😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,138 in Sin el Fil.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,774 in Sin el Fil.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $2,411 in Sin el Fil.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 94% more expensive than Sin el Fil, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Sin el Fil is 15% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Sin el Fil
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.69
$10.84LBP 970.5K
46.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.7
$50.9LBP 4.6M
27.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.04
$7.94LBP 710.2K
32.37%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$3.09LBP 276.2K
-7.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$1.57LBP 140.7K
42.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$0.94LBP 83.8K
59.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.00
$3.51LBP 314.5K
-0.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$5.13LBP 459.1K
-24.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Sin el Fil
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.76LBP 157.9K
-35.23%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$0.81LBP 72.3K
116.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$1.82LBP 163.2K
-3.30%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$3.07LBP 274.5K
4.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$7.92LBP 708.7K
70.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$9.75LBP 872.8K
-18.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.65
$11.64LBP 1.0M
36.34%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$1.80LBP 160.7K
28.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$1.52LBP 136.4K
11.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.10LBP 98.2K
82.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$1.09LBP 97.9K
125.69%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$0.94LBP 84.3K
95.74%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$1.00LBP 89.5K
100.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$0.81LBP 72.3K
138.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.56LBP 49.7K
41.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.68
$2.44LBP 218.8K
170.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.92
$10.18LBP 911.5K
-43.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.17
$1.23LBP 110.1K
11.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$2.15LBP 192.4K
38.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Sin el Fil
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.19
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$5.11LBP 457.1K
-16.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$1.22LBP 108.7K
-32.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.74
$20.35LBP 1.8M
-10.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$0.94LBP 83.8K
119.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$35.4KLBP 3.2B
-3.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$28.2KLBP 2.5B
39.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Sin el Fil
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$218LBP 19.5M
-32.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.65
$37.75LBP 3.4M
-45.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.08
$36.64LBP 3.3M
8.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Sin el Fil
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.16
$30.50LBP 2.7M
56.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.28
$10.17LBP 909.9K
86.04%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.90
$8.22LBP 736.0K
11.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Sin el Fil
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€528
$304LBP 27.2M
101.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$4,496LBP 402.4M
257.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Sin el Fil
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.0
$71.0LBP 6.4M
47.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.18
$44.40LBP 4.0M
-5.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.8
$99.3LBP 8.9M
-5.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$70.1LBP 6.3M
70.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Sin el Fil
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,400
$304LBP 27.2M
434.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,080
$253LBP 22.7M
395.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,607
$1,003LBP 89.7M
202.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,738
$495LBP 44.3M
307.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,709
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,675
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Sin el Fil
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 Sin el Fil: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $304 in Sin el Fil. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $51.0 in Sin el Fil for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $226 per month, with Sin el Fil 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 Sin el Fil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Sin el Fil?
Lisbon and Sin el Fil differ by about 94% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $1,138 including rent). Sin el Fil 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 Sin el Fil?
You'd need roughly $3,315 in Lisbon and $1,707 in Sin el Fil 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 Sin el Fil?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $304 in Sin el Fil. 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 19% 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 Sin el Fil?
All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $1,138 in Sin el Fil – a 94% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,138 in Sin el Fil versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sin el Fil but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Sin el Fil the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Sin el Fil?
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 Sin el Fil safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Sin el Fil 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 Sin el Fil?
Expats usually find Sin el Fil gentler on the wallet – expenses run 94% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.