Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Sion

For one person, living is cheaper in Lisbon: $2,210 a month against $3,284 in Sion, rent and utilities included – about $12,900 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Lisbon, Portugal
Sion, Switzerland
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,210
/mo nomad
Sion
🇨🇭 Switzerland
$3,284
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Sion

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lisbon and in Sion actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $3,284 in Sion.

  • Lisbon $2,210
  • Sion $3,284

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,275 in Lisbon versus $4,915 in Sion.

  • Lisbon $3,275
  • Sion $4,915

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,341 in Lisbon versus $6,546 in Sion.

  • Lisbon $4,341
  • Sion $6,546

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 33% less than in Sion, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 62% above, Sion 141% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Sion
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.65 €14.92
$29.93 CHF 24.69
-44.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.7 €55.3
$90.2 CHF 74.4
-31.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.36 €10.18
$19.21 CHF 15.85
-40.86%
Cappuccino
$2.97 €2.66
$4.66 CHF 3.84
-36.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.05
$5.39 CHF 4.44
-57.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.56
$4.17 CHF 3.44
-58.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 €3.05
$7.32 CHF 6.04
-53.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 €2.97
$7.40 CHF 6.10
-55.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Sion
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.16 €1.04
$2.02 CHF 1.67
-42.57%
White Bread (500g)
$1.91 €1.71
$3.71 CHF 3.06
-48.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 €1.36
$4.02 CHF 3.31
-62.44%
Eggs
$4.02 €3.60
$7.23 CHF 5.96
-44.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.94 €11.59
$25.77 CHF 21.25
-49.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.77 €6.97
$22.80 CHF 18.80
-65.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.76 €15.92
$39.58 CHF 32.64
-55.13%
Apples (1kg)
$2.30 €2.06
$3.28 CHF 2.71
-29.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 €1.55
$1.70 CHF 1.40
1.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.86 €1.66
$2.54 CHF 2.10
-26.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.59 €2.32
$6.35 CHF 5.24
-59.21%
Potato (1kg)
$1.82 €1.63
$1.81 CHF 1.49
0.55%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 €1.76
$2.15 CHF 1.78
-8.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.47 €1.32
$2.45 CHF 2.02
-40.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 €0.65
$1.17 CHF 0.96
-38.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58 €5.90
$10.96 CHF 9.04
-39.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.61 €5.02
$14.59 CHF 12.03
-61.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 €1.22
$1.79 CHF 1.48
-24.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 €1.91
$1.88 CHF 1.55
13.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Sion
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.33 €2.09
$5.17 CHF 4.27
-54.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.68 €40.04
$179 CHF 147
-74.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.85 €3.45
$5.93 CHF 4.89
-35.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.07 €0.96
$5.39 CHF 4.45
-80.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.46 €14.75
$49.11 CHF 40.51
-66.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.20 €1.97
$2.30 CHF 1.90
-4.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2K €30.6K
$39.4K CHF 32.5K
-13.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K €34.7K
$37.6K CHF 31.0K
3.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Sion
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$161 €144
$309 CHF 255
-47.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.41 €16.50
$25.35 CHF 20.91
-27.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.74 €29.34
$48.26 CHF 39.80
-32.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Sion
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.55 €39.92
$137 CHF 113
-67.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10 €17.11
$55.4 CHF 45.71
-65.54%
Cinema Ticket
$9.60 €8.60
$20.33 CHF 16.77
-52.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Sion
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$668 €598
$974 CHF 804
-31.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.6K €15.8K
$38.2K CHF 31.5K
-53.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Sion
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 €91.4
$110 CHF 91.0
-7.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.46 €39.85
$49.30 CHF 40.66
-9.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.5 €88.3
$165 CHF 136
-40.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €111
$172 CHF 142
-28.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Sion
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,608 €1,441
$1,231 CHF 1,015
30.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,190 €1,066
$1,269 CHF 1,047
-6.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,812 €2,520
$2,308 CHF 1,904
21.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,013 €1,804
$2,091 CHF 1,724
-3.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,839 €7,025
$7,526 CHF 6,207
4.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,576 €4,100
$5,552 CHF 4,579
-17.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Sion
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,575 €1,411
$5,816 CHF 4,797
-72.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
2.15
79.07%

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

Last update for Lisbon: October 27, 2026

Last update for Sion: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Sion
$1.3K 6.6% $79
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$272
Sion
$556 104% $284
Eating Out
Lisbon
$243
Sion
$443 82.5% $200
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$212
Sion
$383 80.3% $170
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$166
Sion
$224 34.9% $58
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$64
Sion
$178 179% $114
Getting Around
Lisbon
$63
Sion
$232 267% $169

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,608 in Lisbon and $1,231 in Sion. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sion pays about 3.7 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $62 in Lisbon vs $90 in Sion for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $272 vs $556 per month, with Lisbon cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇨🇭 Sion
🕒 Local time
06:07 6:07 AM
07:07 7:07 AM
1 h ahead of Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
34,599
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

CHF, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Swiss Franc exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 0.825 CHF (1 CHF = 1.21 USD). 1 EUR = 0.921 CHF (1 CHF = 1.09 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Sion 1,590 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Sion

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $2,210 in Lisbon and $3,284 in Sion, so Lisbon is about 33% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 73% lower in Lisbon. 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: $1,608 in Lisbon versus $1,231 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 $668 in Lisbon versus $974 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 104% higher in Sion. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,210 in Lisbon versus $3,284 in Sion, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Sion. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
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.
How do I decide between Lisbon and Sion?
It comes down to priorities – Lisbon wins on affordability, Sion on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

Lisbon vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?