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: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $113 in Zimba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $176 in Zimba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $239 in Zimba.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 1850% more expensive than Zimba, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Zimba is 92% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.91 €13.69

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.8 €55.7

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.51 €9.04

$2.48 ZMW 44.24

323.79%

Cappuccino

$2.87 €2.47

$1.25 ZMW 22.33

129.60%

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

$2.24 €1.93

$0.63 ZMW 11.33

255.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 €1.29

$0.30 ZMW 5.40

400.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.49 €3.00

$0.60 ZMW 10.70

481.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 €3.34

$0.80 ZMW 14.27

385.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 €0.98

White Bread (500g)

$1.75 €1.51

$0.85 ZMW 15.21

105.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 €1.51

$1.27 ZMW 22.73

38.58%

Eggs

$3.22 €2.77

$1.11 ZMW 19.85

190.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.49 €11.61

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.91 €6.81

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.87 €13.65

$2.88 ZMW 51.4

451.04%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 €1.99

$1.48 ZMW 26.34

56.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 €1.46

$1.26 ZMW 22.50

34.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 €1.73

$2.42 ZMW 43.16

-16.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.46 €2.12

$0.60 ZMW 10.68

310.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 €1.59

Onion (1kg)

$2.00 €1.72

$0.61 ZMW 10.89

227.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.93 €1.66

$0.74 ZMW 13.18

160.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 €0.68

$0.39 ZMW 6.97

102.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.61 €5.68

Wine (Bottle)

$5.72 €4.92

$6.58 ZMW 117

-13.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 €1.17

$0.61 ZMW 10.82

124.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 €2.56

$0.82 ZMW 14.64

262.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.37 €2.04

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.56 €39.19

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 €3.69

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 €0.70

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.30 €15.74

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.06 €1.78

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

$34.3K €29.5K

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

$39.3K €33.8K

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

$148 €127

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

$20.52 €17.65

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.61 €34.08

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.85 €41.16

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.92 €16.28

Cinema Ticket

$9.18 €7.90

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

$614 €528

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.0K €13.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €90.0

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.06 €36.18

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.0 €80.8

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 €103

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,628 €1,400

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,255 €1,080

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,030 €2,607

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,020 €1,738

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,800 €6,709

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,273 €3,675

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,603 €1,379

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Zimba: May 30, 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 1850% in total monthly costs ($2,210 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 $3,315 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 $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $113 in Zimba – a 1850% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $113 in Zimba versus $2,210 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 1850% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.