πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,069 in Port Louis versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,712 in Port Louis versus $3,311 in Lisbon.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,356 in Port Louis versus $4,411 in Lisbon.
πLiving in Port Louis costs roughly 52% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Port Louis is 20% below, Lisbon is 65% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Port Louis
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.59MURΒ 312
$15.91β¬13.81
-58.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.79MURΒ 2,124
$64.8β¬56.2
-30.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.16MURΒ 339
$10.51β¬9.12
-31.87%
Cappuccino
$2.56MURΒ 121
$2.87β¬2.49
-10.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00MURΒ 47.52
$2.24β¬1.95
-55.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56MURΒ 26.47
$1.50β¬1.30
-62.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.25MURΒ 106
$3.49β¬3.03
-35.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24MURΒ 154
$3.88β¬3.37
-16.49%
π Groceries & Markets
Port Louis
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.63MURΒ 77.2
$1.14β¬0.99
42.98%
White Bread(500g)
$0.65MURΒ 30.72
$1.75β¬1.52
-62.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32MURΒ 62.6
$1.76β¬1.52
-25.00%
Eggs
$2.22MURΒ 105
$3.22β¬2.79
-31.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.98MURΒ 568
$13.49β¬11.71
-11.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.06MURΒ 287
$7.91β¬6.87
-23.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.85MURΒ 609
$15.87β¬13.77
-19.03%
Apples(1kg)
$2.03MURΒ 96.3
$2.31β¬2.00
-12.12%
Banana(1kg)
$2.00MURΒ 94.6
$1.70β¬1.48
17.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.44MURΒ 68.4
$2.01β¬1.74
-28.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.66MURΒ 126
$2.46β¬2.13
8.13%
Potato(1kg)
$1.02MURΒ 48.44
$1.84β¬1.60
-44.57%
Onion(1kg)
$1.01MURΒ 47.85
$2.00β¬1.74
-49.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.81MURΒ 38.24
$1.93β¬1.67
-58.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80MURΒ 37.98
$0.79β¬0.68
1.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.68MURΒ 317
$6.61β¬5.73
1.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.63MURΒ 409
$5.72β¬4.97
50.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80MURΒ 85.5
$1.37β¬1.18
31.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25MURΒ 107
$2.97β¬2.58
-24.24%
π Getting Around
Port Louis
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.03MURΒ 48.79
$2.37β¬2.06
-56.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.00MURΒ 1,043
$45.56β¬39.53
-51.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.37MURΒ 207
$4.29β¬3.72
1.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.74MURΒ 130
$0.82β¬0.71
234.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.46MURΒ 923
$18.30β¬15.88
6.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.44MURΒ 68.3
$2.06β¬1.79
-30.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.5KMURΒ 1.7M
$34.3Kβ¬29.7K
6.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.0KMURΒ 1.4M
$39.3Kβ¬34.1K
-26.13%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port Louis
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$48.79MURΒ 2,313
$148β¬128
-67.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.55MURΒ 879
$20.52β¬17.80
-9.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.17MURΒ 1,573
$39.61β¬34.37
-16.26%
π Sport & Entertainment
Port Louis
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.33MURΒ 1,153
$47.85β¬41.51
-49.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.09MURΒ 194
$18.92β¬16.42
-78.38%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92MURΒ 281
$9.18β¬7.97
-35.51%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Port Louis
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$152MURΒ 7,227
$614β¬533
-75.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,933MURΒ 186.5K
$16.0Kβ¬13.9K
-75.49%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Port Louis
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.3MURΒ 4,093
$105β¬90.8
-17.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$80.4MURΒ 3,810
$42.06β¬36.49
91.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$132MURΒ 6,247
$94.0β¬81.5
40.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.4MURΒ 4,569
$120β¬104
-19.47%
π Accommodation & Living
Port Louis
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$463MURΒ 21.9K
$1,628β¬1,412
-71.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$349MURΒ 16.5K
$1,255β¬1,089
-72.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$781MURΒ 37.0K
$3,030β¬2,629
-74.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$614MURΒ 29.1K
$2,020β¬1,753
-69.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,106MURΒ 194.7K
$7,800β¬6,767
-47.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,078MURΒ 51.1K
$4,273β¬3,707
-74.77%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Port Louis
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MURΒ 32.1K
$1,603β¬1,391
-57.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.67
3.81
75.07%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Port Louis: June 2, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $463 in Port Louis and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Lisbon pays 137% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $45.00 in Port Louis vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $269 per month, with Port Louis 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
Port Louis vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Port Louis and Lisbon?
Port Louis and Lisbon differ by about 107% in total monthly costs ($1,069 vs $2,210 including rent). Port Louis is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Lisbon earns 137% 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 Port Louis and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $463 in Port Louis versus $1,628 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 Port Louis and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $152 in Port Louis versus $614 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 16% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,069 in Port Louis versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Port Louis but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Port Louis the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Port Louis and Lisbon?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Port Louis or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Port Louis 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: Port Louis or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Port Louis gentler on the wallet β expenses run 107% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Port Louis vs other spots: cost of living compared