🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $663 in Monastir versus $2,243 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,070 in Monastir versus $3,315 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,476 in Monastir versus $4,387 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 51% below, Lisbon is 67% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Monastir
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.92TND 11.28
$15.73€13.42
-75.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.48TND 67.6
$63.2€53.9
-62.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.13TND 14.78
$10.32€8.80
-50.29%
Cappuccino
$0.91TND 2.62
$2.81€2.40
-67.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69TND 2.00
$2.33€1.99
-70.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31TND 0.90
$1.51€1.29
-79.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.73TND 4.97
$3.37€2.87
-48.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83TND 5.28
$3.91€3.34
-53.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Monastir
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.49TND 1.42
$1.08€0.92
-54.63%
White Bread(500g)
$0.15TND 0.44
$1.75€1.49
-91.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.78TND 5.11
$1.75€1.50
1.71%
Eggs
$1.48TND 4.27
$3.10€2.64
-52.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.90TND 34.29
$13.28€11.33
-10.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84TND 16.81
$7.85€6.70
-25.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.88TND 39.98
$16.05€13.69
-13.52%
Apples(1kg)
$1.53TND 4.40
$2.39€2.04
-35.98%
Banana(1kg)
$3.05TND 8.79
$1.72€1.47
77.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.00TND 2.87
$1.97€1.68
-49.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.71TND 2.03
$2.55€2.17
-72.16%
Potato(1kg)
$0.76TND 2.19
$1.79€1.53
-57.54%
Onion(1kg)
$0.58TND 1.67
$1.97€1.68
-70.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.47TND 1.35
$1.96€1.67
-76.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.29TND 0.82
$0.84€0.71
-65.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.31TND 9.52
$6.82€5.82
-51.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.26TND 15.14
$5.85€4.99
-10.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19TND 3.44
$1.38€1.18
-13.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33TND 3.83
$2.92€2.49
-54.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Monastir
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39TND 1.12
$2.29€1.95
-82.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.34TND 32.66
$46.88€39.99
-75.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.32TND 0.93
$4.12€3.51
-92.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31TND 0.89
$0.81€0.69
-61.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.34TND 9.63
$18.94€16.16
-82.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81TND 2.35
$2.09€1.78
-61.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.3KTND 118.8K
$35.1K€30.0K
17.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.9KTND 103.3K
$39.7K€33.9K
-9.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monastir
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$58.0TND 167
$150€128
-61.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.35TND 29.81
$20.49€17.48
-49.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.65TND 53.7
$39.15€33.40
-52.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Monastir
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.73TND 59.7
$49.65€42.35
-58.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.69TND 19.26
$18.47€15.76
-63.78%
Cinema Ticket
$5.30TND 15.25
$9.20€7.84
-42.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Monastir
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$105TND 303
$624€533
-83.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,223TND 9,283
$15.9K€13.6K
-79.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Monastir
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.22TND 130
$102€87.2
-55.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.9TND 176
$40.88€34.87
49.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113TND 325
$95.7€81.6
18.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.2TND 239
$121€103
-31.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Monastir
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$204TND 587
$1,653€1,410
-87.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$137TND 395
$1,233€1,051
-88.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477TND 1,374
$3,043€2,596
-84.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$274TND 788
$2,059€1,756
-86.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,284TND 3,699
$7,879€6,720
-83.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$648TND 1,865
$4,303€3,671
-84.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Monastir
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$364TND 1,050
$1,566€1,336
-76.73%
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: April 21, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $204 in Monastir and $1,653 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 330% 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 in Monastir vs $63 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $187 vs $270 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 238% in total monthly costs ($663 vs $2,243 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 330% 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: $204 in Monastir versus $1,653 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 $105 in Monastir versus $624 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 44% 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 $663 in Monastir versus $2,243 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 238% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.