Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and QueluzCost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Queluz
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $1,752 in Queluz.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $2,531 in Queluz.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $3,311 in Queluz.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 31% more expensive than in Queluz, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon68% above, Queluz28% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Queluz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59€15.24
$13.98€12.12
25.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€54.5
$28.41€24.62
121.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.58€10.04
$6.80€5.89
70.29%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.69
$0.91€0.79
240.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.16
$1.70€1.47
46.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74€1.51
$1.18€1.02
47.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.48€3.02
$1.17€1.01
197.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€2.98
$2.28€1.97
50.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Queluz
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15€0.99
$1.43€1.24
-19.58%
White Bread(500g)
$1.91€1.65
$1.40€1.21
36.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50€1.30
$1.72€1.49
-12.79%
Eggs
$3.98€3.45
$4.32€3.75
-7.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.52
$17.51€15.18
-24.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.94
$7.99€6.92
0.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.04€15.64
$28.31€24.53
-36.28%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35€2.04
$3.29€2.85
-28.57%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75€1.52
$1.38€1.20
26.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85€1.61
$1.83€1.59
1.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.21
$2.24€1.94
13.84%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.60
$2.11€1.83
-12.80%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10€1.82
$2.14€1.86
-1.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.29
$1.80€1.56
-17.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.71
$0.94€0.81
-12.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10€6.15
$8.86€7.68
-19.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.91€5.12
$6.34€5.49
-6.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.14
$0.98€0.85
33.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.85
$1.70€1.47
25.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Queluz
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.36€2.04
$2.43€2.10
-2.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.62€40.40
$45.81€39.70
1.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.53
$4.06€3.52
0.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.99
$1.22€1.05
-6.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.09€14.81
$17.92€15.53
-4.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.31€2.00
$2.08€1.80
11.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.6K
$34.3K€29.7K
-0.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€35.9K
$40.1K€34.8K
3.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Queluz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169€146
$154€134
9.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33€16.75
$21.77€18.86
-11.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51€29.04
$57.0€49.42
-41.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Queluz
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.84€42.32
$42.22€36.59
15.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43€16.84
$18.57€16.10
4.63%
Cinema Ticket
$9.57€8.29
$8.31€7.21
15.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Queluz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696€603
$678€587
2.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.4K€15.0K
$16.0K€13.9K
8.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Queluz
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€91.3
$80.6€69.9
30.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75€41.38
$58.3€50.5
-18.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.1
$80.4€69.6
25.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€108
$70.6€61.2
76.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Queluz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,662€1,440
$1,079€935
54.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,246€1,080
$760€659
63.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,965€2,569
$1,607€1,392
84.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,049€1,775
$1,276€1,105
60.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,834€6,789
$2,927€2,536
167.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,464€3,869
$2,270€1,967
96.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Queluz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,632€1,414
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
4.65
-18.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Last update for Queluz: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $1,079 in Queluz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $28.00 in Queluz. Groceries flip the comparison at $277 vs $323, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.
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 Queluz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Queluz?
Lisbon and Queluz differ by about 31% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $1,752 including rent). Queluz 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 Queluz?
You'd need roughly $3,444 in Lisbon and $2,628 in Queluz 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 in Queluz?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $1,079 in Queluz. 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 Queluz?
Childcare runs $696 in Lisbon versus $678 in Queluz. 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 17% 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 $1,752 in Queluz versus $2,296 in Lisbon, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Queluz but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Queluz the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Queluz?
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 Queluz safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Queluz 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 Queluz?
Expats usually find Queluz 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.