Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Zimba Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Zimba

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $113 in Zimba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $174 in Zimba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $235 in Zimba.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 1919% more expensive than in Zimba, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Zimba is 92% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.19 €14.17

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.3 €55.4

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.32 €9.03

$2.43 ZMW 44.19

324.69%

Cappuccino

$2.83 €2.48

$1.28 ZMW 23.22

121.09%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 €2.00

$0.64 ZMW 11.74

257.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 €1.38

$0.30 ZMW 5.52

426.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.40 €2.98

$0.63 ZMW 11.47

439.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 €3.52

$0.85 ZMW 15.44

374.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 €0.95

White Bread (500g)

$1.75 €1.53

$0.80 ZMW 14.54

118.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 €1.54

$1.20 ZMW 21.90

46.67%

Eggs

$3.17 €2.77

$1.05 ZMW 19.18

201.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.19 €11.54

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.97 €6.97

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.53 €13.59

$2.93 ZMW 53.4

430.03%

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 €2.07

$1.43 ZMW 25.98

65.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 €1.49

$1.27 ZMW 23.04

34.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 €1.76

$2.43 ZMW 44.15

-17.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.43 €2.13

$0.63 ZMW 11.48

285.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.76 €1.54

Onion (1kg)

$2.03 €1.78

$0.63 ZMW 11.53

222.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.92 €1.68

$0.69 ZMW 12.47

178.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 €0.74

$0.39 ZMW 7.13

117.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.58 €5.76

Wine (Bottle)

$5.58 €4.88

$6.62 ZMW 121

-15.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 €1.17

$0.64 ZMW 11.63

107.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 €2.60

$0.85 ZMW 15.45

249.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.28 €1.99

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.79 €40.06

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.23 €3.70

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 €0.71

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.44 €16.13

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.08 €1.82

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.7K €30.3K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$39.2K €34.3K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$148 €130

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$20.46 €17.90

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.56 €34.61

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.99 €41.99

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.60 €16.27

Cinema Ticket

$9.22 €8.07

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$616 €539

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.4K €14.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$103 €89.9

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.74 €36.52

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.8 €82.9

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 €107

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,633 €1,428

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,232 €1,078

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,098 €2,711

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,031 €1,777

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,831 €6,851

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,389 €3,840

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,607 €1,406

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.81

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

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Last update for Zimba: July 11, 2026

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 Zimba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lisbon and Zimba differ by about 1919% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $113 including rent). Zimba is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $3,437 in Lisbon and $170 in Zimba 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 233% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,291 per month in Lisbon versus $113 in Zimba – a 1919% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $113 in Zimba versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Zimba but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Zimba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Lisbon and Zimba are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Zimba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1919% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.