Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Zurrieq

For one person, living is cheaper in Zurrieq: $1,860 a month against $2,223 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $4,400 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Lisbon outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,223
/mo nomad
Zurrieq
🇲🇹 Malta
$1,860
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Zurrieq

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lisbon and in Zurrieq actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,223 in Lisbon versus $1,860 in Zurrieq.

  • Lisbon $2,223
  • Zurrieq $1,860

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,271 in Lisbon versus $2,970 in Zurrieq.

  • Lisbon $3,271
  • Zurrieq $2,970

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,319 in Lisbon versus $4,080 in Zurrieq.

  • Lisbon $4,319
  • Zurrieq $4,080

Living in Lisbon is roughly 20% more expensive than in Zurrieq, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 65% above, Zurrieq 38% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Zurrieq
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.50 €14.67
$19.89 €17.69
-17.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.3 €54.5
$87.2 €77.6
-29.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.27 €10.03
$13.15 €11.70
-14.30%
Cappuccino
$3.06 €2.72
$2.65 €2.36
15.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 €2.01
$3.18 €2.83
-28.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 €1.54
$2.27 €2.02
-23.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.39 €3.02
$4.61 €4.10
-26.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40 €3.02
$5.08 €4.51
-33.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Zurrieq
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 €1.00
$1.34 €1.19
-16.42%
White Bread (500g)
$1.86 €1.65
$1.36 €1.21
36.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 €1.36
$4.37 €3.89
-64.99%
Eggs
$3.96 €3.53
$4.28 €3.81
-7.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.76 €11.35
$8.14 €7.24
56.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.90 €7.02
$10.59 €9.42
-25.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.97 €15.09
$18.01 €16.02
-5.77%
Apples (1kg)
$2.27 €2.02
$4.17 €3.71
-45.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.55
$2.82 €2.51
-37.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 €1.64
$3.65 €3.25
-49.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.57 €2.28
$3.25 €2.89
-20.92%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 €1.65
$2.53 €2.25
-26.48%
Onion (1kg)
$2.02 €1.80
$2.03 €1.81
-0.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 €1.28
$2.34 €2.08
-38.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 €0.73
$1.35 €1.20
-39.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.56 €5.83
$6.72 €5.98
-2.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.62 €5.00
$8.03 €7.14
-30.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 €1.14
$1.68 €1.49
-23.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 €1.84
$2.44 €2.17
-15.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Zurrieq
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.35 €2.09
$2.39 €2.13
-1.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.18 €39.30
$30.86 €27.45
43.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.99 €3.55
$5.65 €5.02
-29.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.09 €0.97
$2.29 €2.04
-52.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.64 €14.81
$26.42 €23.50
-37.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.28 €2.03
$1.53 €1.36
49.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.7K €30.0K
$38.1K €33.9K
-11.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €35.0K
$38.8K €34.5K
1.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Zurrieq
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$167 €149
$100 €89.2
66.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.80 €16.72
$25.68 €22.84
-26.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.09 €29.43
$43.29 €38.50
-23.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Zurrieq
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.01 €40.93
$65.2 €58.0
-29.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.19 €17.07
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.84 €8.75
$10.09 €8.97
-2.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Zurrieq
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$677 €602
$365 €325
85.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.9K €15.1K
$11.1K €9,911
51.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Zurrieq
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 €90.1
$86.0 €76.5
17.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.76 €40.70
$40.31 €35.85
13.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100.0 €88.9
$99.6 €88.6
0.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 €109
$76.7 €68.2
60.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Zurrieq
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,614 €1,436
$1,032 €918
56.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,197 €1,065
$798 €710
50.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,862 €2,545
$1,832 €1,629
56.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,990 €1,770
$1,509 €1,342
31.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,577 €6,740
$3,584 €3,188
111.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,307 €3,831
$2,826 €2,513
52.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Zurrieq
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,588 €1,412
$2,679 €2,383
-40.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
2.9
32.76%

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

Last update for Lisbon: October 11, 2026

Last update for Zurrieq: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Zurrieq
$798 33.3% $399
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$269
Zurrieq
$328 21.8% $59
Eating Out
Lisbon
$242
Zurrieq
$285 17.8% $43
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$219
Zurrieq
$169 22.8% $50
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$166
Zurrieq
$136 18.2% $30
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$66
Zurrieq
$85 30% $20
Getting Around
Lisbon
$63
Zurrieq
$58 8.7% $5.5

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,614 in Lisbon and $1,032 in Zurrieq. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zurrieq pays 69% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $61.0 in Lisbon vs $87.0 in Zurrieq for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $328 per month, with Lisbon cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇲🇹 Zurrieq
🕒 Local time
15:47 3:47 PM
16:47 4:47 PM
1 h ahead of Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
11,823
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Zurrieq 2,110 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Zurrieq

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Zurrieq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Zurrieq?
Lisbon and Zurrieq differ by about 20% in total monthly costs ($2,223 vs $1,860 including rent). Zurrieq is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 69% lower in Zurrieq. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in Zurrieq?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,614 in Lisbon versus $1,032 in Zurrieq. 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 Zurrieq?
Childcare runs $677 in Lisbon versus $365 in Zurrieq. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 22% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $1,860 in Zurrieq versus $2,223 in Lisbon, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Zurrieq but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Zurrieq the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Zurrieq?
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 Zurrieq safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Zurrieq 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 Zurrieq?
Expats usually find Zurrieq gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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