🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,078 in Midlands versus $2,263 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,741 in Midlands versus $3,315 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,405 in Midlands versus $4,368 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 68% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Midlands
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.67MUR 314
$15.94€13.73
-58.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.23MUR 2,083
$63.4€54.6
-30.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20MUR 339
$10.38€8.95
-30.64%
Cappuccino
$2.54MUR 119
$2.79€2.40
-8.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95MUR 44.91
$2.34€2.01
-59.40%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59MUR 27.91
$1.57€1.35
-62.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.23MUR 105
$3.43€2.95
-34.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32MUR 156
$3.91€3.37
-15.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Midlands
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MUR 79.2
$1.08€0.93
55.56%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71MUR 33.50
$1.77€1.52
-59.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32MUR 62.1
$1.71€1.47
-22.81%
Eggs
$2.35MUR 111
$3.15€2.71
-25.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.71MUR 551
$13.68€11.79
-14.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.11MUR 288
$8.01€6.90
-23.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.51MUR 589
$15.52€13.37
-19.39%
Apples(1kg)
$1.99MUR 93.6
$2.29€1.98
-13.10%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MUR 94.7
$1.64€1.41
22.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.51MUR 71.1
$1.94€1.67
-22.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.71MUR 128
$2.51€2.17
7.97%
Potato(1kg)
$0.99MUR 46.48
$1.79€1.54
-44.69%
Onion(1kg)
$0.93MUR 43.70
$2.01€1.73
-53.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.79MUR 37.14
$1.97€1.69
-59.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81MUR 38.22
$0.84€0.73
-3.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.50MUR 306
$6.79€5.85
-4.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.25MUR 389
$5.67€4.89
45.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MUR 81.0
$1.39€1.20
23.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21MUR 104
$3.02€2.60
-26.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Midlands
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.01MUR 47.34
$2.27€1.95
-55.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$45.44€39.15
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.49MUR 211
$4.29€3.70
4.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.75MUR 129
$0.85€0.73
223.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.01MUR 942
$18.28€15.75
9.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.40MUR 66.0
$1.99€1.71
-29.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7KMUR 1.7M
$35.0K€30.2K
1.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.1KMUR 1.4M
$39.5K€34.1K
-26.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Midlands
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$49.38MUR 2,325
$146€126
-66.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.03MUR 849
$20.45€17.62
-11.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.05MUR 1,556
$38.98€33.58
-15.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Midlands
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.69MUR 1,775
$48.98€42.21
-23.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.83€16.22
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.89MUR 277
$9.52€8.21
-38.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Midlands
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$155MUR 7,285
$608€524
-74.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,035MUR 190.0K
$16.5K€14.2K
-75.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Midlands
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.4MUR 4,069
$104€89.5
-16.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$79.5MUR 3,745
$42.12€36.29
88.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$130MUR 6,128
$92.2€79.5
41.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.5MUR 4,495
$120€103
-20.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Midlands
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$515MUR 24.3K
$1,621€1,397
-68.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$358MUR 16.9K
$1,268€1,092
-71.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$930MUR 43.8K
$3,048€2,626
-69.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$717MUR 33.8K
$2,009€1,731
-64.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,663€6,602
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,329€3,730
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Midlands
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,585€1,366
-
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: June 6, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $515 in Midlands and $1,621 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $44.00 in Midlands vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $269 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 110% in total monthly costs ($1,078 vs $2,263 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 $1,617 in Midlands and $3,394 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: $515 in Midlands versus $1,621 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 $1,078 per month in Midlands versus $2,263 in Lisbon – a 110% 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 $1,078 in Midlands versus $2,263 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 110% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.