Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Zatec Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Zatec

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,282 in Zatec.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,963 in Zatec.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $2,644 in Zatec.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 72% more expensive than Zatec, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Zatec is 4% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Zatec
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.70
$6.91 Kč 144
130.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.8
$18.54 Kč 387
249.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.05
$9.25 Kč 193
13.62%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$3.00 Kč 62.5
-4.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$0.73 Kč 15.20
206.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.30
$0.97 Kč 20.24
54.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.01
$2.28 Kč 47.61
53.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$2.50 Kč 52.0
55.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Zatec
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$0.90 Kč 18.81
26.67%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$1.42 Kč 29.58
23.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$2.11 Kč 43.89
-16.59%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$2.59 Kč 53.9
24.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.62
$5.82 Kč 121
131.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$5.47 Kč 114
44.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.67
$6.82 Kč 142
132.70%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$1.34 Kč 27.97
72.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$1.60 Kč 33.45
6.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$2.08 Kč 43.30
-3.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$4.02 Kč 83.8
-38.81%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$0.96 Kč 20.00
91.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$1.33 Kč 27.70
50.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$1.63 Kč 33.88
18.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$0.52 Kč 10.75
51.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.69
$6.18 Kč 129
6.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.93
$5.63 Kč 117
1.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.18
$0.93 Kč 19.49
47.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$1.87 Kč 39.05
58.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Zatec
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$0.35 Kč 7.19
577.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.23
$25.83 Kč 539
76.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$2.85 Kč 59.5
50.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$1.49 Kč 31.06
-44.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.76
$15.13 Kč 315
20.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$1.75 Kč 36.39
17.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$27.9K Kč 581.7K
22.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$29.8K Kč 622.0K
31.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Zatec
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$314 Kč 6,539
-52.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.67
$25.02 Kč 522
-17.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.11
$20.54 Kč 428
92.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Zatec
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.20
$53.0 Kč 1,104
-9.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.29
$17.03 Kč 355
11.10%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.91
$11.48 Kč 239
-20.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Zatec
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €529
$427 Kč 8,897
43.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$14.5K Kč 302.4K
10.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Zatec
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.1
$87.3 Kč 1,820
19.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.22
$40.49 Kč 844
3.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.9
$45.98 Kč 959
104.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$113 Kč 2,352
6.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Zatec
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,402
$360 Kč 7,504
352.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,081
$323 Kč 6,743
288.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,609
$1,153 Kč 24.0K
162.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,740
$868 Kč 18.1K
132.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,716
$5,310 Kč 110.7K
46.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,679
$2,845 Kč 59.3K
50.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Zatec
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,381
$1,184 Kč 24.7K
35.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
5.56
-31.47%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Zatec: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $360 in Zatec. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 35% 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 $19.00 in Zatec for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $190 per month, with Zatec 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 Zatec: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Zatec?
Lisbon and Zatec differ by about 72% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $1,282 including rent). Zatec is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Zatec?
Lisbon pays 35% 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 Zatec?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $360 in Zatec. 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 Zatec?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $427 in Zatec. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 42% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,282 in Zatec versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Zatec but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Zatec the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Zatec?
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 Zatec safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Zatec 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 Zatec?
Expats usually find Zatec gentler on the wallet – expenses run 72% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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