Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Tete Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Tete

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $172 in Tete.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $275 in Tete.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $379 in Tete.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 1194% more expensive than Tete, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Tete is 87% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.17 €13.84

$4.58 MZN 292

253.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.6 €55.3

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.38 €8.88

Cappuccino

$2.77 €2.37

$1.52 MZN 96.6

82.24%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 €1.92

$0.82 MZN 51.9

174.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 €1.35

$0.38 MZN 23.98

313.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.49 €2.99

$0.74 MZN 47.31

371.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.00 €3.43

$1.22 MZN 77.8

227.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 €0.93

$1.53 MZN 97.7

-29.41%

White Bread (500g)

$1.74 €1.49

$0.67 MZN 42.76

159.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.74 €1.49

$2.34 MZN 149

-25.64%

Eggs

$3.18 €2.72

$3.06 MZN 195

3.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.43 €11.50

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.99 €6.84

$3.22 MZN 205

148.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.09 €13.77

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 €1.95

$1.60 MZN 102

42.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 €1.48

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 €1.66

Tomato (1kg)

$2.54 €2.18

$1.55 MZN 98.7

63.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.83 €1.57

$1.60 MZN 102

14.37%

Onion (1kg)

$2.04 €1.75

$1.52 MZN 96.8

34.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 €1.69

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 €0.73

$0.80 MZN 50.8

6.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.85 €5.87

Wine (Bottle)

$5.78 €4.94

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 €1.18

$1.06 MZN 67.6

29.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 €2.48

$1.57 MZN 100

84.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.28 €1.95

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.84 €40.10

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.08 €3.49

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 €0.70

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.27 €15.64

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.01 €1.72

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.3K €30.2K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$38.5K €32.9K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$145 €124

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$20.96 €17.94

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.05 €34.29

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.79 €41.76

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.69 €16.00

Cinema Ticket

$9.06 €7.76

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$607 €519

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.3K €14.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €89.6

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.95 €35.06

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.6 €80.1

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 €101

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,604 €1,373

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,236 €1,058

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,046 €2,607

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,057 €1,761

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,709 €6,599

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,266 €3,652

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,584 €1,356

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.81

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

Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026

Last update for Tete: April 25, 2026

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 Tete: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lisbon and Tete differ by about 1194% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $172 including rent). Tete is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $3,341 in Lisbon and $258 in Tete 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 167% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,227 per month in Lisbon versus $172 in Tete – a 1194% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $172 in Tete versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tete but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Tete the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Lisbon and Tete are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Tete gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1194% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.