Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Surat Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Surat

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $913 in Surat.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $951 in Surat.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $989 in Surat.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 151% more expensive than in Surat, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Surat is 32% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Surat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19 €14.15
$3.57 ₹344
353.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3 €55.3
$11.68 ₹1,125
442.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.32 €9.02
$3.41 ₹329
202.64%
Cappuccino
$2.83 €2.47
$1.70 ₹164
66.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.00
$0.42 ₹40.54
445.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 €1.38
$0.17 ₹16.79
829.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 €2.97
$3.29 ₹317
3.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03 €3.52
$4.13 ₹397
-2.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Surat
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 €0.95
$0.74 ₹71.5
47.30%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.53
$0.53 ₹50.9
230.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$0.67 ₹65.0
162.69%
Eggs
$3.17 €2.77
$0.99 ₹95.1
220.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.19 €11.53
$5.14 ₹495
156.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.97 €6.96
$3.23 ₹311
146.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.53 €13.57
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.37 €2.07
$1.50 ₹144
58.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 €1.49
$0.65 ₹62.6
163.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.75
$0.96 ₹92.7
109.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.43 €2.12
$0.67 ₹64.7
262.69%
Potato (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$0.36 ₹34.27
388.89%
Onion (1kg)
$2.03 €1.78
$0.40 ₹38.42
407.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.92 €1.68
$0.55 ₹52.9
249.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.74
$0.34 ₹32.88
150.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58 €5.75
$3.89 ₹374
69.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.58 €4.87
$7.72 ₹743
-27.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.16
$2.68 ₹258
-50.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.60
$4.08 ₹393
-27.21%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$8.53 ₹821
-
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Surat
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €1.99
$0.22 ₹21.11
936.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.79 €40.01
$5.97 ₹574
667.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.23 €3.69
$0.95 ₹91.4
345.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 €0.71
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.44 €16.11
$1.15 ₹111
1503.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.08 €1.82
$1.19 ₹114
74.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K €30.3K
$11.7K ₹1.1M
196.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K €34.2K
$21.6K ₹2.1M
80.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Surat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €129
$37.81 ₹3,641
291.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46 €17.88
$3.36 ₹323
508.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56 €34.56
$7.79 ₹750
407.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Surat
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.99 €41.93
$17.98 ₹1,731
166.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60 €16.25
$6.72 ₹647
176.79%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22 €8.06
$2.87 ₹276
221.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Surat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$616 €538
$48.12 ₹4,633
1180.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.4K €14.4K
$1,299 ₹125.1K
1165.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Surat
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 €89.7
$23.93 ₹2,304
329.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74 €36.47
$24.85 ₹2,393
67.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.8 €82.8
$42.24 ₹4,067
124.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 €107
$42.05 ₹4,049
190.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Surat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,633 €1,426
$243 ₹23.4K
571.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,232 €1,077
$556 ₹53.6K
121.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,098 €2,707
$495 ₹47.7K
525.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,031 €1,775
$278 ₹26.8K
631.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,831 €6,842
$697 ₹67.1K
1023.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,389 €3,835
$307 ₹29.6K
1329.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Surat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,607 €1,404
$323 ₹31.1K
397.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
9.2
-58.59%

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

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Last update for Surat: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $243 in Surat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 398% 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 $12.00 in Surat for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $115 per month, with Surat 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 Surat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Surat?
Lisbon and Surat differ by about 151% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $913 including rent). Surat is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Surat?
Average pay runs 398% higher in Lisbon, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in Surat?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $243 in Surat. 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 Surat?
Childcare runs $616 in Lisbon versus $48.12 in Surat. 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 133% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $913 in Surat versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Surat but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Surat the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Surat?
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 Surat safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Surat 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 Surat?
Expats usually find Surat gentler on the wallet – expenses run 151% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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