😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,217 in Lisbon versus $1,692 in Stradella.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,245 in Lisbon versus $2,583 in Stradella.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,272 in Lisbon versus $3,474 in Stradella.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 31% more expensive than Stradella, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon66% above, Stradella27% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Stradella
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.78€13.59
$17.57€15.13
-10.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.5€53.8
$75.5€65.0
-17.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.54€9.07
$11.41€9.83
-7.62%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.38
$2.00€1.72
38.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28€1.97
$2.99€2.57
-23.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55€1.33
$1.37€1.18
13.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.55€3.05
$5.95€5.12
-40.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98€3.43
$5.14€4.43
-22.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Stradella
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.58€1.36
-31.65%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.52
$2.18€1.87
-18.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77€1.52
$2.78€2.39
-36.33%
Eggs
$3.12€2.69
$3.92€3.37
-20.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.34€11.49
$15.68€13.50
-14.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.88
$12.60€10.85
-36.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.92€13.70
$19.21€16.54
-17.13%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.97
$2.44€2.10
-6.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.42
$2.08€1.79
-21.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.98€1.70
$2.57€2.21
-22.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$3.21€2.76
-23.68%
Potato(1kg)
$1.77€1.52
$1.83€1.58
-3.28%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$1.71€1.47
15.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.70
$1.45€1.25
35.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80€0.69
$0.50€0.43
60.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.54€5.63
$6.76€5.82
-3.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.75€4.95
$8.58€7.39
-32.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32€1.13
$1.72€1.48
-23.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99€2.57
$2.49€2.15
20.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Stradella
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.34€2.01
$1.72€1.48
36.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.85€39.48
$44.18€38.04
3.78%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.26€3.66
$5.86€5.04
-27.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.84€0.73
$1.54€1.32
-45.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.86€16.24
$34.55€29.75
-45.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.07€1.78
$2.02€1.74
2.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.2K€30.3K
$32.8K€28.2K
7.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.6K€33.2K
$32.2K€27.8K
19.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Stradella
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151€130
$215€186
-29.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.91€18.00
$12.98€11.17
61.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.54€34.05
$30.34€26.12
30.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Stradella
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.39€41.67
$53.9€46.40
-10.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.61€16.02
$23.53€20.26
-20.91%
Cinema Ticket
$9.04€7.79
$10.32€8.89
-12.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Stradella
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$610€525
$552€476
10.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$8,172€7,037
99.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Stradella
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101€87.2
$86.4€74.4
17.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.58€34.94
$38.05€32.76
6.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.0€80.1
$90.4€77.9
2.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
$129€111
-8.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Stradella
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,603€1,380
$761€656
110.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,239€1,067
$582€501
113.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,019€2,599
$1,229€1,059
145.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,061€1,775
$909€783
126.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,981€6,872
$2,916€2,511
173.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,533€3,903
$2,015€1,735
124.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Stradella
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,628€1,402
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
4.45
-14.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 15, 2026
Last update for Stradella: June 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,603 in Lisbon and $761 in Stradella. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $62.0 in Lisbon vs $75.0 in Stradella for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $334 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 Stradella: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Stradella?
Lisbon and Stradella differ by about 31% in total monthly costs ($2,217 vs $1,692 including rent). Stradella 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 Stradella?
You'd need roughly $3,325 in Lisbon and $2,538 in Stradella 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 Stradella?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,603 in Lisbon versus $761 in Stradella. 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 Stradella?
Childcare runs $610 in Lisbon versus $552 in Stradella. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 25% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $1,692 in Stradella versus $2,217 in Lisbon, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Stradella but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Stradella the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Stradella?
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 Stradella safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Stradella 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 Stradella?
Expats usually find Stradella gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.