🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $915 in Marabella versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,603 in Marabella versus $3,311 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,290 in Marabella versus $4,411 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Marabella costs roughly 59% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Marabella is 32% below, Lisbon is 65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Marabella
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.41TTD 69.7
$15.91€13.69
-34.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.2TTD 584
$64.8€55.7
34.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.49TTD 50.2
$10.51€9.04
-28.73%
Cappuccino
$3.72TTD 24.93
$2.87€2.47
29.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05TTD 7.05
$2.24€1.93
-53.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84TTD 5.60
$1.50€1.29
-44.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.88TTD 12.58
$3.49€3.00
-46.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08TTD 20.65
$3.88€3.34
-20.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Marabella
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.66TTD 17.84
$1.14€0.98
133.33%
White Bread(500g)
$2.79TTD 18.68
$1.75€1.51
59.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.66TTD 17.81
$1.76€1.51
51.14%
Eggs
$5.13TTD 34.34
$3.22€2.77
59.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.04TTD 53.9
$13.49€11.61
-40.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.20TTD 68.4
$7.91€6.81
28.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.50TTD 97.1
$15.87€13.65
-8.63%
Apples(1kg)
$5.73TTD 38.39
$2.31€1.99
148.05%
Banana(1kg)
$2.62TTD 17.58
$1.70€1.46
54.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.35TTD 29.11
$2.01€1.73
116.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.65TTD 31.17
$2.46€2.12
89.02%
Potato(1kg)
$1.43TTD 9.56
$1.84€1.59
-22.28%
Onion(1kg)
$1.67TTD 11.17
$2.00€1.72
-16.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.96TTD 13.12
$1.93€1.66
1.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.47TTD 9.85
$0.79€0.68
86.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.08TTD 40.74
$6.61€5.68
-8.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.68TTD 125
$5.72€4.92
226.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13TTD 14.29
$1.37€1.17
55.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71TTD 18.13
$2.97€2.56
-8.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Marabella
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$2.37€2.04
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$45.56€39.19
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.01TTD 6.75
$4.29€3.69
-76.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.26TTD 8.45
$0.82€0.70
53.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.86TTD 99.6
$18.30€15.74
-18.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.10TTD 7.37
$2.06€1.78
-46.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0KTTD 228.1K
$34.3K€29.5K
-0.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.9KTTD 253.9K
$39.3K€33.8K
-3.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Marabella
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$78.6TTD 527
$148€127
-46.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.50TTD 318
$20.52€17.65
131.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.9TTD 421
$39.61€34.08
58.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Marabella
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$47.85€41.16
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.92€16.28
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.91TTD 66.4
$9.18€7.90
7.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Marabella
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$328TTD 2,195
$614€528
-46.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,316TTD 49.0K
$16.0K€13.8K
-54.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Marabella
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.8TTD 400
$105€90.0
-42.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.92TTD 261
$42.06€36.18
-7.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$146TTD 978
$94.0€80.8
55.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126TTD 842
$120€103
5.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Marabella
Lisbon
Difference
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
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Marabella
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,603€1,379
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.38
3.81
41.21%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Marabella: May 30, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $87.0 in Marabella vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $376 vs $269 per month, with Lisbon 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
Marabella vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Marabella and Lisbon?
Marabella and Lisbon differ by about 141% in total monthly costs ($915 vs $2,210 including rent). Marabella is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Marabella compared to Lisbon?
You'd need roughly $1,373 in Marabella and $3,315 in Lisbon 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.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 39% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Marabella or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $915 per month in Marabella versus $2,210 in Lisbon – a 141% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $915 in Marabella versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Marabella but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Marabella the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Marabella 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 Marabella or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Marabella 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: Marabella or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Marabella gentler on the wallet – expenses run 141% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.