๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,258 in Lisbon versus $2,659 in Tel Aviv-Yafo.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,328 in Lisbon versus $4,158 in Tel Aviv-Yafo.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,397 in Lisbon versus $5,658 in Tel Aviv-Yafo.
๐Living in Lisbon costs roughly 15% less than in Tel Aviv-Yafo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon68% above, Tel Aviv-Yafo97% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Lisbon
Tel Aviv-Yafo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.82โฌ13.43
$22.73โช68.0
-30.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.4โฌ54.7
$111โช331
-41.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.37โฌ8.80
$16.66โช49.82
-37.76%
Cappuccino
$2.89โฌ2.46
$4.07โช12.18
-28.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23โฌ1.90
$3.21โช9.59
-30.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55โฌ1.31
$2.57โช7.70
-39.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.38โฌ2.87
$9.02โช26.97
-62.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90โฌ3.31
$8.69โช25.98
-55.12%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Tel Aviv-Yafo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.12โฌ0.95
$2.10โช6.27
-46.67%
White Bread(500g)
$1.80โฌ1.53
$3.06โช9.16
-41.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75โฌ1.48
$3.22โช9.63
-45.65%
Eggs
$3.17โฌ2.69
$4.18โช12.51
-24.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.50โฌ11.46
$16.20โช48.45
-16.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.79โฌ6.61
$12.33โช36.87
-36.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.65โฌ13.29
$22.15โช66.2
-29.35%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28โฌ1.94
$4.10โช12.24
-44.39%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71โฌ1.46
$2.61โช7.79
-34.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93โฌ1.64
$2.28โช6.83
-15.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.52โฌ2.14
$3.30โช9.86
-23.64%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79โฌ1.52
$1.86โช5.55
-3.76%
Onion(1kg)
$2.05โฌ1.74
$1.99โช5.96
3.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.94โฌ1.64
$2.16โช6.47
-10.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81โฌ0.69
$1.50โช4.49
-46.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.65โฌ5.65
$11.40โช34.09
-41.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.79โฌ4.91
$16.62โช49.70
-65.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33โฌ1.13
$3.00โช8.98
-55.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91โฌ2.47
$3.35โช10.02
-13.13%
๐ Getting Around
Lisbon
Tel Aviv-Yafo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.35โฌ1.99
$2.28โช6.83
3.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.70โฌ38.80
$71.9โช215
-36.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.20โฌ3.57
$3.97โช11.87
5.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81โฌ0.69
$0.58โช1.72
39.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.70โฌ15.88
$34.24โช102
-45.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09โฌ1.78
$2.06โช6.17
1.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6Kโฌ29.4K
$46.9Kโช140.2K
-26.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7Kโฌ33.7K
$45.4Kโช135.8K
-12.68%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Tel Aviv-Yafo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146โฌ124
$273โช815
-46.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.84โฌ17.69
$10.75โช32.14
93.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.78โฌ33.77
$30.41โช90.9
30.81%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Tel Aviv-Yafo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.58โฌ41.25
$77.3โช231
-37.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.85โฌ16.00
$19.54โช58.4
-3.53%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07โฌ7.70
$13.53โช40.45
-32.96%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Tel Aviv-Yafo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$618โฌ525
$1,304โช3,900
-52.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.2Kโฌ13.7K
$25.0Kโช74.6K
-35.24%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Tel Aviv-Yafo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105โฌ88.8
$109โช325
-3.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.54โฌ34.42
$60.4โช181
-32.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.8โฌ79.6
$137โช410
-31.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123โฌ104
$152โช454
-19.18%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Tel Aviv-Yafo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604โฌ1,362
$1,667โช4,985
-3.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,260โฌ1,070
$1,229โช3,675
2.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,065โฌ2,602
$3,098โช9,262
-1.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,008โฌ1,705
$2,275โช6,802
-11.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,702โฌ6,539
$22.0Kโช65.7K
-64.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,367โฌ3,707
$14.3Kโช42.7K
-69.44%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Tel Aviv-Yafo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,638โฌ1,391
$4,243โช12.7K
-61.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
5.46
-30.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 13, 2026
Last update for Tel Aviv-Yafo: April 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $1,667 in Tel Aviv-Yafo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐTel Aviv-Yafo pays 159% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $64 in Lisbon vs $111 in Tel Aviv-Yafo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $411 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 Tel Aviv-Yafo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Tel Aviv-Yafo?
Lisbon and Tel Aviv-Yafo differ by about 18% in total monthly costs ($2,258 vs $2,659 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Tel Aviv-Yafo earns 159% less. 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 Tel Aviv-Yafo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $1,667 in Tel Aviv-Yafo. 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 Tel Aviv-Yafo?
Childcare runs $618 in Lisbon versus $1,304 in Tel Aviv-Yafo. 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 53% higher in Tel Aviv-Yafo. 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 $2,258 in Lisbon versus $2,659 in Tel Aviv-Yafo, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Tel Aviv-Yafo. 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 Tel Aviv-Yafo?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Lisbon or Tel Aviv-Yafo safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Tel Aviv-Yafo 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 Tel Aviv-Yafo?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 18% less than in Tel Aviv-Yafo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.