🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $666 in Monastir versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,064 in Monastir versus $3,311 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,463 in Monastir versus $4,411 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Monastir costs roughly 70% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Monastir is 50% below, Lisbon is 65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Monastir
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.82TND 11.06
$15.91€13.81
-75.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.36TND 67.7
$64.8€56.2
-63.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.05TND 14.65
$10.51€9.12
-51.95%
Cappuccino
$0.91TND 2.63
$2.87€2.49
-68.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74TND 2.14
$2.24€1.95
-66.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29TND 0.83
$1.50€1.30
-80.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68TND 4.87
$3.49€3.03
-51.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83TND 5.30
$3.88€3.37
-52.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Monastir
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.46TND 1.35
$1.14€0.99
-59.65%
White Bread(500g)
$0.14TND 0.41
$1.75€1.52
-92.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.78TND 5.17
$1.76€1.52
1.14%
Eggs
$1.53TND 4.44
$3.22€2.79
-52.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.14TND 35.20
$13.49€11.71
-10.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.09TND 17.65
$7.91€6.87
-23.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.85TND 40.15
$15.87€13.77
-12.73%
Apples(1kg)
$1.57TND 4.54
$2.31€2.00
-32.03%
Banana(1kg)
$3.11TND 9.00
$1.70€1.48
82.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.99TND 2.87
$2.01€1.74
-50.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.77TND 2.22
$2.46€2.13
-68.70%
Potato(1kg)
$0.75TND 2.17
$1.84€1.60
-59.24%
Onion(1kg)
$0.63TND 1.82
$2.00€1.74
-68.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.43TND 1.25
$1.93€1.67
-77.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31TND 0.91
$0.79€0.68
-60.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32TND 9.62
$6.61€5.73
-49.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.31TND 15.39
$5.72€4.97
-7.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21TND 3.49
$1.37€1.18
-11.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33TND 3.86
$2.97€2.58
-55.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Monastir
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36TND 1.04
$2.37€2.06
-84.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.31TND 32.77
$45.56€39.53
-75.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.32TND 0.93
$4.29€3.72
-92.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33TND 0.96
$0.82€0.71
-59.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.34TND 9.69
$18.30€15.88
-81.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.86TND 2.50
$2.06€1.79
-58.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.8KTND 118.2K
$34.3K€29.7K
18.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.0KTND 104.3K
$39.3K€34.1K
-8.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monastir
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$59.4TND 172
$148€128
-59.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.12TND 29.34
$20.52€17.80
-50.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.16TND 52.7
$39.61€34.37
-54.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Monastir
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.41TND 59.2
$47.85€41.51
-57.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.60TND 19.13
$18.92€16.42
-65.12%
Cinema Ticket
$5.55TND 16.09
$9.18€7.97
-39.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Monastir
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$104TND 302
$614€533
-83.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,195TND 9,260
$16.0K€13.9K
-80.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Monastir
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.58TND 129
$105€90.8
-57.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.7TND 176
$42.06€36.49
44.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114TND 330
$94.0€81.5
21.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.5TND 242
$120€104
-30.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Monastir
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$203TND 589
$1,628€1,412
-87.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$136TND 396
$1,255€1,089
-89.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$459TND 1,330
$3,030€2,629
-84.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$281TND 815
$2,020€1,753
-86.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,276TND 3,698
$7,800€6,767
-83.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$628TND 1,821
$4,273€3,707
-85.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Monastir
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$353TND 1,024
$1,603€1,391
-77.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11
3.81
188.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Monastir: June 2, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $203 in Monastir and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 354% 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: $23.00 in Monastir vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $269 per month, with Monastir 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
Monastir vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Monastir and Lisbon?
Monastir and Lisbon differ by about 232% in total monthly costs ($666 vs $2,210 including rent). Monastir is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Lisbon earns 354% less. 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 Monastir and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $203 in Monastir versus $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Monastir and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $104 in Monastir versus $614 in Lisbon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 42% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $666 in Monastir versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Monastir but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Monastir the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Monastir 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 Monastir or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Monastir 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: Monastir or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Monastir gentler on the wallet – expenses run 232% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.