Cost of Living Comparison Between Molo and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Molo and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $509 in Molo versus $2,280 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $843 in Molo versus $3,294 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,176 in Molo versus $4,307 in Lisbon.

Living in Molo costs roughly 78% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Molo is 62% below, Lisbon is 71% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Molo
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.51 KES 713
$15.75 €13.64
-65.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.20 KES 5,067
$63.5 €55.0
-38.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.87 KES 888
$10.45 €9.05
-34.26%
Cappuccino
$2.45 KES 316
$2.91 €2.52
-15.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 KES 92.7
$2.29 €1.98
-68.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 KES 69.5
$1.50 €1.30
-64.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.27 KES 294
$3.56 €3.09
-36.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 KES 370
$3.96 €3.43
-27.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Molo
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.92 KES 119
$1.08 €0.94
-14.81%
White Bread (500g)
$0.57 KES 73.8
$1.76 €1.53
-67.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.59 KES 206
$1.70 €1.47
-6.47%
Eggs
$1.68 KES 217
$3.25 €2.81
-48.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.53 KES 1,490
$13.25 €11.47
-12.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.85 KES 885
$7.70 €6.67
-11.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.46 KES 706
$15.77 €13.66
-65.38%
Apples (1kg)
$3.14 KES 406
$2.28 €1.97
37.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 KES 138
$1.66 €1.43
-35.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.14 KES 276
$2.02 €1.75
5.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.06 KES 137
$2.47 €2.14
-57.09%
Potato (1kg)
$1.03 KES 133
$1.79 €1.55
-42.46%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 KES 145
$2.07 €1.79
-45.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.65 KES 83.4
$1.97 €1.71
-67.01%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81 KES 105
$0.83 €0.72
-2.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.04 KES 393
$6.55 €5.68
-53.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.71 KES 1,514
$5.57 €4.82
110.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 KES 287
$1.33 €1.15
66.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 KES 346
$3.01 €2.60
-10.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Molo
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.27 €1.97
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$46.35 €40.14
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.50 KES 194
$4.23 €3.66
-64.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.51 KES 195
$0.85 €0.73
77.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.83 KES 366
$18.83 €16.31
-84.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.59 KES 206
$2.02 €1.75
-21.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.7K KES 2.8M
$35.0K €30.3K
-37.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.2K KES 2.6M
$39.6K €34.3K
-49.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Molo
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$34.40 KES 4,447
$148 €128
-76.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.11 KES 2,211
$20.52 €17.77
-16.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.29 KES 5,078
$39.52 €34.23
-0.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Molo
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$48.17 €41.72
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.39 €15.92
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.28 KES 812
$9.10 €7.88
-30.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Molo
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$202 KES 26.1K
$615 €532
-67.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,932 KES 1.0M
$16.3K €14.1K
-51.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Molo
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.28 KES 2,363
$102 €88.0
-82.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.43 KES 3,157
$42.09 €36.45
-41.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$66.2 KES 8,560
$92.3 €79.9
-28.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.0 KES 7,361
$122 €106
-53.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Molo
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,612 €1,396
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,254 €1,086
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$3,069 €2,658
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,037 €1,764
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,751 €6,712
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$4,286 €3,712
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Molo
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$390 KES 50.4K
$1,602 €1,387
-75.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
14.84
3.81
289.50%

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

Last update for Molo: July 27, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Lisbon pays 311% 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: $39.00 in Molo vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $207 vs $267 per month, with Molo 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
Molo vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Molo and in Lisbon?
Molo and Lisbon differ by about 348% in total monthly costs ($509 vs $2,280 including rent). Molo 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 311% 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.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 29% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Molo or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $509 per month in Molo versus $2,280 in Lisbon – a 348% 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 $509 in Molo versus $2,280 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Molo but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Molo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Molo 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 Molo or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Molo 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: Molo or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Molo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 348% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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