😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $1,778 in Protaras.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $2,869 in Protaras.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $3,960 in Protaras.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 25% more expensive than Protaras, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon66% above, Protaras33% above.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Protaras
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.84
$17.45€14.94
-7.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.3
$70.1€60.0
-7.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.88
$8.77€7.51
18.36%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.37
$3.79€3.24
-26.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$2.16€1.85
4.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$1.30€1.12
20.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€2.99
$3.76€3.22
-7.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.43
$4.44€3.80
-9.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Protaras
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.66€1.42
-34.94%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.49
$1.70€1.46
2.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.49
$2.35€2.01
-25.96%
Eggs
$3.18€2.72
$4.72€4.04
-32.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43€11.50
$17.06€14.60
-21.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.84
$9.59€8.21
-16.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€13.77
$14.74€12.62
9.16%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
$2.69€2.30
-15.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$1.87€1.60
-8.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$2.38€2.04
-18.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
$3.84€3.29
-33.85%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$1.31€1.12
39.69%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$1.13€0.97
80.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98€1.69
$0.92€0.79
115.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$0.83€0.71
2.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.87
$5.92€5.07
15.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€4.94
$10.24€8.76
-43.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$1.84€1.58
-25.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
$2.32€1.98
25.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Protaras
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.95
$2.36€2.02
-3.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€40.10
$51.8€44.38
-9.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.49
$8.84€7.57
-53.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$1.96€1.68
-58.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27€15.64
$20.92€17.91
-12.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.72
$1.65€1.41
21.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.2K
$25.6K€21.9K
37.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
$36.2K€31.0K
6.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Protaras
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145€124
$186€159
-21.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96€17.94
$23.83€20.40
-12.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05€34.29
$39.58€33.88
1.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Protaras
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79€41.76
$70.9€60.7
-31.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€16.00
$29.42€25.18
-36.47%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06€7.76
$11.48€9.82
-21.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Protaras
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607€519
$460€393
31.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$7,946€6,802
105.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Protaras
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.6
$87.3€74.7
19.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€35.06
$55.1€47.17
-25.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€80.1
$111€95.4
-16.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€101
$106€90.8
11.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Protaras
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,373
$771€660
108.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,058
$652€558
89.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046€2,607
$1,510€1,293
101.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057€1,761
$1,339€1,146
53.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709€6,599
$4,169€3,569
84.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,652
$2,145€1,836
98.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Protaras
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584€1,356
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
4.34
-12.21%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Última actualización para Protaras: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $771 in Protaras. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $70.0 in Protaras for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $313 per month, with Lisbon cheaper across the board.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Lisbon vs Protaras: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Protaras?
Lisbon and Protaras differ by about 25% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $1,778 including rent). Protaras is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Protaras?
You'd need roughly $3,341 in Lisbon and $2,667 in Protaras to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Protaras?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $771 in Protaras. 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 Protaras?
Childcare runs $607 in Lisbon versus $460 in Protaras. 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 16% 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 $1,778 in Protaras versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Protaras but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Protaras the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Protaras?
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 Protaras safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Protaras 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 Protaras?
Expats usually find Protaras gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.