๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $1,376 in Roลพลava.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $1,949 in Roลพลava.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $2,521 in Roลพลava.
๐Living in Lisbon is roughly 64% more expensive than Roลพลava, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon68% above, Roลพลava2% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Lisbon
Roลพลava
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94โฌ13.82
$9.52โฌ8.26
67.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4โฌ55.0
$28.45โฌ24.67
122.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38โฌ9.01
$9.12โฌ7.91
13.82%
Cappuccino
$2.79โฌ2.42
$1.14โฌ0.98
144.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34โฌ2.03
$1.98โฌ1.71
18.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57โฌ1.36
$1.62โฌ1.41
-3.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43โฌ2.97
$2.30โฌ1.99
49.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91โฌ3.39
$2.10โฌ1.82
86.19%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Roลพลava
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08โฌ0.94
$1.09โฌ0.94
-0.92%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77โฌ1.53
$0.95โฌ0.82
86.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71โฌ1.48
$2.28โฌ1.98
-25.00%
Eggs
$3.15โฌ2.73
$3.44โฌ2.98
-8.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.68โฌ11.86
$9.20โฌ7.98
48.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01โฌ6.95
$7.43โฌ6.44
7.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.52โฌ13.46
$11.46โฌ9.93
35.43%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29โฌ1.99
$1.19โฌ1.03
92.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64โฌ1.42
$1.46โฌ1.27
12.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94โฌ1.68
$2.30โฌ1.99
-15.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.51โฌ2.18
$4.00โฌ3.47
-37.25%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79โฌ1.55
$0.71โฌ0.62
152.11%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01โฌ1.74
$0.72โฌ0.62
179.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97โฌ1.70
$1.40โฌ1.22
40.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84โฌ0.73
$0.71โฌ0.61
18.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79โฌ5.89
$5.73โฌ4.97
18.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.67โฌ4.92
$3.55โฌ3.08
59.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39โฌ1.21
$0.67โฌ0.58
107.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02โฌ2.62
$1.40โฌ1.21
115.71%
๐ Getting Around
Lisbon
Roลพลava
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27โฌ1.97
$1.18โฌ1.03
92.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.44โฌ39.40
$29.20โฌ25.33
55.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29โฌ3.72
$2.36โฌ2.04
81.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85โฌ0.74
$0.85โฌ0.74
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.28โฌ15.85
$14.14โฌ12.26
29.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99โฌ1.72
$1.83โฌ1.58
8.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0Kโฌ30.4K
$24.9Kโฌ21.6K
40.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5Kโฌ34.3K
$25.5Kโฌ22.1K
55.27%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Roลพลava
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146โฌ127
$229โฌ198
-36.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45โฌ17.73
$28.45โฌ24.67
-28.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98โฌ33.80
$22.81โฌ19.78
70.89%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Roลพลava
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.98โฌ42.48
$42.75โฌ37.07
14.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83โฌ16.33
$17.16โฌ14.88
9.73%
Cinema Ticket
$9.52โฌ8.26
$8.58โฌ7.44
10.96%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Roลพลava
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$608โฌ527
$458โฌ397
32.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5Kโฌ14.3K
$7,320โฌ6,348
125.56%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Roลพลava
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104โฌ90.1
$61.1โฌ52.9
70.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12โฌ36.53
$31.53โฌ27.34
33.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.2โฌ80.0
$82.3โฌ71.3
12.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120โฌ104
$103โฌ89.5
16.30%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Roลพลava
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621โฌ1,406
$586โฌ508
176.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,268โฌ1,099
$487โฌ423
160.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,048โฌ2,643
$963โฌ835
216.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,009โฌ1,742
$753โฌ653
166.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,663โฌ6,645
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,329โฌ3,754
-
-
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Roลพลava
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,585โฌ1,374
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
4.16
-8.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026
Last update for Roลพลava: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $586 in Roลพลava. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $28.00 in Roลพลava for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $217 per month, with Roลพลava 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 Roลพลava: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Roลพลava?
Lisbon and Roลพลava differ by about 64% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $1,376 including rent). Roลพลava is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Roลพลava?
You'd need roughly $3,394 in Lisbon and $2,064 in Roลพลava 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 Roลพลava?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $586 in Roลพลava. 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 Roลพลava?
Childcare runs $608 in Lisbon versus $458 in Roลพลava. 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 24% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,376 in Roลพลava versus $2,263 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Roลพลava but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Roลพลava the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Roลพลava?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Lisbon or Roลพลava safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Roลพลava 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 Roลพลava?
Expats usually find Roลพลava gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 64% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.