🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,075 in Midlands versus $2,227 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,755 in Midlands versus $3,305 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,434 in Midlands versus $4,384 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Midlands costs roughly 52% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Midlands is 20% below, Lisbon is 66% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Midlands
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.71MUR 314
$16.17€13.84
-58.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.01MUR 2,059
$64.6€55.3
-31.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20MUR 337
$10.38€8.88
-30.64%
Cappuccino
$2.69MUR 126
$2.77€2.37
-2.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95MUR 44.31
$2.25€1.92
-57.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60MUR 28.09
$1.57€1.35
-61.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24MUR 105
$3.49€2.99
-35.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21MUR 150
$4.00€3.43
-19.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Midlands
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.67MUR 78.2
$1.08€0.93
54.63%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71MUR 32.99
$1.74€1.49
-59.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.27MUR 59.4
$1.74€1.49
-27.01%
Eggs
$2.25MUR 105
$3.18€2.72
-29.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.06MUR 564
$13.43€11.50
-10.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.22MUR 291
$7.99€6.84
-22.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.70MUR 594
$16.09€13.77
-21.07%
Apples(1kg)
$2.04MUR 95.5
$2.28€1.95
-10.53%
Banana(1kg)
$2.04MUR 95.4
$1.72€1.48
18.60%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.45MUR 68.1
$1.94€1.66
-25.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.64MUR 124
$2.54€2.18
3.94%
Potato(1kg)
$0.99MUR 46.22
$1.83€1.57
-45.90%
Onion(1kg)
$0.93MUR 43.36
$2.04€1.75
-54.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.84MUR 39.31
$1.98€1.69
-57.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81MUR 37.88
$0.85€0.73
-4.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78MUR 317
$6.85€5.87
-1.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.37MUR 392
$5.78€4.94
44.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MUR 80.1
$1.37€1.18
24.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14MUR 100
$2.90€2.48
-26.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Midlands
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.03MUR 48.30
$2.28€1.95
-54.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$46.84€40.10
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.37MUR 205
$4.08€3.49
7.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.74MUR 128
$0.82€0.70
234.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.93MUR 933
$18.27€15.64
9.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.45MUR 68.0
$2.01€1.72
-27.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1KMUR 1.6M
$35.3K€30.2K
-0.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.7KMUR 1.3M
$38.5K€32.9K
-25.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Midlands
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$48.65MUR 2,276
$145€124
-66.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.58MUR 869
$20.96€17.94
-11.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.46MUR 1,566
$40.05€34.29
-16.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Midlands
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.83MUR 1,770
$48.79€41.76
-22.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.69€16.00
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.01MUR 281
$9.06€7.76
-33.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Midlands
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$152MUR 7,117
$607€519
-74.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,933MUR 184.0K
$16.3K€14.0K
-75.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Midlands
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.0MUR 3,975
$105€89.6
-18.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$78.3MUR 3,664
$40.95€35.06
91.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$133MUR 6,243
$93.6€80.1
42.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.9MUR 4,391
$119€101
-20.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Midlands
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$509MUR 23.8K
$1,604€1,373
-68.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$357MUR 16.7K
$1,236€1,058
-71.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$932MUR 43.6K
$3,046€2,607
-69.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730MUR 34.1K
$2,057€1,761
-64.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,709€6,599
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,266€3,652
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Midlands
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,584€1,356
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.67
3.81
75.07%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Midlands: April 26, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $509 in Midlands and $1,604 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $44.00 in Midlands vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $271 per month, with Midlands 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
Midlands vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Midlands and Lisbon?
Midlands and Lisbon differ by about 107% in total monthly costs ($1,075 vs $2,227 including rent). Midlands is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Midlands compared to Lisbon?
You'd need roughly $1,613 in Midlands and $3,341 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Midlands and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $509 in Midlands versus $1,604 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Midlands or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $1,075 per month in Midlands versus $2,227 in Lisbon – a 107% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,075 in Midlands versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Midlands but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Midlands the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Midlands 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 Midlands or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Midlands 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: Midlands or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Midlands gentler on the wallet – expenses run 107% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.