Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and YalaCost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Yala
Monthly Cost of Living
ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $896 in Yala.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $1,481 in Yala.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $2,065 in Yala.
ðLiving in Lisbon is roughly 148% more expensive than Yala, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Yala is 33% below.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Lisbon
Yala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17âŽ13.84
$1.52āļŋ49.87
963.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6âŽ55.3
$27.80āļŋ909
132.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38âŽ8.88
$6.42āļŋ210
61.68%
Cappuccino
$2.77âŽ2.37
$2.02āļŋ66.2
37.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25âŽ1.92
$0.58āļŋ18.86
287.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57âŽ1.35
$0.22āļŋ7.19
613.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49âŽ2.99
$2.39āļŋ78.3
46.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00âŽ3.43
$3.81āļŋ125
4.99%
ð Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Yala
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08âŽ0.93
$1.77āļŋ57.8
-38.98%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74âŽ1.49
$1.39āļŋ45.51
25.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74âŽ1.49
$1.28āļŋ41.79
35.94%
Eggs
$3.18âŽ2.72
$2.22āļŋ72.7
43.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43âŽ11.50
$18.71āļŋ612
-28.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99âŽ6.84
$3.05āļŋ99.9
161.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09âŽ13.77
$10.89āļŋ356
47.75%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28âŽ1.95
$3.24āļŋ106
-29.63%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72âŽ1.48
$1.26āļŋ41.19
36.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94âŽ1.66
$1.91āļŋ62.4
1.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54âŽ2.18
$1.53āļŋ49.99
66.01%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83âŽ1.57
$1.47āļŋ48.09
24.49%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04âŽ1.75
$1.25āļŋ40.82
63.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98âŽ1.69
$0.98āļŋ32.00
102.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85âŽ0.73
$0.52āļŋ16.94
63.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85âŽ5.87
$4.31āļŋ141
58.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78âŽ4.94
$16.49āļŋ539
-64.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37âŽ1.18
$1.74āļŋ56.9
-21.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90âŽ2.48
$2.76āļŋ90.3
5.07%
ð Getting Around
Lisbon
Yala
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28âŽ1.95
$0.61āļŋ19.94
273.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84âŽ40.10
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08âŽ3.49
$1.07āļŋ34.85
281.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82âŽ0.70
$1.16āļŋ37.93
-29.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27âŽ15.64
$6.02āļŋ197
203.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01âŽ1.72
$1.06āļŋ34.66
89.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3KâŽ30.2K
$27.9Kāļŋ910.8K
26.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5KâŽ32.9K
$27.4Kāļŋ897.0K
40.30%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Yala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145âŽ124
$77.3āļŋ2,527
88.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96âŽ17.94
$12.28āļŋ402
70.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05âŽ34.29
$18.90āļŋ618
111.90%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Yala
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79âŽ41.76
$50.0āļŋ1,636
-2.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69âŽ16.00
$12.43āļŋ406
50.36%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06âŽ7.76
$7.29āļŋ238
24.28%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Yala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607âŽ519
$298āļŋ9,758
103.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3KâŽ14.0K
$9,536āļŋ311.8K
71.25%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Yala
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105âŽ89.6
$34.08āļŋ1,114
207.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95âŽ35.06
$34.93āļŋ1,142
17.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6âŽ80.1
$97.8āļŋ3,199
-4.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119âŽ101
$71.5āļŋ2,337
65.92%
ð Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Yala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604âŽ1,373
$421āļŋ13.8K
280.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236âŽ1,058
$286āļŋ9,366
331.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046âŽ2,607
$810āļŋ26.5K
276.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057âŽ1,761
$650āļŋ21.3K
216.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709âŽ6,599
$2,064āļŋ67.5K
273.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266âŽ3,652
$1,483āļŋ48.5K
187.78%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Yala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584âŽ1,356
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
5.45
-30.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Last update for Yala: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $421 in Yala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ðDining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $28.00 in Yala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $253 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 148% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $896 including rent). Yala is meaningfully more affordable â 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 $3,341 in Lisbon and $1,345 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: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $421 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 7% 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 $2,227 per month in Lisbon versus $896 in Yala â a 148% 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 $896 in Yala versus $2,227 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 â 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 â expenses run 148% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.