Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Tongi Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Tongi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $313 in Tongi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $520 in Tongi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $727 in Tongi.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 611% more expensive than Tongi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Tongi is 77% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Tongi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17 €13.84
$1.67 ৳205
868.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6 €55.3
$9.72 ৳1,194
564.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 €8.88
$4.98 ৳611
108.43%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$4.03 ৳495
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.81 ৳590
-
Cappuccino
$2.77 €2.37
$1.49 ৳182
85.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 €1.92
$0.35 ৳42.48
542.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 €1.35
$0.18 ৳21.60
772.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €2.99
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00 €3.43
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Tongi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.93
$0.70 ৳85.9
54.29%
White Bread (500g)
$1.74 €1.49
$0.60 ৳73.2
190.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 €1.49
$0.62 ৳75.7
180.65%
Eggs
$3.18 €2.72
$1.17 ৳143
171.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.43 €11.50
$6.86 ৳842
95.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.99 €6.84
$2.54 ৳312
214.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.09 €13.77
$5.47 ৳672
194.15%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 €1.95
$2.23 ৳274
2.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 €1.48
$1.00 ৳123
72.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 €1.66
$2.10 ৳258
-7.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.54 €2.18
$0.61 ৳74.9
316.39%
Potato (1kg)
$1.83 €1.57
$0.28 ৳34.54
553.57%
Onion (1kg)
$2.04 €1.75
$0.38 ৳46.24
436.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.98 €1.69
$0.33 ৳40.00
500.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.73
$0.26 ৳31.57
226.92%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$8.53 ৳1,047
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.28 ৳280
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.90 ৳602
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85 €5.87
$2.82 ৳346
142.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.78 €4.94
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.18
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 €2.48
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Tongi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €1.95
$0.22 ৳27.01
936.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.84 €40.10
$10.17 ৳1,248
360.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.08 €3.49
$0.84 ৳104
385.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$0.40 ৳48.90
105.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.27 €15.64
$1.99 ৳245
818.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.01 €1.72
$1.01 ৳124
99.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K €30.2K
$28.3K ৳3.5M
24.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K €32.9K
$27.6K ৳3.4M
39.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Tongi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$145 €124
$30.02 ৳3,685
384.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96 €17.94
$4.61 ৳566
354.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05 €34.29
$9.23 ৳1,133
333.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Tongi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.79 €41.76
$13.70 ৳1,682
256.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69 €16.00
$11.88 ৳1,458
57.32%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06 €7.76
$4.17 ৳512
117.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Tongi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$607 €519
$27.20 ৳3,339
2129.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K €14.0K
$928 ৳113.9K
1660.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Tongi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €89.6
$15.95 ৳1,958
556.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95 €35.06
$17.82 ৳2,188
129.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.6 €80.1
$33.28 ৳4,085
181.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €101
$36.46 ৳4,476
225.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Tongi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,604 €1,373
$68.5 ৳8,414
2240.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,236 €1,058
$41.28 ৳5,067
2893.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,046 €2,607
$166 ৳20.4K
1732.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,057 €1,761
$97.6 ৳12.0K
2006.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,709 €6,599
$563 ৳69.1K
1269.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,266 €3,652
$342 ৳42.0K
1146.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Tongi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,584 €1,356
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
10.29
-62.97%

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

Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026

Last update for Tongi: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $68.5 in Tongi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $10.00 in Tongi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $104 per month, with Tongi 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 Tongi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Tongi?
Lisbon and Tongi differ by about 611% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $313 including rent). Tongi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Tongi?
You'd need roughly $3,341 in Lisbon and $470 in Tongi 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Tongi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $68.5 in Tongi. 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 Tongi?
Childcare runs $607 in Lisbon versus $27.20 in Tongi. 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 $2,000 per month?
At $313 in Tongi versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tongi but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Tongi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Tongi?
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 Tongi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Tongi 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 Tongi?
Expats usually find Tongi 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.

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