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: $575 in Mahdia versus $2,227 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $864 in Mahdia versus $3,305 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,154 in Mahdia versus $4,384 in Lisbon.

Living in Mahdia costs roughly 74% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mahdia is 57% below, Lisbon is 66% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mahdia
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.58 TND 7.45
$16.17 €13.81
-84.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.27 TND 58.6
$64.6 €55.1
-68.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.34 TND 9.65
$10.38 €8.86
-67.82%
Cappuccino
$0.72 TND 2.07
$2.77 €2.37
-74.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 TND 1.63
$2.25 €1.92
-75.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18 TND 0.53
$1.57 €1.34
-88.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.03 TND 2.99
$3.49 €2.98
-70.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53 TND 4.43
$4.00 €3.42
-61.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mahdia
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.40 TND 1.15
$1.08 €0.93
-62.96%
White Bread (500g)
$0.20 TND 0.59
$1.74 €1.49
-88.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.48 TND 4.26
$1.74 €1.48
-14.94%
Eggs
$1.64 TND 4.74
$3.18 €2.71
-48.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.18 TND 32.32
$13.43 €11.47
-16.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.80 TND 16.76
$7.99 €6.83
-27.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.50 TND 39.02
$16.09 €13.74
-16.10%
Apples (1kg)
$2.27 TND 6.55
$2.28 €1.95
-0.44%
Banana (1kg)
$2.85 TND 8.23
$1.72 €1.47
65.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.06 TND 3.06
$1.94 €1.66
-45.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.70 TND 2.01
$2.54 €2.17
-72.44%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 TND 2.04
$1.83 €1.56
-61.20%
Onion (1kg)
$0.35 TND 1.03
$2.04 €1.74
-82.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.35 TND 1.02
$1.98 €1.69
-82.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30 TND 0.88
$0.85 €0.73
-64.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.46 TND 10.00
$6.85 €5.85
-49.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.52 TND 10.19
$5.78 €4.93
-39.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 TND 3.32
$1.37 €1.17
-16.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 TND 3.05
$2.90 €2.48
-63.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Mahdia
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 TND 1.03
$2.28 €1.95
-84.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.34 TND 29.87
$46.84 €40.00
-77.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.30 TND 0.86
$4.08 €3.48
-92.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.26 TND 0.76
$0.82 €0.70
-68.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.39 TND 21.37
$18.27 €15.60
-59.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 TND 2.19
$2.01 €1.71
-62.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.9K TND 103.8K
$35.3K €30.1K
1.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6K TND 100.0K
$38.5K €32.9K
-10.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mahdia
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$45.58 TND 132
$145 €124
-68.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.49 TND 27.42
$20.96 €17.90
-54.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.03 TND 43.44
$40.05 €34.21
-62.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mahdia
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.14 TND 61.1
$48.79 €41.66
-56.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.53 TND 21.75
$18.69 €15.97
-59.71%
Cinema Ticket
$4.59 TND 13.26
$9.06 €7.74
-49.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mahdia
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$110 TND 316
$607 €518
-81.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,000 TND 2,890
$16.3K €13.9K
-93.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mahdia
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.39 TND 131
$105 €89.4
-56.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.74 TND 97.5
$40.95 €34.97
-17.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 TND 297
$93.6 €79.9
9.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$23.54 TND 68.0
$119 €101
-80.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mahdia
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$147 TND 424
$1,604 €1,370
-90.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$135 TND 391
$1,236 €1,055
-89.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$288 TND 833
$3,046 €2,601
-90.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$164 TND 474
$2,057 €1,756
-92.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$678 TND 1,961
$7,709 €6,583
-91.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$207 TND 597
$4,266 €3,644
-95.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mahdia
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$241 TND 697
$1,584 €1,353
-84.77%
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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $147 in Mahdia and $1,604 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 556% 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: $20.00 in Mahdia vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $180 vs $271 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 287% in total monthly costs ($575 vs $2,227 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 556% 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: $147 in Mahdia versus $1,604 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 $110 in Mahdia versus $607 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 50% 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 $575 in Mahdia versus $2,227 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 287% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Mahdia vs other spots: cost of living compared

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