🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $613 in Midlands versus $2,296 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,035 in Midlands versus $3,376 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,457 in Midlands versus $4,457 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Midlands costs roughly 73% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Midlands is 55% below, Lisbon is 68% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Midlands
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.96MUR 283
$17.59€15.32
-66.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.62MUR 1,787
$62.9€54.8
-40.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.22MUR 343
$11.58€10.09
-37.65%
Cappuccino
$2.63MUR 125
$3.10€2.70
-15.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15MUR 54.5
$2.49€2.17
-53.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61MUR 28.97
$1.74€1.52
-64.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.68MUR 127
$3.48€3.03
-22.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.85MUR 231
$3.44€3.00
40.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Midlands
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.61MUR 76.4
$1.15€1.00
40.00%
White Bread(500g)
$0.74MUR 35.26
$1.91€1.66
-61.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.15MUR 54.5
$1.50€1.31
-23.33%
Eggs
$2.58MUR 122
$3.98€3.47
-35.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.20MUR 247
$13.29€11.58
-60.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.46MUR 307
$8.01€6.98
-19.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.28MUR 536
$18.04€15.72
-37.47%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MUR 136
$2.35€2.05
21.70%
Banana(1kg)
$2.70MUR 128
$1.75€1.52
54.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.45MUR 69.0
$1.85€1.62
-21.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.95MUR 140
$2.55€2.22
15.69%
Potato(1kg)
$0.95MUR 45.33
$1.84€1.61
-48.37%
Onion(1kg)
$1.01MUR 47.89
$2.10€1.83
-51.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.69MUR 32.97
$1.49€1.29
-53.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87MUR 41.18
$0.82€0.71
6.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.51MUR 309
$7.10€6.18
-8.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.26MUR 392
$5.91€5.15
39.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.64MUR 78.1
$1.31€1.15
25.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31MUR 110
$2.13€1.86
8.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Midlands
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$2.36€2.05
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$46.62€40.61
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.28MUR 203
$4.08€3.55
4.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.10MUR 147
$1.14€0.99
171.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.80MUR 988
$17.09€14.89
21.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MUR 64.1
$2.31€2.01
-41.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.8KMUR 1.8M
$34.1K€29.7K
7.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.9KMUR 1.5M
$41.4K€36.0K
-25.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Midlands
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$45.44MUR 2,159
$169€147
-73.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.65MUR 506
$19.33€16.84
-44.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.64MUR 1,360
$33.51€29.20
-14.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Midlands
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$48.84€42.55
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.43€16.93
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.41MUR 305
$9.57€8.34
-33.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Midlands
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$127MUR 6,018
$696€606
-81.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,573MUR 359.7K
$17.4K€15.1K
-56.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Midlands
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.8MUR 3,744
$105€91.7
-25.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$75.6MUR 3,590
$47.75€41.60
58.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120MUR 5,700
$101€87.6
19.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.7MUR 3,645
$124€108
-38.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Midlands
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,662€1,448
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,246€1,086
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,965€2,583
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,049€1,785
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,834€6,825
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,464€3,889
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Midlands
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,632€1,421
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.67
3.78
76.46%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Midlands: September 13, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $38.00 in Midlands vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $219 vs $277 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 in Lisbon?
Midlands and Lisbon differ by about 274% in total monthly costs ($613 vs $2,296 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 $920 in Midlands and $3,444 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?
Supermarket bills run roughly 27% 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 $613 per month in Midlands versus $2,296 in Lisbon – a 274% 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 $613 in Midlands versus $2,296 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 274% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.