Cost of Living Comparison Between Marsta and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Marsta and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,802 in Marsta versus $2,227 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,754 in Marsta versus $3,305 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,706 in Marsta versus $4,384 in Lisbon.

Living in Marsta costs roughly 19% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Marsta 35% above, Lisbon 66% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Marsta
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.22 SEK 123
$16.17 €13.81
-18.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4 SEK 634
$64.6 €55.1
5.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.60 SEK 98.3
$10.38 €8.86
2.12%
Cappuccino
$4.45 SEK 41.24
$2.77 €2.37
60.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 SEK 20.11
$2.25 €1.92
-3.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 SEK 17.38
$1.57 €1.34
19.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.41 SEK 68.7
$3.49 €2.98
112.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.34 SEK 68.0
$4.00 €3.42
83.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Marsta
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.78 SEK 16.51
$1.08 €0.93
64.81%
White Bread (500g)
$3.22 SEK 29.87
$1.74 €1.49
85.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.98 SEK 36.88
$1.74 €1.48
128.74%
Eggs
$3.82 SEK 35.43
$3.18 €2.71
20.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.00 SEK 130
$13.43 €11.47
4.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.60 SEK 89.0
$7.99 €6.83
20.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.73 SEK 146
$16.09 €13.74
-2.24%
Apples (1kg)
$3.69 SEK 34.21
$2.28 €1.95
61.84%
Banana (1kg)
$2.56 SEK 23.75
$1.72 €1.47
48.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.14 SEK 29.12
$1.94 €1.66
61.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.99 SEK 37.00
$2.54 €2.17
57.09%
Potato (1kg)
$1.52 SEK 14.07
$1.83 €1.56
-16.94%
Onion (1kg)
$1.62 SEK 15.03
$2.04 €1.74
-20.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.70 SEK 25.03
$1.98 €1.69
36.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 SEK 16.27
$0.85 €0.73
105.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.17 SEK 66.5
$6.85 €5.85
4.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.63 SEK 98.5
$5.78 €4.93
83.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 SEK 16.60
$1.37 €1.17
30.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 SEK 17.40
$2.90 €2.48
-35.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Marsta
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.13 SEK 38.28
$2.28 €1.95
81.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$101 SEK 933
$46.84 €40.00
114.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$12.25 SEK 114
$4.08 €3.48
200.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.63 SEK 15.12
$0.82 €0.70
98.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$60.0 SEK 556
$18.27 €15.60
228.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.00 SEK 18.56
$2.01 €1.71
-0.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0K SEK 305.5K
$35.3K €30.1K
-6.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.3K SEK 317.8K
$38.5K €32.9K
-10.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Marsta
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.1 SEK 817
$145 €124
-39.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.80 SEK 267
$20.96 €17.90
37.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.96 SEK 343
$40.05 €34.21
-7.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Marsta
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.08 SEK 270
$48.79 €41.66
-40.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.91 SEK 231
$18.69 €15.97
33.28%
Cinema Ticket
$15.84 SEK 147
$9.06 €7.74
74.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Marsta
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$144 SEK 1,334
$607 €518
-76.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$746 SEK 6,914
$16.3K €13.9K
-95.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Marsta
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7 SEK 720
$105 €89.4
-25.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.96 SEK 398
$40.95 €34.97
4.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 SEK 935
$93.6 €79.9
7.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 SEK 996
$119 €101
-9.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Marsta
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$855 SEK 7,926
$1,604 €1,370
-46.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$645 SEK 5,977
$1,236 €1,055
-47.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,379 SEK 12.8K
$3,046 €2,601
-54.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,086 SEK 10.1K
$2,057 €1,756
-47.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,869 SEK 35.9K
$7,709 €6,583
-49.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,651 SEK 24.6K
$4,266 €3,644
-37.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Marsta
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,003 SEK 46.4K
$1,584 €1,353
215.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.53
3.81
18.90%

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

Last update for Marsta: April 27, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $855 in Marsta and $1,604 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Marsta pays 216% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $68.0 in Marsta vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $358 vs $271 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
Marsta vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Marsta and Lisbon?
Marsta and Lisbon differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($1,802 vs $2,227 including rent). Marsta is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Marsta or Lisbon?
Marsta pays 216% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Marsta and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $855 in Marsta 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 Marsta and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $144 in Marsta 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?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 32% 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 $1,802 in Marsta versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Marsta but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Marsta the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Marsta 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 Marsta or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Marsta 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: Marsta or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Marsta gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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