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: $2,316 in Lisbon versus $136 in Zimba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,361 in Lisbon versus $217 in Zimba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,405 in Lisbon versus $299 in Zimba.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 1602% more expensive than in Zimba, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 69% above, Zimba is 90% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.30 €14.87

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.3 €54.4

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.39 €9.79

$3.12 ZMW 59.7

265.06%

Cappuccino

$3.19 €2.74

$1.61 ZMW 30.73

98.14%

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

$2.45 €2.10

$0.76 ZMW 14.54

222.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 €1.52

$0.36 ZMW 6.83

388.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.59 €3.09

$0.76 ZMW 14.61

372.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 €2.92

$1.03 ZMW 19.66

229.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 €1.06

White Bread (500g)

$1.98 €1.71

$1.07 ZMW 20.45

85.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 €1.31

$1.55 ZMW 29.64

-1.94%

Eggs

$4.04 €3.47

$1.36 ZMW 25.95

197.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.54 €11.64

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.39 €7.21

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.25 €15.69

$3.78 ZMW 72.1

382.80%

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 €1.97

$1.87 ZMW 35.64

22.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 €1.50

$1.57 ZMW 29.93

10.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.86 €1.60

$3.25 ZMW 62.0

-42.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.63 €2.26

$0.83 ZMW 15.77

216.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 €1.65

Onion (1kg)

$2.09 €1.80

$0.82 ZMW 15.70

154.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.44 €1.24

$0.86 ZMW 16.48

67.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 €0.72

$0.51 ZMW 9.76

64.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.78 €5.83

Wine (Bottle)

$5.71 €4.91

$6.24 ZMW 119

-8.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 €1.18

$0.82 ZMW 15.63

68.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 €1.91

$1.07 ZMW 20.46

107.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.40 €2.06

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.78 €40.22

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.17 €3.59

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.14 €0.98

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.68 €15.20

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.32 €2.00

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

$35.3K €30.4K

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

$41.4K €35.6K

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

$170 €146

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

$19.34 €16.62

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.64 €28.92

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.10 €41.35

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.90 €17.11

Cinema Ticket

$9.92 €8.53

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

$717 €617

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.5K €15.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €90.1

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.95 €40.36

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 €88.9

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 €107

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,677 €1,441

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,271 €1,093

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,985 €2,566

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,992 €1,713

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,826 €6,728

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,658 €4,004

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,583 €1,361

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.79

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

Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026

Last update for Zimba: August 31, 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 1602% in total monthly costs ($2,316 vs $136 including rent). Zimba is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $3,474 in Lisbon and $204 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 184% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,316 per month in Lisbon versus $136 in Zimba – a 1602% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $136 in Zimba versus $2,316 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 1602% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.