Cost of Living Comparison Between Oued Zem and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Oued Zem and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $783 in Oued Zem versus $2,263 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,295 in Oued Zem versus $3,315 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,808 in Oued Zem versus $4,368 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 42% below, Lisbon is 68% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oued Zem
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63 MAD 42.81
$15.94 €13.73
-70.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.13 MAD 454
$63.4 €54.6
-22.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.81 MAD 63.0
$10.38 €8.95
-34.39%
Cappuccino
$2.04 MAD 18.87
$2.79 €2.40
-26.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 MAD 5.35
$2.34 €2.01
-75.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41 MAD 3.77
$1.57 €1.35
-73.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.38 MAD 49.78
$3.43 €2.95
56.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.05 MAD 37.46
$3.91 €3.37
3.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oued Zem
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.89 MAD 8.21
$1.08 €0.93
-17.59%
White Bread (500g)
$0.50 MAD 4.65
$1.77 €1.52
-71.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.87 MAD 17.30
$1.71 €1.47
9.36%
Eggs
$2.02 MAD 18.73
$3.15 €2.71
-35.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.04 MAD 121
$13.68 €11.79
-4.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.95 MAD 64.3
$8.01 €6.90
-13.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.61 MAD 107
$15.52 €13.37
-25.19%
Apples (1kg)
$1.60 MAD 14.78
$2.29 €1.98
-30.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 MAD 12.89
$1.64 €1.41
-15.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.78 MAD 7.23
$1.94 €1.67
-59.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.86 MAD 7.96
$2.51 €2.17
-65.74%
Potato (1kg)
$0.72 MAD 6.70
$1.79 €1.54
-59.78%
Onion (1kg)
$0.69 MAD 6.39
$2.01 €1.73
-65.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.39 MAD 3.65
$1.97 €1.69
-80.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 MAD 5.38
$0.84 €0.73
-30.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.40 MAD 40.70
$6.79 €5.85
-35.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.73 MAD 71.5
$5.67 €4.89
36.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74 MAD 25.34
$1.39 €1.20
97.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43 MAD 22.48
$3.02 €2.60
-19.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Oued Zem
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.47 MAD 4.38
$2.27 €1.95
-79.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.59 MAD 153
$45.44 €39.15
-63.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.56 MAD 5.22
$4.29 €3.70
-86.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.88 MAD 8.11
$0.85 €0.73
3.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.33 MAD 40.08
$18.28 €15.75
-76.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 MAD 14.16
$1.99 €1.71
-23.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.5K MAD 338.0K
$35.0K €30.2K
4.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.0K MAD 268.1K
$39.5K €34.1K
-26.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oued Zem
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.67 MAD 385
$146 €126
-71.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.86 MAD 100
$20.45 €17.62
-46.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.64 MAD 367
$38.98 €33.58
1.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oued Zem
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.97 MAD 222
$48.98 €42.21
-51.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.10 MAD 214
$18.83 €16.22
22.68%
Cinema Ticket
$6.76 MAD 62.5
$9.52 €8.21
-28.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oued Zem
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$160 MAD 1,480
$608 €524
-73.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,473 MAD 59.9K
$16.5K €14.2K
-60.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oued Zem
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 MAD 494
$104 €89.5
-48.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.87 MAD 443
$42.12 €36.29
13.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 MAD 979
$92.2 €79.5
14.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 MAD 931
$120 €103
-16.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oued Zem
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$279 MAD 2,584
$1,621 €1,397
-82.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$176 MAD 1,632
$1,268 €1,092
-86.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$509 MAD 4,707
$3,048 €2,626
-83.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$307 MAD 2,841
$2,009 €1,731
-84.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,380 MAD 12.8K
$7,663 €6,602
-82.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,050 MAD 9,710
$4,329 €3,730
-75.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oued Zem
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$246 MAD 2,274
$1,585 €1,366
-84.49%
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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $279 in Oued Zem and $1,621 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 545% 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: $49.00 in Oued Zem vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $208 vs $269 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 Lisbon?
Oued Zem and Lisbon differ by about 189% in total monthly costs ($783 vs $2,263 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, Lisbon earns 545% 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 Oued Zem and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $279 in Oued Zem versus $1,621 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 $608 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 29% 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 $783 in Oued Zem versus $2,263 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 189% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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