Cost of Living Comparison Between Mahdia and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Mahdia and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $567 in Mahdia versus $2,263 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $865 in Mahdia versus $3,315 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,163 in Mahdia versus $4,368 in Lisbon.

Living in Mahdia costs roughly 75% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mahdia is 58% below, Lisbon is 68% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mahdia
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.57 TND 7.51
$15.94 €13.73
-83.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.61 TND 60.1
$63.4 €54.6
-67.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.46 TND 10.09
$10.38 €8.95
-66.67%
Cappuccino
$0.71 TND 2.07
$2.79 €2.40
-74.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 TND 1.81
$2.34 €2.01
-73.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20 TND 0.57
$1.57 €1.35
-87.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.03 TND 3.02
$3.43 €2.95
-69.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 TND 4.50
$3.91 €3.37
-60.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mahdia
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.40 TND 1.17
$1.08 €0.93
-62.96%
White Bread (500g)
$0.18 TND 0.51
$1.77 €1.52
-89.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 TND 4.54
$1.71 €1.47
-8.77%
Eggs
$1.57 TND 4.57
$3.15 €2.71
-50.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.22 TND 32.74
$13.68 €11.79
-17.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.54 TND 16.16
$8.01 €6.90
-30.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.27 TND 38.71
$15.52 €13.37
-14.50%
Apples (1kg)
$2.22 TND 6.47
$2.29 €1.98
-3.06%
Banana (1kg)
$2.90 TND 8.47
$1.64 €1.41
76.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.00 TND 2.92
$1.94 €1.67
-48.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.68 TND 1.97
$2.51 €2.17
-72.91%
Potato (1kg)
$0.69 TND 2.02
$1.79 €1.54
-61.45%
Onion (1kg)
$0.32 TND 0.94
$2.01 €1.73
-84.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.33 TND 0.96
$1.97 €1.69
-83.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31 TND 0.90
$0.84 €0.73
-63.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.60 TND 10.51
$6.79 €5.85
-46.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.42 TND 9.97
$5.67 €4.89
-39.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10 TND 3.20
$1.39 €1.20
-20.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 TND 3.23
$3.02 €2.60
-63.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Mahdia
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 TND 1.02
$2.27 €1.95
-84.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.12 TND 29.52
$45.44 €39.15
-77.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.30 TND 0.87
$4.29 €3.70
-93.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.24 TND 0.70
$0.85 €0.73
-71.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.37 TND 21.51
$18.28 €15.75
-59.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 TND 2.37
$1.99 €1.71
-59.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7K TND 104.1K
$35.0K €30.2K
1.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.2K TND 102.6K
$39.5K €34.1K
-11.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mahdia
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.09 TND 134
$146 €126
-68.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.47 TND 27.62
$20.45 €17.62
-53.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.63 TND 42.68
$38.98 €33.58
-62.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mahdia
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.51 TND 59.9
$48.98 €42.21
-58.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.76 TND 22.63
$18.83 €16.22
-58.79%
Cinema Ticket
$4.59 TND 13.40
$9.52 €8.21
-51.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mahdia
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$109 TND 318
$608 €524
-82.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,009 TND 2,945
$16.5K €14.2K
-93.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mahdia
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.07 TND 131
$104 €89.5
-56.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.45 TND 97.6
$42.12 €36.29
-20.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 TND 296
$92.2 €79.5
9.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$23.69 TND 69.1
$120 €103
-80.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mahdia
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$146 TND 425
$1,621 €1,397
-91.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$137 TND 399
$1,268 €1,092
-89.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$288 TND 841
$3,048 €2,626
-90.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$161 TND 469
$2,009 €1,731
-92.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,028 TND 3,000
$7,663 €6,602
-86.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$639 TND 1,864
$4,329 €3,730
-85.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mahdia
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$241 TND 702
$1,585 €1,366
-84.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.6
3.81
256.96%

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

Last update for Mahdia: June 9, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $146 in Mahdia and $1,621 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 559% 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: $21.00 in Mahdia vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $178 vs $269 per month, with Mahdia 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
Mahdia vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mahdia and Lisbon?
Mahdia and Lisbon differ by about 299% in total monthly costs ($567 vs $2,263 including rent). Mahdia is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Lisbon earns 559% less. 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 Mahdia and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $146 in Mahdia versus $1,621 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mahdia and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $109 in Mahdia versus $608 in Lisbon. 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 51% 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 $567 in Mahdia versus $2,263 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Mahdia but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Mahdia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mahdia and Lisbon?
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 Mahdia or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mahdia and Lisbon 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: Mahdia or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Mahdia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 299% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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