😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $323 in Thoothukudi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $545 in Thoothukudi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $767 in Thoothukudi.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 611% more expensive than in Thoothukudi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Thoothukudi is 76% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Thoothukudi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59€15.33
$1.17₹113
1403.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€54.8
$8.28₹794
659.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.58€10.10
$3.68₹353
214.67%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$1.29₹124
140.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.17
$0.40₹38.13
522.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74€1.52
$0.13₹11.99
1238.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.48€3.03
$1.68₹161
107.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€3.00
$2.11₹203
63.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Thoothukudi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15€1.00
$0.64₹61.7
79.69%
White Bread(500g)
$1.91€1.66
$0.38₹36.30
402.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50€1.31
$0.63₹60.4
138.10%
Eggs
$3.98€3.47
$0.74₹70.8
437.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.59
$3.33₹319
299.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.98
$2.77₹266
189.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.04€15.73
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.35€2.05
$2.02₹194
16.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75€1.53
$0.70₹67.2
150.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85€1.62
$1.05₹101
76.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.22
$0.45₹42.87
466.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.61
$0.35₹33.83
425.71%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10€1.83
$0.47₹45.11
346.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.30
$0.52₹50.3
186.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.71
$0.29₹27.65
182.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10€6.19
$5.14₹493
38.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.91€5.15
$7.95₹762
-25.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.15
$1.13₹109
15.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.86
$1.47₹141
44.90%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$3.01₹289
-
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Thoothukudi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.36€2.05
$0.50₹48.39
372.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.62€40.63
$15.37₹1,475
203.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.55
$0.54₹51.9
655.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.99
$0.14₹13.15
714.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.09€14.90
$1.14₹109
1399.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.31€2.01
$1.12₹107
106.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.7K
$10.2K₹982.3K
233.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€36.1K
$14.7K₹1.4M
182.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Thoothukudi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169€147
$32.20₹3,089
423.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33€16.85
$3.04₹292
535.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51€29.21
$6.90₹662
385.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Thoothukudi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.84€42.57
$18.70₹1,794
161.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43€16.94
$1.86₹178
944.62%
Cinema Ticket
$9.57€8.34
$1.54₹148
521.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Thoothukudi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696€607
$41.05₹3,939
1595.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.4K€15.1K
$1,839₹176.5K
843.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Thoothukudi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€91.8
$25.74₹2,470
309.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75€41.62
$17.46₹1,675
173.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.6
$19.74₹1,893
409.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€108
$26.46₹2,538
370.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Thoothukudi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,662€1,449
$96.7₹9,281
1617.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,246€1,086
$58.0₹5,563
2049.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,965€2,584
$360₹34.6K
722.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,049€1,786
$206₹19.8K
895.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,834€6,829
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,464€3,892
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Thoothukudi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,632€1,422
$273₹26.2K
497.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
8.6
-56.05%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Last update for Thoothukudi: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $96.7 in Thoothukudi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 497% 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 $8.00 in Thoothukudi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $92.0 per month, with Thoothukudi 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 Thoothukudi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Thoothukudi?
Lisbon and Thoothukudi differ by about 611% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $323 including rent). Thoothukudi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Thoothukudi?
Average pay runs 497% 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 Thoothukudi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $96.7 in Thoothukudi. 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 Thoothukudi?
Childcare runs $696 in Lisbon versus $41.05 in Thoothukudi. 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 200% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $323 in Thoothukudi versus $2,296 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Thoothukudi but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Thoothukudi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Thoothukudi?
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 Thoothukudi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Thoothukudi 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 Thoothukudi?
Expats usually find Thoothukudi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 611% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.