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: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $895 in Yala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $1,453 in Yala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $2,011 in Yala.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 153% more expensive than Yala, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Yala is 33% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Yala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94 €13.73
$1.51 ฿49.26
955.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4 €54.6
$27.44 ฿894
130.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 €8.95
$6.14 ฿200
69.06%
Cappuccino
$2.79 €2.40
$2.02 ฿65.6
38.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 €2.01
$0.55 ฿17.80
325.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 €1.35
$0.21 ฿6.87
647.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.43 €2.95
$2.50 ฿81.4
37.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 €3.37
$3.68 ฿120
6.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Yala
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.93
$1.68 ฿54.6
-35.71%
White Bread (500g)
$1.77 €1.52
$1.34 ฿43.59
32.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 €1.47
$1.32 ฿43.06
29.55%
Eggs
$3.15 €2.71
$2.23 ฿72.5
41.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.68 €11.79
$18.63 ฿607
-26.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.01 €6.90
$3.01 ฿98.0
166.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.52 €13.37
$10.61 ฿346
46.28%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 €1.98
$3.12 ฿102
-26.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 €1.41
$1.24 ฿40.52
32.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 €1.67
$1.88 ฿61.4
3.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.51 €2.17
$1.59 ฿51.9
57.86%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 €1.54
$1.46 ฿47.42
22.60%
Onion (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$1.24 ฿40.48
62.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 €1.69
$0.97 ฿31.64
103.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 €0.73
$0.51 ฿16.71
64.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79 €5.85
$4.39 ฿143
54.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.67 €4.89
$16.04 ฿523
-64.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 €1.20
$1.72 ฿56.0
-19.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 €2.60
$2.76 ฿90.0
9.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Yala
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.27 €1.95
$0.64 ฿20.87
254.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.44 €39.15
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.70
$1.07 ฿34.82
300.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 €0.73
$1.14 ฿37.04
-25.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.28 €15.75
$6.07 ฿198
201.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.99 €1.71
$1.06 ฿34.61
87.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K €30.2K
$27.8K ฿904.0K
26.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K €34.1K
$27.1K ฿883.0K
45.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Yala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$146 €126
$76.2 ฿2,483
91.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45 €17.62
$12.45 ฿405
64.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98 €33.58
$18.30 ฿596
113.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Yala
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.98 €42.21
$48.51 ฿1,580
0.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83 €16.22
$12.14 ฿395
55.11%
Cinema Ticket
$9.52 €8.21
$7.07 ฿230
34.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Yala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$608 €524
$294 ฿9,568
107.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K €14.2K
$9,514 ฿309.9K
73.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Yala
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 €89.5
$33.42 ฿1,089
210.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12 €36.29
$34.22 ฿1,115
23.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.2 €79.5
$101 ฿3,279
-8.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$71.0 ฿2,313
69.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Yala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,621 €1,397
$415 ฿13.5K
290.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,268 €1,092
$286 ฿9,322
342.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,048 €2,626
$803 ฿26.2K
279.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,009 €1,731
$644 ฿21.0K
212.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,663 €6,602
$1,912 ฿62.3K
300.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,329 €3,730
$1,342 ฿43.7K
222.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Yala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,585 €1,366
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
5.45
-30.09%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026

Last update for Yala: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $415 in Yala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $27.00 in Yala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $249 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 Yala?
Lisbon and Yala differ by about 153% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $895 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 $3,394 in Lisbon and $1,343 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 Yala?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $415 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 8% 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 $2,263 per month in Lisbon versus $895 in Yala – a 153% 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 $895 in Yala versus $2,263 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 153% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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