Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Volos Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Volos

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,580 in Volos.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $2,366 in Volos.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $3,151 in Volos.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 40% more expensive than Volos, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 65% above, Volos 18% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Volos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.69
$23.57 €20.27
-32.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.7
$46.55 €40.04
39.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.04
$8.74 €7.52
20.25%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$4.09 €3.51
-29.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$2.42 €2.08
-7.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$0.57 €0.49
163.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.00
$5.64 €4.86
-38.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$5.70 €4.91
-31.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Volos
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$1.68 €1.44
-32.14%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$1.57 €1.35
11.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$2.89 €2.48
-39.10%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$4.33 €3.72
-25.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.61
$14.24 €12.25
-5.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$10.97 €9.43
-27.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.65
$15.58 €13.40
1.86%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$2.43 €2.09
-4.94%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$2.09 €1.80
-18.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$1.71 €1.47
17.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$2.17 €1.87
13.36%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$0.96 €0.83
91.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$1.06 €0.91
88.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$0.88 €0.76
119.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$0.97 €0.84
-18.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.68
$5.55 €4.78
19.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.92
$9.32 €8.02
-38.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.17
$2.60 €2.24
-47.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$3.15 €2.71
-5.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Volos
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$1.54 €1.32
53.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.19
$60.3 €51.9
-24.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$4.10 €3.53
4.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.74
$19.93 €17.15
-8.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$2.15 €1.85
-4.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$30.9K €26.6K
10.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$25.1K €21.6K
56.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Volos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$235 €202
-37.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.65
$24.30 €20.90
-15.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.08
$35.60 €30.63
11.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Volos
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.16
$60.9 €52.4
-21.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.28
$48.38 €41.62
-60.89%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.90
$9.45 €8.13
-2.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Volos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €528
$277 €238
121.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$6,018 €5,177
166.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Volos
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.0
$116 €100
-10.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.18
$53.6 €46.11
-21.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.8
$82.7 €71.1
13.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$86.3 €74.3
38.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Volos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,400
$454 €391
258.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,080
$369 €317
240.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,607
$654 €563
363.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,738
$574 €494
251.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,709
$2,596 €2,233
200.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,675
$1,698 €1,461
151.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Volos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,379
$1,048 €902
52.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
4.47
-14.77%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Volos: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $454 in Volos. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 53% 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: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $47.00 in Volos. Groceries flip the comparison at $269 vs $306, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.

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 Volos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Volos?
Lisbon and Volos differ by about 40% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $1,580 including rent). Volos is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Volos?
Lisbon pays 53% 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 Volos?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $454 in Volos. 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 Volos?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $277 in Volos. 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 14% 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 $1,580 in Volos versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Volos but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Volos the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Volos?
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 Volos safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Volos 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 Volos?
Expats usually find Volos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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