Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Toulouse

For one person, living is cheaper in Toulouse: $1,987 a month against $2,223 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $2,800 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Lisbon outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,223
/mo nomad
Toulouse
🇫🇷 France
$1,987
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Toulouse

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lisbon and in Toulouse actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,223 in Lisbon versus $1,987 in Toulouse.

  • Lisbon $2,223
  • Toulouse $1,987

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,271 in Lisbon versus $3,020 in Toulouse.

  • Lisbon $3,271
  • Toulouse $3,020

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,319 in Lisbon versus $4,053 in Toulouse.

  • Lisbon $4,319
  • Toulouse $4,053

Living in Lisbon is roughly 12% more expensive than in Toulouse, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 65% above, Toulouse 47% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Toulouse
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.50 €14.67
$16.66 €14.82
-0.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.3 €54.5
$77.4 €68.8
-20.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.27 €10.03
$13.40 €11.92
-15.90%
Cappuccino
$3.06 €2.72
$4.19 €3.73
-26.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 €2.01
$4.03 €3.59
-43.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 €1.54
$2.92 €2.60
-40.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.39 €3.02
$7.27 €6.47
-53.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40 €3.02
$6.80 €6.05
-50.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Toulouse
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 €1.00
$1.43 €1.27
-21.68%
White Bread (500g)
$1.86 €1.65
$2.12 €1.89
-12.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 €1.36
$2.59 €2.30
-40.93%
Eggs
$3.96 €3.53
$4.66 €4.14
-15.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.76 €11.35
$22.85 €20.33
-44.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.90 €7.02
$14.75 €13.12
-46.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.97 €15.09
$20.83 €18.53
-18.53%
Apples (1kg)
$2.27 €2.02
$3.37 €2.99
-32.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.55
$2.54 €2.26
-31.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 €1.64
$3.34 €2.97
-44.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.57 €2.28
$3.43 €3.05
-25.07%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 €1.65
$2.39 €2.12
-22.18%
Onion (1kg)
$2.02 €1.80
$2.83 €2.52
-28.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 €1.28
$1.51 €1.35
-4.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 €0.73
$0.91 €0.81
-9.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.56 €5.83
$13.73 €12.21
-52.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.62 €5.00
$8.99 €8.00
-37.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 €1.14
$3.44 €3.06
-62.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 €1.84
$3.38 €3.01
-38.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Toulouse
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.35 €2.09
$2.21 €1.96
6.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.18 €39.30
$62.9 €56.0
-29.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.99 €3.55
$8.04 €7.15
-50.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.09 €0.97
$2.34 €2.08
-53.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.64 €14.81
$37.12 €33.01
-55.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.28 €2.03
$2.22 €1.98
2.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.7K €30.0K
$34.8K €31.0K
-3.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €35.0K
$33.4K €29.7K
17.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Toulouse
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$167 €149
$218 €194
-23.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.80 €16.72
$13.90 €12.36
35.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.09 €29.43
$33.02 €29.37
0.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Toulouse
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.01 €40.93
$37.27 €33.15
23.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.19 €17.07
$21.50 €19.12
-10.74%
Cinema Ticket
$9.84 €8.75
$13.36 €11.88
-26.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Toulouse
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$677 €602
$1,045 €930
-35.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.9K €15.1K
$10.1K €8,940
68.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Toulouse
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 €90.1
$113 €101
-10.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.76 €40.70
$52.8 €46.93
-13.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100.0 €88.9
$115 €102
-12.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 €109
$160 €143
-23.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Toulouse
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,614 €1,436
$892 €793
81.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,197 €1,065
$664 €590
80.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,862 €2,545
$1,430 €1,272
100.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,990 €1,770
$1,068 €950
86.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,577 €6,740
$6,445 €5,733
17.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,307 €3,831
$3,239 €2,881
32.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Toulouse
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,588 €1,412
$2,902 €2,581
-45.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
3.79
1.58%

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

Last update for Lisbon: October 11, 2026

Last update for Toulouse: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Toulouse
$664 44.5% $533
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$269
Toulouse
$404 49.8% $134
Eating Out
Lisbon
$242
Toulouse
$302 24.5% $59
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$219
Toulouse
$265 20.6% $45
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$166
Toulouse
$198 19.2% $32
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$66
Toulouse
$64 2.6% $1.7
Getting Around
Lisbon
$63
Toulouse
$92 45.3% $29

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,614 in Lisbon and $892 in Toulouse. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Toulouse pays 83% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $61.0 in Lisbon vs $77.0 in Toulouse for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $404 per month, with Lisbon cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇫🇷 Toulouse
🕒 Local time
05:19 5:19 AM
06:19 6:19 AM
1 h ahead of Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
504,078
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Toulouse 1,040 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Toulouse

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Toulouse: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Toulouse?
Lisbon and Toulouse differ by about 12% in total monthly costs ($2,223 vs $1,987 including rent). Toulouse is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 83% lower in Toulouse. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in Toulouse?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,614 in Lisbon versus $892 in Toulouse. 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 Toulouse?
Childcare runs $677 in Lisbon versus $1,045 in Toulouse. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 50% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,987 in Toulouse versus $2,223 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Toulouse but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Toulouse the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Toulouse?
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 Toulouse safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Toulouse 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 Toulouse?
Expats usually find Toulouse gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Lisbon vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?