😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $375 in Thiruvananthapuram.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $604 in Thiruvananthapuram.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $832 in Thiruvananthapuram.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 510% more expensive than in Thiruvananthapuram, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Thiruvananthapuram is 72% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Thiruvananthapuram
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.18
$2.34₹226
591.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.5
$13.93₹1,343
354.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.04
$4.32₹417
138.89%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$1.77₹171
59.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.01
$0.33₹32.07
593.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$0.21₹20.18
652.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$1.70₹164
100.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.53
$3.37₹325
19.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Thiruvananthapuram
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.96
$0.59₹57.0
84.75%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$0.54₹52.4
224.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$0.62₹59.8
183.87%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$0.92₹88.7
244.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.56
$5.67₹547
132.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.98
$2.44₹235
226.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.60
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$2.47₹238
-4.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$0.78₹74.7
119.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$1.27₹122
58.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$0.64₹61.5
279.69%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$0.51₹49.28
245.10%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$0.59₹57.4
244.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$0.48₹46.28
300.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$0.30₹28.95
183.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$3.50₹338
88.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.89
$5.14₹495
8.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$1.46₹141
-8.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$2.76₹266
7.61%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$4.97₹480
-
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Thiruvananthapuram
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$0.17₹16.49
1241.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.10
$6.43₹620
612.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$1.00₹96.8
323.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.15
$1.70₹164
984.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$1.24₹120
67.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.4K
$18.3K₹1.8M
89.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$21.5K₹2.1M
82.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Thiruvananthapuram
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$28.39₹2,738
421.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.92
$3.52₹340
481.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.64
$7.57₹730
422.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Thiruvananthapuram
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€42.03
$16.42₹1,583
192.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.29
$11.57₹1,116
60.76%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.08
$2.29₹221
302.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Thiruvananthapuram
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€540
$29.93₹2,886
1958.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$1,946₹187.7K
744.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Thiruvananthapuram
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€90.0
$18.10₹1,745
467.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.55
$16.14₹1,557
158.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€83.0
$34.13₹3,291
177.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$22.06₹2,127
453.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Thiruvananthapuram
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,430
$144₹13.8K
1037.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,079
$89.3₹8,607
1280.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,713
$282₹27.2K
999.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,779
$176₹17.0K
1054.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,858
$684₹65.9K
1045.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,844
$418₹40.3K
949.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Thiruvananthapuram
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,408
$238₹22.9K
575.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
12
-68.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Last update for Thiruvananthapuram: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $144 in Thiruvananthapuram. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 576% 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 $14.00 in Thiruvananthapuram for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $103 per month, with Thiruvananthapuram 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 Thiruvananthapuram: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Thiruvananthapuram?
Lisbon and Thiruvananthapuram differ by about 510% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $375 including rent). Thiruvananthapuram is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Thiruvananthapuram?
Average pay runs 576% 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 Thiruvananthapuram?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $144 in Thiruvananthapuram. 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 Thiruvananthapuram?
Childcare runs $616 in Lisbon versus $29.93 in Thiruvananthapuram. 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 159% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $375 in Thiruvananthapuram versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Thiruvananthapuram but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Thiruvananthapuram the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Thiruvananthapuram?
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 Thiruvananthapuram safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Thiruvananthapuram 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 Thiruvananthapuram?
Expats usually find Thiruvananthapuram gentler on the wallet – expenses run 510% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.