😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $2,155 in Pozuelo de Alarcon.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $3,172 in Pozuelo de Alarcon.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $4,189 in Pozuelo de Alarcon.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 3% more expensive than Pozuelo de Alarcon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon65% above, Pozuelo de Alarcon61% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Pozuelo de Alarcon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.69
$17.61€15.15
-9.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.7
$69.5€59.8
-6.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.04
$10.40€8.95
1.06%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$2.46€2.12
16.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$3.15€2.71
-28.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$2.13€1.83
-29.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.00
$3.55€3.05
-1.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$4.70€4.04
-17.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Pozuelo de Alarcon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.17€1.01
-2.56%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$1.64€1.41
6.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$2.19€1.89
-19.63%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$2.79€2.40
15.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$17.57€15.11
-23.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$9.17€7.89
-13.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.65
$17.16€14.76
-7.52%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$2.65€2.28
-12.83%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$2.17€1.87
-21.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$2.37€2.04
-15.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$2.69€2.32
-8.55%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$1.83€1.57
0.55%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$2.02€1.74
-0.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$1.93€1.66
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.92€0.79
-14.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.68
$7.00€6.02
-5.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.92
$9.14€7.86
-37.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.17
$1.44€1.24
-4.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$2.36€2.03
25.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Pozuelo de Alarcon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$2.28€1.96
3.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.19
$30.51€26.24
49.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$4.10€3.52
4.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$1.02€0.87
-19.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.74
$17.64€15.18
3.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$1.83€1.58
12.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$38.0K€32.7K
-9.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$34.4K€29.6K
14.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Pozuelo de Alarcon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$196€168
-24.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.65
$26.18€22.52
-21.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.08
$34.92€30.04
13.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Pozuelo de Alarcon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.16
$74.1€63.8
-35.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.28
$16.91€14.55
11.89%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.90
$10.29€8.85
-10.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Pozuelo de Alarcon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€528
$468€402
31.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$12.1K€10.4K
32.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Pozuelo de Alarcon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.0
$86.7€74.6
20.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.18
$41.82€35.98
0.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.8
$83.6€71.9
12.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$98.5€84.8
21.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Pozuelo de Alarcon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,400
$1,398€1,202
16.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,080
$1,053€906
19.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,607
$2,503€2,153
21.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,738
$1,708€1,469
18.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,709
$5,174€4,450
50.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,675
$4,148€3,568
3.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Pozuelo de Alarcon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,379
$3,628€3,121
-55.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
3.38
12.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Pozuelo de Alarcon: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $1,398 in Pozuelo de Alarcon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Pozuelo de Alarcon pays 126% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $69.0 in Pozuelo de Alarcon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $306 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 Pozuelo de Alarcon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Pozuelo de Alarcon?
Lisbon and Pozuelo de Alarcon differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $2,155 including rent). Pozuelo de Alarcon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Pozuelo de Alarcon earns 126% 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 Pozuelo de Alarcon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $1,398 in Pozuelo de Alarcon. 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 Pozuelo de Alarcon?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $468 in Pozuelo de Alarcon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 13% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $2,155 in Pozuelo de Alarcon versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Pozuelo de Alarcon but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Pozuelo de Alarcon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Pozuelo de Alarcon?
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 Pozuelo de Alarcon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Pozuelo de Alarcon 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 Pozuelo de Alarcon?
Expats usually find Pozuelo de Alarcon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.