😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,316 in Lisbon versus $946 in Port Louis.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,361 in Lisbon versus $1,560 in Port Louis.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,405 in Lisbon versus $2,174 in Port Louis.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 145% more expensive than in Port Louis, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 69% above, Port Louis is 31% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Port Louis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.30€14.89
$5.79MUR 269
198.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€54.4
$38.47MUR 1,791
64.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.39€9.80
$7.53MUR 351
51.26%
Cappuccino
$3.19€2.75
$2.68MUR 125
19.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45€2.10
$1.13MUR 52.5
116.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.52
$0.63MUR 29.33
179.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.59€3.09
$2.71MUR 126
32.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39€2.92
$4.81MUR 224
-29.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Port Louis
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.06
$1.55MUR 72.0
-20.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.98€1.71
$0.78MUR 36.45
153.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.52€1.31
$1.15MUR 53.7
32.17%
Eggs
$4.04€3.48
$2.58MUR 120
56.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.54€11.65
$5.41MUR 252
150.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.39€7.22
$6.40MUR 298
31.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.25€15.70
$11.20MUR 521
62.95%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.97
$2.83MUR 132
-19.08%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74€1.50
$2.62MUR 122
-33.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86€1.60
$1.40MUR 65.3
32.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.63€2.26
$3.05MUR 142
-13.77%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$0.99MUR 46.30
93.94%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09€1.80
$0.93MUR 43.44
124.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.24
$0.75MUR 34.76
92.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.72
$0.84MUR 39.00
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.83
$6.55MUR 305
3.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.71€4.91
$8.62MUR 401
-33.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.18
$1.69MUR 78.9
-18.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22€1.91
$2.32MUR 108
-4.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Port Louis
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.40€2.06
$0.99MUR 46.11
142.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.78€40.25
$32.44MUR 1,510
44.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.17€3.59
$4.31MUR 201
-3.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.98
$3.21MUR 149
-64.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.68€15.21
$21.36MUR 994
-17.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.32€2.00
$1.34MUR 62.2
73.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.4K
$36.3KMUR 1.7M
-2.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€35.7K
$30.8KMUR 1.4M
34.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Port Louis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170€147
$44.96MUR 2,093
278.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.34€16.64
$10.48MUR 488
84.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.64€28.95
$28.81MUR 1,342
16.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Port Louis
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.10€41.39
$26.73MUR 1,245
79.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.90€17.12
$3.85MUR 179
416.88%
Cinema Ticket
$9.92€8.54
$6.31MUR 294
57.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Port Louis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$717€617
$130MUR 6,035
453.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.5K€15.0K
$7,821MUR 364.1K
123.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Port Louis
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.2
$78.0MUR 3,631
34.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.95€40.40
$73.7MUR 3,431
-36.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.0
$122MUR 5,667
-15.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€107
$78.6MUR 3,659
57.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Port Louis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,677€1,443
$489MUR 22.8K
243.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,271€1,094
$274MUR 12.8K
363.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,985€2,568
$777MUR 36.2K
284.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,992€1,715
$597MUR 27.8K
233.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,826€6,734
$4,098MUR 190.8K
90.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,658€4,008
$1,055MUR 49.1K
341.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Port Louis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,583€1,362
$682MUR 31.8K
132.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.79
6.67
-43.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Last update for Port Louis: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,677 in Lisbon and $489 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 $38.00 in Port Louis for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $283 vs $219 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 145% in total monthly costs ($2,316 vs $946 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: $1,677 in Lisbon versus $489 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 $717 in Lisbon versus $130 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 29% 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 $946 in Port Louis versus $2,316 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 145% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.