Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Sidon Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Sidon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,023 in Sidon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,745 in Sidon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $2,468 in Sidon.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 116% more expensive than Sidon, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Sidon is 24% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Sidon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.69
$10.96 LBP 980.9K
45.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.7
$60.6 LBP 5.4M
6.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.04
$8.09 LBP 723.9K
29.91%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$3.28 LBP 293.3K
-12.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$1.66 LBP 148.2K
34.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$0.94 LBP 84.5K
59.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.00
$3.57 LBP 319.5K
-2.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$5.13 LBP 459.0K
-24.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Sidon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$1.79 LBP 160.0K
-36.31%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$0.81 LBP 72.1K
116.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$1.84 LBP 164.5K
-4.35%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$3.19 LBP 285.9K
0.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.61
$11.11 LBP 994.0K
21.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$9.57 LBP 856.3K
-17.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.65
$11.28 LBP 1.0M
40.69%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$1.74 LBP 155.9K
32.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$1.53 LBP 136.8K
11.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$1.14 LBP 101.7K
76.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$1.06 LBP 94.5K
132.08%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$1.01 LBP 90.6K
82.18%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$0.99 LBP 88.9K
102.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$0.89 LBP 79.4K
116.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$0.57 LBP 50.7K
38.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.68
$2.46 LBP 220.0K
168.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.92
$9.97 LBP 892.2K
-42.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.17
$1.23 LBP 110.5K
11.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$2.20 LBP 196.8K
35.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Sidon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$2.02 LBP 180.9K
17.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.19
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$5.05 LBP 451.6K
-15.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$1.24 LBP 110.7K
-33.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.74
$20.16 LBP 1.8M
-9.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$0.96 LBP 86.1K
114.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$34.6K LBP 3.1B
-0.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$27.8K LBP 2.5B
41.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Sidon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$215 LBP 19.2M
-31.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.65
$37.11 LBP 3.3M
-44.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.08
$37.07 LBP 3.3M
6.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Sidon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.16
$32.44 LBP 2.9M
47.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.28
$9.81 LBP 878.0K
92.86%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.90
$6.13 LBP 548.9K
49.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Sidon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €528
$300 LBP 26.9M
104.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$4,393 LBP 393.2M
265.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Sidon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.0
$71.7 LBP 6.4M
45.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.18
$44.31 LBP 4.0M
-5.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.8
$122 LBP 10.9M
-22.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$94.5 LBP 8.5M
26.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Sidon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,400
$246 LBP 22.0M
562.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,080
$98.1 LBP 8.8M
1179.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,607
$598 LBP 53.6M
406.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,738
$397 LBP 35.5M
408.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,709
$1,019 LBP 91.2M
665.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,675
$866 LBP 77.5M
393.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Sidon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,379
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
11.16
-65.86%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Sidon: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $246 in Sidon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $61.0 in Sidon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $235 per month, with Sidon 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 Sidon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Sidon?
Lisbon and Sidon differ by about 116% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $1,023 including rent). Sidon 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 Sidon?
You'd need roughly $3,315 in Lisbon and $1,534 in Sidon 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 Sidon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $246 in Sidon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 15% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Sidon?
All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $1,023 in Sidon – a 116% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,023 in Sidon versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sidon but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Sidon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Sidon?
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 Sidon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Sidon 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 Sidon?
Expats usually find Sidon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 116% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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