🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $790 in Oued Zem versus $2,280 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,321 in Oued Zem versus $3,294 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,851 in Oued Zem versus $4,307 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Oued Zem costs roughly 65% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Oued Zem is 41% below, Lisbon is 71% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oued Zem
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.73MAD 44.34
$15.75€13.74
-69.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.2MAD 471
$63.5€55.3
-20.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.53MAD 61.3
$10.45€9.11
-37.51%
Cappuccino
$2.04MAD 19.17
$2.91€2.54
-29.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63MAD 5.90
$2.29€2.00
-72.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37MAD 3.48
$1.50€1.31
-75.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.62MAD 52.7
$3.56€3.11
57.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.06MAD 38.05
$3.96€3.46
2.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oued Zem
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.82MAD 7.66
$1.08€0.94
-24.07%
White Bread(500g)
$0.47MAD 4.42
$1.76€1.54
-73.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.96MAD 18.42
$1.70€1.48
15.29%
Eggs
$1.93MAD 18.13
$3.25€2.83
-40.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.18MAD 124
$13.25€11.55
-0.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.90MAD 64.7
$7.70€6.72
-10.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.99MAD 113
$15.77€13.75
-23.97%
Apples(1kg)
$1.58MAD 14.87
$2.28€1.99
-30.70%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MAD 13.51
$1.66€1.44
-13.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.82MAD 7.65
$2.02€1.76
-59.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.86MAD 8.08
$2.47€2.16
-65.18%
Potato(1kg)
$0.67MAD 6.29
$1.79€1.56
-62.57%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67MAD 6.27
$2.07€1.80
-67.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.42MAD 3.96
$1.97€1.72
-78.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60MAD 5.60
$0.83€0.73
-27.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44MAD 41.71
$6.55€5.71
-32.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.70MAD 72.3
$5.57€4.85
38.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.62MAD 24.60
$1.33€1.16
96.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55MAD 23.94
$3.01€2.62
-15.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Oued Zem
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.50MAD 4.72
$2.27€1.98
-77.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.19MAD 152
$46.35€40.41
-65.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.53MAD 4.99
$4.23€3.69
-87.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.89MAD 8.32
$0.85€0.74
4.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.50MAD 42.22
$18.83€16.41
-76.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.58MAD 14.79
$2.02€1.76
-21.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.0KMAD 347.0K
$35.0K€30.5K
5.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.2KMAD 273.8K
$39.6K€34.6K
-26.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oued Zem
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.97MAD 384
$148€129
-72.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.09MAD 104
$20.52€17.89
-45.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.78MAD 373
$39.52€34.46
0.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oued Zem
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.64MAD 231
$48.17€42.00
-48.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.14MAD 217
$18.39€16.03
25.83%
Cinema Ticket
$6.56MAD 61.6
$9.10€7.93
-27.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oued Zem
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$160MAD 1,505
$615€536
-73.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,381MAD 59.9K
$16.3K€14.2K
-60.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oued Zem
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.1MAD 498
$102€88.6
-47.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.44MAD 445
$42.09€36.69
12.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107MAD 1,005
$92.3€80.5
15.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.8MAD 927
$122€106
-19.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oued Zem
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$286MAD 2,684
$1,612€1,405
-82.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$176MAD 1,655
$1,254€1,093
-85.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$514MAD 4,819
$3,069€2,676
-83.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$310MAD 2,910
$2,037€1,776
-84.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,165MAD 10.9K
$7,751€6,757
-84.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$932MAD 8,745
$4,286€3,737
-78.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oued Zem
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$246MAD 2,311
$1,602€1,396
-84.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.81
3.81
26.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Oued Zem: July 26, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $286 in Oued Zem and $1,612 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 550% 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: $50.0 in Oued Zem vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $208 vs $267 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 188% in total monthly costs ($790 vs $2,280 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 550% 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: $286 in Oued Zem versus $1,612 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 $160 in Oued Zem versus $615 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 28% 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 $790 in Oued Zem versus $2,280 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 188% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.