Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Yala Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Yala

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $931 in Yala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $1,511 in Yala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $2,091 in Yala.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 147% more expensive than in Yala, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Yala is 32% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Yala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59 €15.33
$1.49 ฿49.82
1080.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9 €54.8
$21.79 ฿727
188.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.58 €10.10
$7.69 ฿257
50.59%
Cappuccino
$3.10 €2.70
$2.06 ฿68.7
50.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 €2.17
$0.54 ฿17.95
361.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.52
$0.19 ฿6.29
815.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.48 €3.03
$2.17 ฿72.6
60.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 €3.00
$3.09 ฿103
11.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Yala
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 €1.00
$1.81 ฿60.5
-36.46%
White Bread (500g)
$1.91 €1.66
$1.43 ฿47.73
33.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 €1.31
$1.41 ฿47.21
6.38%
Eggs
$3.98 €3.47
$2.15 ฿71.8
85.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.29 €11.59
$16.29 ฿544
-18.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.01 €6.98
$2.71 ฿90.4
195.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.04 €15.73
$10.22 ฿341
76.52%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 €2.05
$3.09 ฿103
-23.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.53
$1.06 ฿35.42
65.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 €1.62
$2.17 ฿72.3
-14.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.55 €2.22
$1.85 ฿61.8
37.84%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.61
$1.52 ฿50.9
21.05%
Onion (1kg)
$2.10 €1.83
$1.12 ฿37.23
87.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.49 €1.30
$1.14 ฿38.12
30.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 €0.71
$0.52 ฿17.49
57.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10 €6.19
$4.49 ฿150
58.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.91 €5.15
$16.61 ฿554
-64.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 €1.15
$1.71 ฿57.2
-23.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 €1.86
$2.85 ฿95.0
-25.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Yala
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.36 €2.05
$0.63 ฿21.08
274.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.62 €40.63
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.08 €3.55
$1.31 ฿43.78
211.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.14 €0.99
$1.14 ฿38.20
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.09 €14.90
$3.79 ฿127
350.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.31 €2.01
$1.39 ฿46.31
66.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K €29.7K
$26.4K ฿881.5K
29.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K €36.1K
$26.9K ฿898.4K
53.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Yala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 €147
$83.5 ฿2,786
101.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33 €16.85
$11.91 ฿398
62.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51 €29.21
$19.49 ฿651
71.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Yala
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.84 €42.57
$48.50 ฿1,619
0.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43 €16.94
$14.03 ฿468
38.49%
Cinema Ticket
$9.57 €8.34
$6.89 ฿230
38.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Yala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$696 €607
$575 ฿19.2K
21.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.4K €15.1K
$11.2K ฿375.2K
54.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Yala
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €91.8
$51.9 ฿1,734
102.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75 €41.62
$30.15 ฿1,006
58.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 €87.6
$79.3 ฿2,647
26.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €108
$76.7 ฿2,560
62.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Yala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,662 €1,449
$464 ฿15.5K
258.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,246 €1,086
$309 ฿10.3K
303.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,965 €2,584
$1,429 ฿47.7K
107.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,049 €1,786
$749 ฿25.0K
173.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,834 €6,829
$1,976 ฿66.0K
296.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,464 €3,892
$1,608 ฿53.7K
177.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Yala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,632 €1,422
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.78
5.57
-32.14%

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

Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026

Last update for Yala: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $464 in Yala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $22.00 in Yala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $245 per month, with Yala 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 Yala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Yala?
Lisbon and Yala differ by about 147% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $931 including rent). Yala 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 Yala?
You'd need roughly $3,444 in Lisbon and $1,397 in Yala 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 in Yala?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $464 in Yala. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 13% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Yala?
All in, you'll spend $2,296 per month in Lisbon versus $931 in Yala – a 147% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $931 in Yala versus $2,296 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Yala but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Yala the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Yala?
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 Yala safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Yala 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 Yala?
Expats usually find Yala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 147% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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