😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $735 in Sidi Kacem.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,131 in Sidi Kacem.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $1,527 in Sidi Kacem.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 201% more expensive than Sidi Kacem, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Sidi Kacem is 45% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Sidi Kacem
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.70
$4.50MAD 41.43
253.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.8
$30.14MAD 277
114.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.05
$7.08MAD 65.2
48.45%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$1.72MAD 15.83
66.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$0.66MAD 6.04
239.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$0.36MAD 3.27
316.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.01
$3.81MAD 35.06
-8.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$3.31MAD 30.48
17.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Sidi Kacem
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$0.74MAD 6.84
54.05%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$0.63MAD 5.79
177.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$1.12MAD 10.28
57.14%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$2.26MAD 20.80
42.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.62
$8.70MAD 80.1
55.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$3.81MAD 35.06
107.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.67
$7.58MAD 69.8
109.37%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$0.65MAD 5.98
255.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$0.91MAD 8.42
86.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$0.54MAD 4.96
272.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$0.56MAD 5.18
339.29%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$0.46MAD 4.22
300.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$0.31MAD 2.89
545.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$0.23MAD 2.13
739.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.60MAD 5.52
31.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.69
$2.69MAD 24.81
145.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.93
$6.62MAD 61.0
-13.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$1.53MAD 14.11
-10.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$3.36MAD 30.93
-11.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Sidi Kacem
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$0.51MAD 4.66
364.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.23
$16.48MAD 152
176.46%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$0.57MAD 5.26
652.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.48MAD 4.40
70.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.76
$4.34MAD 39.99
321.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$1.34MAD 12.34
53.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$36.9KMAD 340.2K
-7.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$23.8KMAD 219.0K
65.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Sidi Kacem
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$82.7MAD 761
78.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.67
$11.15MAD 103
84.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.11
$39.69MAD 365
-0.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Sidi Kacem
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.20
$24.10MAD 222
98.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.29
$23.03MAD 212
-17.85%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.91
$7.43MAD 68.4
23.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Sidi Kacem
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€529
$99.7MAD 918
515.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$6,412MAD 59.0K
150.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Sidi Kacem
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.1
$30.58MAD 282
242.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.22
$45.30MAD 417
-7.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.9
$88.1MAD 811
6.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$82.3MAD 757
45.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Sidi Kacem
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,402
$277MAD 2,552
487.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,081
$175MAD 1,613
616.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,609
$505MAD 4,647
500.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,740
$301MAD 2,770
571.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,716
$1,603MAD 14.8K
386.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,679
$944MAD 8,687
352.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Sidi Kacem
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,381
-
-
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Sidi Kacem: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $277 in Sidi Kacem. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $30.00 in Sidi Kacem for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 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 Sidi Kacem?
Lisbon and Sidi Kacem differ by about 201% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $735 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 $3,315 in Lisbon and $1,102 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 Sidi Kacem?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $277 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 $614 in Lisbon versus $99.7 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 84% 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 $735 in Sidi Kacem versus $2,210 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 201% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.