😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $1,748 in Quarteira.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $2,527 in Quarteira.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $3,307 in Quarteira.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 31% more expensive than in Quarteira, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon71% above, Quarteira31% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Quarteira
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.18
$17.19€15.06
-5.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.5
$58.3€51.0
8.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.04
$10.44€9.14
-1.15%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$2.08€1.82
36.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.01
$1.75€1.53
30.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$1.13€0.99
39.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$2.36€2.07
44.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.53
$2.97€2.60
35.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Quarteira
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.96
$1.07€0.94
1.87%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$1.24€1.09
41.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.60€1.40
10.00%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$2.81€2.46
12.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.56
$9.21€8.07
43.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.98
$6.43€5.63
23.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.60
$13.41€11.74
15.81%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$2.52€2.21
-5.95%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$1.42€1.24
20.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$1.43€1.25
40.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$2.31€2.03
5.19%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$2.07€1.81
-14.98%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$2.13€1.87
-4.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$1.01€0.88
90.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$0.67€0.59
26.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$6.28€5.50
4.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.89
$5.11€4.47
9.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$1.24€1.08
7.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$2.60€2.28
14.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Quarteira
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$2.28€2.00
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.10
$42.48€37.20
7.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$3.71€3.25
14.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$1.06€0.92
-23.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.15
$17.11€14.99
7.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$1.92€1.68
8.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.4K
$35.2K€30.9K
-1.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$39.7K€34.8K
-1.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Quarteira
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$144€126
2.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.92
$20.07€17.57
1.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.64
$42.96€37.63
-7.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Quarteira
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€42.03
$43.78€38.34
9.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.29
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.08
$8.86€7.76
4.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Quarteira
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€540
$466€408
32.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$12.3K€10.8K
33.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Quarteira
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€90.0
$72.8€63.8
41.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.55
$45.37€39.74
-8.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€83.0
$108€94.6
-12.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$109€95.4
12.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Quarteira
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,430
$915€802
78.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,079
$830€727
48.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,713
$1,471€1,288
110.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,779
$1,229€1,077
65.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,858
$3,106€2,720
152.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,844
$2,622€2,296
67.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Quarteira
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,408
$1,389€1,216
15.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
5.24
-27.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Last update for Quarteira: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $915 in Quarteira. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 16% 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 $58.0 in Quarteira for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $223 per month, with Quarteira 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 Quarteira: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Quarteira?
Lisbon and Quarteira differ by about 31% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $1,748 including rent). Quarteira is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Quarteira?
Average pay runs 16% 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 Quarteira?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $915 in Quarteira. 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 Quarteira?
Childcare runs $616 in Lisbon versus $466 in Quarteira. 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 20% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,748 in Quarteira versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Quarteira but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Quarteira the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Quarteira?
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 Quarteira safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Quarteira 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 Quarteira?
Expats usually find Quarteira gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.