😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,217 in Lisbon versus $345 in Thoothukudi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,245 in Lisbon versus $583 in Thoothukudi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,272 in Lisbon versus $821 in Thoothukudi.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 543% more expensive than Thoothukudi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Thoothukudi is 74% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Thoothukudi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.78€13.59
$0.90₹85.1
1653.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.5€53.8
$9.06₹857
589.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.54€9.07
$4.79₹453
120.04%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.38
$1.42₹134
95.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28€1.97
$0.46₹43.59
395.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55€1.33
$0.15₹14.55
933.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.55€3.05
$1.77₹167
100.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98€3.43
$2.83₹268
40.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Thoothukudi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$0.70₹65.8
54.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.52
$0.42₹39.66
321.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77€1.52
$0.60₹56.9
195.00%
Eggs
$3.12€2.69
$0.83₹78.2
275.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.34€11.49
$3.75₹355
255.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.88
$3.00₹284
166.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.92€13.70
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.97
$2.19₹208
4.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.42
$0.76₹71.4
115.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.98€1.70
$1.03₹97.8
92.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$0.53₹50.2
362.26%
Potato(1kg)
$1.77€1.52
$0.49₹46.26
261.22%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$0.55₹52.4
258.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.70
$0.69₹65.3
185.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80€0.69
$0.33₹30.82
142.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.54€5.63
$4.62₹438
41.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.75€4.95
$8.02₹759
-28.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32€1.13
$1.27₹120
3.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99€2.57
$1.67₹158
79.04%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$3.47₹328
-
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Thoothukudi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.34€2.01
$0.57₹53.9
310.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.85€39.48
$17.33₹1,640
164.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.26€3.66
$0.50₹47.27
752.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.84€0.73
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.86€16.24
$1.14₹108
1554.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.07€1.78
$1.19₹112
73.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.2K€30.3K
$11.6K₹1.1M
204.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.6K€33.2K
$16.6K₹1.6M
132.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Thoothukudi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151€130
$27.40₹2,592
451.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.91€18.00
$3.06₹290
583.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.54€34.05
$7.10₹672
456.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Thoothukudi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.39€41.67
$20.71₹1,959
133.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.61€16.02
$2.12₹201
777.83%
Cinema Ticket
$9.04€7.79
$1.72₹163
425.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Thoothukudi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$610€525
$46.59₹4,408
1209.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$2,394₹226.5K
579.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Thoothukudi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101€87.2
$26.48₹2,505
282.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.58€34.94
$20.33₹1,923
99.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.0€80.1
$22.04₹2,085
322.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
$25.31₹2,395
368.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Thoothukudi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,603€1,380
$107₹10.1K
1397.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,239€1,067
$65.2₹6,166
1800.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,019€2,599
$401₹37.9K
652.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,061€1,775
$237₹22.4K
771.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,981€6,872
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,533€3,903
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Thoothukudi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,628€1,402
$287₹27.1K
467.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
8.5
-55.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 15, 2026
Last update for Thoothukudi: June 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,603 in Lisbon and $107 in Thoothukudi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 467% 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: $62.0 in Lisbon vs $9.00 in Thoothukudi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $100 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 Thoothukudi?
Lisbon and Thoothukudi differ by about 543% in total monthly costs ($2,217 vs $345 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?
Lisbon pays 467% more on average, 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 Thoothukudi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,603 in Lisbon versus $107 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 $610 in Lisbon versus $46.59 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 167% 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 $345 in Thoothukudi versus $2,217 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 543% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.