😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,069 in Port Louis.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,712 in Port Louis.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $2,356 in Port Louis.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 107% more expensive than Port Louis, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Port Louis is 20% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Port Louis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.81
$6.59MUR 312
141.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€56.2
$44.79MUR 2,124
44.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.12
$7.16MUR 339
46.79%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.49
$2.56MUR 121
12.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.95
$1.00MUR 47.52
124.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$0.56MUR 26.47
167.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.03
$2.25MUR 106
55.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.37
$3.24MUR 154
19.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Port Louis
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.99
$1.63MUR 77.2
-30.06%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.52
$0.65MUR 30.72
169.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.52
$1.32MUR 62.6
33.33%
Eggs
$3.22€2.79
$2.22MUR 105
45.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.71
$11.98MUR 568
12.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.87
$6.06MUR 287
30.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.77
$12.85MUR 609
23.50%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€2.00
$2.03MUR 96.3
13.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.48
$2.00MUR 94.6
-15.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.74
$1.44MUR 68.4
39.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.13
$2.66MUR 126
-7.52%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.60
$1.02MUR 48.44
80.39%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.74
$1.01MUR 47.85
98.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.67
$0.81MUR 38.24
138.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.80MUR 37.98
-1.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.73
$6.68MUR 317
-1.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.97
$8.63MUR 409
-33.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$1.80MUR 85.5
-23.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.58
$2.25MUR 107
32.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Port Louis
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.06
$1.03MUR 48.79
130.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.53
$22.00MUR 1,043
107.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.72
$4.37MUR 207
-1.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.71
$2.74MUR 130
-70.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.88
$19.46MUR 923
-5.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.79
$1.44MUR 68.3
43.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.7K
$36.5KMUR 1.7M
-5.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€34.1K
$29.0KMUR 1.4M
35.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Port Louis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€128
$48.79MUR 2,313
203.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.80
$18.55MUR 879
10.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.37
$33.17MUR 1,573
19.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Port Louis
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.51
$24.33MUR 1,153
96.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.42
$4.09MUR 194
362.59%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.97
$5.92MUR 281
55.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Port Louis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€533
$152MUR 7,227
302.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.9K
$3,933MUR 186.5K
308.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Port Louis
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.8
$86.3MUR 4,093
21.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.49
$80.4MUR 3,810
-47.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€81.5
$132MUR 6,247
-28.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€104
$96.4MUR 4,569
24.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Port Louis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,412
$463MUR 21.9K
251.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,089
$349MUR 16.5K
259.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,629
$781MUR 37.0K
287.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,753
$614MUR 29.1K
229.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,767
$4,106MUR 194.7K
89.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,707
$1,078MUR 51.1K
296.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Port Louis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,391
$677MUR 32.1K
136.70%
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Port Louis: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $463 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: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $45.00 in Port Louis for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $232 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 107% in total monthly costs ($2,210 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: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $463 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 $614 in Lisbon versus $152 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 16% 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 $2,210 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 107% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.