Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Sion Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Sion

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $2,806 in Sion.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $4,758 in Sion.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $6,709 in Sion.

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 18% less than in Sion, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 71% above, Sion 110% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Sion
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19 €14.18
$30.60 CHF 24.79
-47.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3 €55.5
$122 CHF 99.0
-48.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.32 €9.04
$18.01 CHF 14.59
-42.70%
Cappuccino
$2.83 €2.48
$4.67 CHF 3.78
-39.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.01
$5.08 CHF 4.12
-54.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 €1.38
$4.38 CHF 3.55
-63.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 €2.98
$7.60 CHF 6.15
-55.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03 €3.53
$7.17 CHF 5.81
-43.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Sion
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 €0.96
$1.85 CHF 1.50
-41.08%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.53
$3.82 CHF 3.10
-54.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$5.04 CHF 4.08
-65.08%
Eggs
$3.17 €2.77
$6.20 CHF 5.02
-48.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.19 €11.56
$27.38 CHF 22.18
-51.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.97 €6.98
$23.80 CHF 19.28
-66.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.53 €13.60
$44.05 CHF 35.68
-64.74%
Apples (1kg)
$2.37 €2.07
$3.58 CHF 2.90
-33.80%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 €1.49
$2.72 CHF 2.20
-37.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.76
$3.64 CHF 2.95
-44.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.43 €2.13
$6.34 CHF 5.14
-61.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$3.14 CHF 2.54
-43.95%
Onion (1kg)
$2.03 €1.78
$2.82 CHF 2.29
-28.01%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.92 €1.68
$2.54 CHF 2.06
-24.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.74
$1.25 CHF 1.01
-32.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58 €5.76
$11.00 CHF 8.91
-40.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.58 €4.89
$13.59 CHF 11.01
-58.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.17
$1.82 CHF 1.47
-26.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.60
$1.88 CHF 1.52
57.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Sion
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €1.99
$5.14 CHF 4.16
-55.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.79 €40.10
$181 CHF 147
-74.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.23 €3.70
$6.30 CHF 5.10
-32.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 €0.71
$4.24 CHF 3.44
-80.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.44 €16.15
$49.32 CHF 39.95
-62.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.08 €1.82
$2.24 CHF 1.81
-7.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K €30.4K
$40.9K CHF 33.1K
-15.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K €34.3K
$37.6K CHF 30.5K
4.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Sion
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €130
$307 CHF 249
-51.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46 €17.92
$37.36 CHF 30.26
-45.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56 €34.64
$59.0 CHF 47.80
-32.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Sion
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.99 €42.03
$140 CHF 114
-65.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60 €16.29
$55.6 CHF 45.00
-66.52%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22 €8.08
$22.42 CHF 18.16
-58.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Sion
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$616 €540
$985 CHF 798
-37.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.4K €14.4K
$35.2K CHF 28.5K
-53.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Sion
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 €90.0
$133 CHF 107
-22.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74 €36.55
$60.8 CHF 49.24
-31.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.8 €83.0
$157 CHF 127
-39.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 €107
$223 CHF 181
-45.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Sion
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,633 €1,430
$873 CHF 707
86.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,232 €1,079
$743 CHF 602
65.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,098 €2,713
$1,715 CHF 1,389
80.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,031 €1,779
$1,922 CHF 1,557
5.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,831 €6,858
$7,432 CHF 6,020
5.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,389 €3,844
$5,527 CHF 4,477
-20.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Sion
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,607 €1,408
$5,940 CHF 4,811
-72.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
2.5
52.40%

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

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Last update for Sion: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $873 in Sion. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sion pays 270% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $122 in Sion for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $596 per month, with Lisbon 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 Sion: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Sion?
Lisbon and Sion differ by about 22% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $2,806 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 270% lower in Sion. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in Sion?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $873 in Sion. 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 Sion?
Childcare runs $616 in Lisbon versus $985 in Sion. 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 123% higher in Sion. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Lisbon is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Sion?
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 Sion safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Sion 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 Sion?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Sion. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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