Port Louis for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $229 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 in Port Louis?
Lisbon and Port Louis differ by about 110% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $1,052 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?
Average pay runs 132% higher in Lisbon, 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 in Port Louis?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $458 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 $628 in Lisbon versus $155 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 $1,052 in Port Louis versus $2,210 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.