😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $728 in Sidi Kacem.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $1,116 in Sidi Kacem.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $1,504 in Sidi Kacem.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 215% more expensive than in Sidi Kacem, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Sidi Kacem is 46% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Sidi Kacem
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.17
$4.27MAD 39.78
279.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.4
$29.84MAD 278
112.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.03
$6.95MAD 64.8
48.49%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$1.66MAD 15.46
70.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.00
$0.72MAD 6.71
218.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$0.35MAD 3.30
351.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$3.76MAD 35.04
-9.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.52
$3.19MAD 29.79
26.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Sidi Kacem
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.95
$0.74MAD 6.94
47.30%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$0.64MAD 5.92
173.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.12MAD 10.41
57.14%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$2.17MAD 20.23
46.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.54
$9.03MAD 84.2
46.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.97
$3.75MAD 34.98
112.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.59
$7.90MAD 73.6
96.58%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$0.65MAD 6.02
264.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$0.85MAD 7.89
101.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$0.56MAD 5.24
258.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$0.57MAD 5.36
326.32%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$0.45MAD 4.23
291.11%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$0.34MAD 3.19
497.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$0.23MAD 2.15
734.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$0.61MAD 5.72
39.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$2.59MAD 24.12
154.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.88
$6.32MAD 58.9
-11.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$1.46MAD 13.59
-8.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$3.33MAD 31.08
-10.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Sidi Kacem
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$0.48MAD 4.47
375.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.06
$16.60MAD 155
175.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$0.57MAD 5.35
642.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$0.51MAD 4.80
58.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.13
$4.40MAD 41.07
319.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$1.36MAD 12.67
52.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.3K
$37.2KMAD 346.5K
-6.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$24.2KMAD 225.5K
61.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Sidi Kacem
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$82.8MAD 772
78.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.90
$11.22MAD 105
82.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.61
$39.67MAD 370
-0.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Sidi Kacem
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€41.99
$24.59MAD 229
95.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.27
$23.41MAD 218
-20.55%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.07
$7.51MAD 70.0
22.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Sidi Kacem
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€539
$100MAD 934
515.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$6,487MAD 60.5K
153.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Sidi Kacem
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€89.9
$31.24MAD 291
228.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.52
$45.30MAD 422
-7.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€82.9
$89.6MAD 835
5.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$81.2MAD 757
50.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Sidi Kacem
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,428
$285MAD 2,658
472.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,078
$175MAD 1,634
603.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,711
$512MAD 4,775
505.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,777
$301MAD 2,805
575.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,851
$1,233MAD 11.5K
535.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,840
$872MAD 8,130
403.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Sidi Kacem
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,406
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
4.35
-12.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Last update for Sidi Kacem: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $285 in Sidi Kacem. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $30.00 in Sidi Kacem for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $147 per month, with Sidi Kacem 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 Sidi Kacem: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Sidi Kacem?
Lisbon and Sidi Kacem differ by about 215% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $728 including rent). Sidi Kacem 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 Sidi Kacem?
You'd need roughly $3,437 in Lisbon and $1,092 in Sidi Kacem 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 Sidi Kacem?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $285 in Sidi Kacem. 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 Sidi Kacem?
Childcare runs $616 in Lisbon versus $100 in Sidi Kacem. 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 82% 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 $728 in Sidi Kacem versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sidi Kacem but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Sidi Kacem the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Sidi Kacem?
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 Sidi Kacem safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Sidi Kacem 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 Sidi Kacem?
Expats usually find Sidi Kacem gentler on the wallet – expenses run 215% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.