🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $763 in Oued Zem versus $2,268 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,250 in Oued Zem versus $3,348 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,737 in Oued Zem versus $4,429 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Oued Zem costs roughly 66% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Oued Zem is 45% below, Lisbon is 64% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oued Zem
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.19MAD 39.41
$17.55€15.12
-76.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.68MAD 429
$64.5€55.6
-29.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.52MAD 70.6
$11.65€10.04
-35.45%
Cappuccino
$2.01MAD 18.89
$3.26€2.81
-38.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65MAD 6.07
$2.49€2.15
-73.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36MAD 3.34
$1.67€1.44
-78.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.26MAD 49.40
$3.47€2.99
51.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24MAD 30.49
$3.58€3.08
-9.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oued Zem
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.92MAD 8.65
$1.18€1.02
-22.03%
White Bread(500g)
$0.66MAD 6.17
$1.95€1.68
-66.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.94MAD 18.22
$1.56€1.35
24.36%
Eggs
$2.00MAD 18.79
$4.01€3.46
-50.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.01MAD 113
$13.27€11.44
-9.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.66MAD 62.6
$8.42€7.26
-20.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.66MAD 119
$18.23€15.72
-30.55%
Apples(1kg)
$1.64MAD 15.40
$2.32€2.00
-29.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.47MAD 13.81
$1.73€1.49
-15.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.88MAD 8.28
$1.93€1.67
-54.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.93MAD 8.74
$2.64€2.27
-64.77%
Potato(1kg)
$0.76MAD 7.11
$1.90€1.64
-60.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.78MAD 7.30
$2.11€1.82
-63.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.41MAD 3.90
$1.44€1.24
-71.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61MAD 5.77
$0.80€0.69
-23.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25MAD 39.96
$7.01€6.04
-39.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.73MAD 72.6
$5.92€5.11
30.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.71MAD 25.46
$1.36€1.18
99.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80MAD 26.33
$2.15€1.85
30.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Oued Zem
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.55MAD 5.14
$2.38€2.05
-76.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.29MAD 181
$46.22€39.85
-58.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.74MAD 6.94
$4.19€3.61
-82.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.91MAD 8.54
$1.10€0.95
-17.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.42MAD 41.57
$17.26€14.88
-74.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.60MAD 15.00
$2.25€1.94
-28.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0KMAD 337.9K
$34.5K€29.7K
4.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.8KMAD 308.4K
$41.6K€35.9K
-21.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oued Zem
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$36.54MAD 343
$171€147
-78.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.49MAD 98.6
$19.01€16.38
-44.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.61MAD 316
$34.28€29.55
-1.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oued Zem
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.79MAD 252
$49.65€42.80
-46.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.97MAD 206
$19.51€16.81
12.61%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MAD 58.9
$10.10€8.71
-37.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oued Zem
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$190MAD 1,782
$699€603
-72.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,178MAD 67.5K
$17.8K€15.3K
-59.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oued Zem
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.7MAD 476
$105€90.2
-51.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.58MAD 428
$47.97€41.35
-4.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.3MAD 877
$102€87.8
-8.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.5MAD 663
$128€111
-45.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oued Zem
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$272MAD 2,558
$1,661€1,432
-83.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$172MAD 1,612
$1,228€1,059
-86.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$489MAD 4,591
$2,915€2,513
-83.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$271MAD 2,548
$2,023€1,744
-86.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,242MAD 11.7K
$8,129€7,007
-84.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$863MAD 8,114
$4,635€3,996
-81.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oued Zem
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$249MAD 2,343
$1,619€1,396
-84.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.52
3.78
19.58%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Oued Zem: September 7, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $272 in Oued Zem and $1,661 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 549% 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: $46.00 in Oued Zem vs $64.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $211 vs $281 per month, with Oued Zem 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
Oued Zem vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Oued Zem and in Lisbon?
Oued Zem and Lisbon differ by about 197% in total monthly costs ($763 vs $2,268 including rent). Oued Zem 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 549% 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 Oued Zem and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $272 in Oued Zem versus $1,661 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 Oued Zem and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $190 in Oued Zem versus $699 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 33% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $763 in Oued Zem versus $2,268 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Oued Zem but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Oued Zem the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Oued Zem 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 Oued Zem or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Oued Zem 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: Oued Zem or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Oued Zem gentler on the wallet – expenses run 197% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.