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: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $3,295 in Sion.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $4,994 in Sion.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $6,694 in Sion.

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 30% less than in Sion, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 68% above, Sion 141% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Sion
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59 €15.33
$29.44 CHF 24.30
-40.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9 €54.8
$92.0 CHF 75.9
-31.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.58 €10.10
$19.79 CHF 16.33
-41.49%
Cappuccino
$3.10 €2.70
$4.41 CHF 3.64
-29.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 €2.17
$4.89 CHF 4.04
-49.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.52
$3.92 CHF 3.24
-55.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.48 €3.03
$7.13 CHF 5.89
-51.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 €3.00
$7.29 CHF 6.02
-52.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Sion
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 €1.00
$1.98 CHF 1.64
-41.92%
White Bread (500g)
$1.91 €1.66
$3.59 CHF 2.96
-46.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 €1.31
$4.28 CHF 3.54
-64.95%
Eggs
$3.98 €3.47
$7.27 CHF 6.00
-45.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.29 €11.59
$26.33 CHF 21.73
-49.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.01 €6.98
$23.08 CHF 19.05
-65.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.04 €15.73
$40.38 CHF 33.33
-55.32%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 €2.05
$3.19 CHF 2.63
-26.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.53
$1.70 CHF 1.40
2.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 €1.62
$2.53 CHF 2.09
-26.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.55 €2.22
$5.96 CHF 4.92
-57.21%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.61
$1.82 CHF 1.50
1.10%
Onion (1kg)
$2.10 €1.83
$2.19 CHF 1.81
-4.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.49 €1.30
$2.51 CHF 2.07
-40.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 €0.71
$1.12 CHF 0.93
-26.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10 €6.19
$10.98 CHF 9.07
-35.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.91 €5.15
$12.59 CHF 10.39
-53.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 €1.15
$1.87 CHF 1.54
-29.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 €1.86
$1.93 CHF 1.59
10.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Sion
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.36 €2.05
$5.34 CHF 4.41
-55.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.62 €40.63
$185 CHF 153
-74.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.08 €3.55
$6.10 CHF 5.04
-33.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.14 €0.99
$5.46 CHF 4.50
-79.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.09 €14.90
$48.07 CHF 39.68
-64.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.31 €2.01
$2.25 CHF 1.86
2.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K €29.7K
$36.0K CHF 29.7K
-5.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K €36.1K
$38.7K CHF 32.0K
6.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Sion
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 €147
$294 CHF 243
-42.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33 €16.85
$22.57 CHF 18.63
-14.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51 €29.21
$49.21 CHF 40.62
-31.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Sion
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.84 €42.57
$137 CHF 113
-64.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43 €16.94
$56.0 CHF 46.21
-65.29%
Cinema Ticket
$9.57 €8.34
$20.23 CHF 16.70
-52.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Sion
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$696 €607
$968 CHF 799
-28.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.4K €15.1K
$34.4K CHF 28.4K
-49.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Sion
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €91.8
$168 CHF 139
-37.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75 €41.62
$56.1 CHF 46.31
-14.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 €87.6
$181 CHF 149
-44.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €108
$154 CHF 127
-19.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Sion
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,662 €1,449
$1,206 CHF 995
37.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,246 €1,086
$1,276 CHF 1,053
-2.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,965 €2,584
$2,296 CHF 1,896
29.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,049 €1,786
$2,117 CHF 1,747
-3.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,834 €6,829
$7,361 CHF 6,076
6.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,464 €3,892
$5,466 CHF 4,511
-18.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Sion
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,632 €1,422
$5,803 CHF 4,790
-71.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.78
2.15
75.81%

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

Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026

Last update for Sion: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $1,206 in Sion. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sion pays 256% 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 $92.0 in Sion for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $555 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 43% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $3,295 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 256% 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: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $1,206 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 $696 in Lisbon versus $968 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 100% 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 43% less than in Sion. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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