🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,057 in N'Djamena versus $2,291 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,452 in N'Djamena versus $3,322 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,847 in N'Djamena versus $4,354 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in N'Djamena costs roughly 54% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: N'Djamena is 21% below, Lisbon is 71% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
N'Djamena
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.78FCFA 5,042
$16.19€14.18
-45.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$63.3€55.5
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$10.32€9.04
-
Cappuccino
$0.91FCFA 522
$2.83€2.48
-67.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92FCFA 525
$2.29€2.01
-59.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90FCFA 514
$1.58€1.38
-43.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.33FCFA 766
$3.40€2.98
-60.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78FCFA 1,023
$4.03€3.53
-55.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
N'Djamena
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.79FCFA 2,175
$1.09€0.96
247.71%
White Bread(500g)
$0.34FCFA 194
$1.75€1.53
-80.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.60FCFA 2,065
$1.76€1.54
104.55%
Eggs
$2.16FCFA 1,239
$3.17€2.77
-31.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.60FCFA 2,069
$13.19€11.56
-72.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.97FCFA 4,000
$7.97€6.98
-12.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.63FCFA 2,086
$15.53€13.60
-76.63%
Apples(1kg)
$4.81FCFA 2,759
$2.37€2.07
102.95%
Banana(1kg)
$2.15FCFA 1,233
$1.71€1.49
25.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.66FCFA 1,528
$2.01€1.76
32.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.56FCFA 1,471
$2.43€2.13
5.35%
Potato(1kg)
$1.62FCFA 931
$1.76€1.54
-7.95%
Onion(1kg)
$1.66FCFA 955
$2.03€1.78
-18.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.54FCFA 312
$1.92€1.68
-71.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.10FCFA 1,208
$0.85€0.74
147.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$0.99FCFA 570
$6.58€5.76
-84.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.98FCFA 4,582
$5.58€4.89
43.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37FCFA 784
$1.33€1.17
3.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73FCFA 992
$2.97€2.60
-41.75%
🚌 Getting Around
N'Djamena
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.45FCFA 259
$2.28€1.99
-80.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$86.8FCFA 49.8K
$45.79€40.10
89.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.46FCFA 264
$4.23€3.70
-89.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.41FCFA 236
$0.81€0.71
-49.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.32FCFA 3,052
$18.44€16.15
-71.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.10FCFA 633
$2.08€1.82
-47.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.1KFCFA 7.0M
$34.7K€30.4K
-65.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$11.2KFCFA 6.4M
$39.2K€34.3K
-71.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
N'Djamena
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$148€130
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.26FCFA 15.1K
$20.46€17.92
28.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$440FCFA 252.5K
$39.56€34.64
1011.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
N'Djamena
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$47.99€42.03
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.60€16.29
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$9.22€8.08
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
N'Djamena
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$616€540
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$16.4K€14.4K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
N'Djamena
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.97FCFA 14.9K
$103€90.0
-74.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.32FCFA 20.3K
$41.74€36.55
-15.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$44.78FCFA 25.7K
$94.8€83.0
-52.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.7FCFA 50.9K
$122€107
-27.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
N'Djamena
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,479FCFA 849.4K
$1,633€1,430
-9.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$89.6FCFA 51.4K
$1,232€1,079
-92.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$261FCFA 149.7K
$3,098€2,713
-91.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$173FCFA 99.6K
$2,031€1,779
-91.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,831€6,858
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,389€3,844
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
N'Djamena
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$343FCFA 197.1K
$1,607€1,408
-78.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.5
3.81
-8.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for N'Djamena: July 14, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,479 in N'Djamena and $1,633 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 368% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
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
N'Djamena vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in N'Djamena and in Lisbon?
N'Djamena and Lisbon differ by about 117% in total monthly costs ($1,057 vs $2,291 including rent). N'Djamena 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 368% 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 N'Djamena and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,479 in N'Djamena versus $1,633 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in N'Djamena and in Lisbon?
A monthly transit pass in N'Djamena runs roughly 89% less than in Lisbon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more expensive overall: N'Djamena or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $1,057 per month in N'Djamena versus $2,291 in Lisbon – a 117% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is feasible on a $2,500 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. N'Djamena is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between N'Djamena 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 N'Djamena or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, N'Djamena 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: N'Djamena or Lisbon?
Expats usually find N'Djamena gentler on the wallet – expenses run 117% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
N'Djamena vs other spots: cost of living compared