For one person, living is cheaper in Moka: $916 a month against $2,223 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $15,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Moka and in Lisbon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $916 in Moka versus $2,223 in Lisbon.
Moka $916
Lisbon $2,223
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,534 in Moka versus $3,271 in Lisbon.
Moka $1,534
Lisbon $3,271
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,153 in Moka versus $4,319 in Lisbon.
Moka $2,153
Lisbon $4,319
🌍
Living in Moka costs roughly 59% less than in Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
The two cities straddle the global median: Moka is 32% below, Lisbon is 65% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Moka
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.41MUR 302
$16.50€14.67
-61.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.33MUR 1,287
$61.3€54.5
-55.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.73MUR 317
$11.27€10.03
-40.28%
Cappuccino
$4.31MUR 203
$3.06€2.72
40.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06MUR 50.1
$2.26€2.01
-53.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30MUR 14.33
$1.73€1.54
-82.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.58MUR 122
$3.39€3.02
-23.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19MUR 150
$3.40€3.02
-6.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Moka
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.72MUR 80.8
$1.12€1.00
53.57%
White Bread(500g)
$0.76MUR 35.59
$1.86€1.65
-59.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MUR 80.5
$1.53€1.36
11.76%
Eggs
$2.99MUR 141
$3.96€3.53
-24.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$12.76€11.35
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.61MUR 499
$7.90€7.02
34.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.62MUR 688
$16.97€15.09
-13.85%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MUR 136
$2.27€2.02
27.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66MUR 78.0
$1.75€1.55
-5.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.11MUR 194
$1.85€1.64
122.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.24MUR 200
$2.57€2.28
64.98%
Potato(1kg)
$1.06MUR 49.99
$1.86€1.65
-43.01%
Onion(1kg)
$1.08MUR 50.9
$2.02€1.80
-46.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.86MUR 40.67
$1.44€1.28
-40.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76MUR 35.55
$0.82€0.73
-7.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.98MUR 329
$6.56€5.83
6.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.88MUR 700
$5.62€5.00
164.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.69MUR 127
$1.28€1.14
110.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25MUR 153
$2.07€1.84
57.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Moka
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$2.35€2.09
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$44.18€39.30
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.99€3.55
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.09€0.97
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$16.64€14.81
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.63MUR 76.6
$2.28€2.03
-28.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$33.7K€30.0K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$39.3K€35.0K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Moka
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$167€149
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.10MUR 193
$18.80€16.72
-78.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.89MUR 984
$33.09€29.43
-36.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Moka
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.03MUR 990
$46.01€40.93
-54.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.19€17.07
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.15MUR 289
$9.84€8.75
-37.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Moka
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$107MUR 5,023
$677€602
-84.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$16.9K€15.1K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Moka
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.2MUR 2,836
$101€90.1
-40.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.64MUR 1,490
$45.76€40.70
-30.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114MUR 5,367
$100.0€88.9
14.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7MUR 3,941
$123€109
-31.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Moka
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$521MUR 24.5K
$1,614€1,436
-67.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$309MUR 14.6K
$1,197€1,065
-74.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$883MUR 41.6K
$2,862€2,545
-69.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$717MUR 33.8K
$1,990€1,770
-63.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,577€6,740
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,307€3,831
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Moka
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,066MUR 50.2K
$1,588€1,412
-32.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6
3.85
55.84%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Moka: October 11, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: October 11, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Moka
$309 33.8%
Lisbon
$1.2K 53.9% ↑ 287%$888
🛒Groceries & Markets
Moka
$270 * 29.5%
Lisbon
$269 12.1% ↓ 0.2%$0.6
🍽Eating Out
Moka
$148 16.2%
Lisbon
$242 10.9% ↑ 63.7%$94
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Moka
$130 14.2%
Lisbon
$166 7.5% ↑ 27.7%$36
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Moka
$33 3.6%
Lisbon
$66 3% ↑ 97.1%$32
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Moka
$25 * 2.7%
Lisbon
$219 9.9% ↑ 778%$194
🚌Getting Around
Moka
- * 0%
Lisbon
$63 2.8%
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Moka
$717 33.3%
Lisbon
$2K 46.1% ↑ 177%$1.3K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Moka
$619 * 28.8%
Lisbon
$642 14.9% ↑ 3.6%$23
🍽Eating Out
Moka
$431 20%
Lisbon
$798 18.5% ↑ 85.1%$367
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Moka
$290 13.5%
Lisbon
$370 8.6% ↑ 27.7%$80
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Moka
$67 * 3.1%
Lisbon
$151 3.5% ↑ 126%$84
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Moka
$29 * 1.4%
Lisbon
$238 5.5% ↑ 719%$209
🚌Getting Around
Moka
- * 0%
Lisbon
$131 3%
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $521 in Moka and $1,614 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 49% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $27.00 in Moka vs $61.0 in Lisbon. Groceries flip the comparison at $270 vs $269, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
Moka vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Moka and in Lisbon?
Moka and Lisbon differ by about 143% in total monthly costs ($916 vs $2,223 including rent). Moka is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 49% lower in Lisbon. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Moka and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $521 in Moka versus $1,614 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Moka or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $916 per month in Moka versus $2,223 in Lisbon – a 143% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $916 in Moka versus $2,223 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Moka but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Moka the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Moka 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 Moka or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Moka 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: Moka or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Moka gentler on the wallet – expenses run 143% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.