๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,152 in Rueil-Malmaison versus $2,243 in Lisbon.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,927 in Rueil-Malmaison versus $3,315 in Lisbon.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,703 in Rueil-Malmaison versus $4,387 in Lisbon.
๐Living in Rueil-Malmaison costs roughly 4% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Rueil-Malmaison61% above, Lisbon67% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Rueil-Malmaison
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.06โฌ17.11
$15.73โฌ13.42
27.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.15โฌ41.07
$63.2โฌ53.9
-23.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.69โฌ9.97
$10.32โฌ8.80
13.28%
Cappuccino
$3.36โฌ2.87
$2.81โฌ2.40
19.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72โฌ2.32
$2.33โฌ1.99
16.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80โฌ1.53
$1.51โฌ1.29
19.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.82โฌ5.82
$3.37โฌ2.87
102.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.92โฌ5.05
$3.91โฌ3.34
51.41%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Rueil-Malmaison
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.26โฌ1.07
$1.08โฌ0.92
16.67%
White Bread(500g)
$1.79โฌ1.53
$1.75โฌ1.49
2.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.63โฌ2.25
$1.75โฌ1.50
50.29%
Eggs
$4.08โฌ3.48
$3.10โฌ2.64
31.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.29โฌ16.46
$13.28โฌ11.33
45.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.50โฌ11.52
$7.85โฌ6.70
71.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.88โฌ17.81
$16.05โฌ13.69
30.09%
Apples(1kg)
$3.02โฌ2.57
$2.39โฌ2.04
26.36%
Banana(1kg)
$2.21โฌ1.88
$1.72โฌ1.47
28.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.67โฌ2.28
$1.97โฌ1.68
35.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.62โฌ3.09
$2.55โฌ2.17
41.96%
Potato(1kg)
$2.17โฌ1.86
$1.79โฌ1.53
21.23%
Onion(1kg)
$2.59โฌ2.21
$1.97โฌ1.68
31.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.52โฌ1.30
$1.96โฌ1.67
-22.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66โฌ0.56
$0.84โฌ0.71
-21.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.65โฌ11.64
$6.82โฌ5.82
100.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.62โฌ6.50
$5.85โฌ4.99
30.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.62โฌ2.23
$1.38โฌ1.18
89.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34โฌ2.85
$2.92โฌ2.49
14.38%
๐ Getting Around
Rueil-Malmaison
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.92โฌ1.64
$2.29โฌ1.95
-16.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$49.81โฌ42.49
$46.88โฌ39.99
6.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.58โฌ3.91
$4.12โฌ3.51
11.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.67โฌ1.42
$0.81โฌ0.69
106.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$36.33โฌ30.99
$18.94โฌ16.16
91.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06โฌ1.76
$2.09โฌ1.78
-1.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.3Kโฌ31.8K
$35.1Kโฌ30.0K
6.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.9Kโฌ32.3K
$39.7Kโฌ33.9K
-4.60%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rueil-Malmaison
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$197โฌ168
$150โฌ128
31.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.32โฌ19.89
$20.49โฌ17.48
13.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.59โฌ27.80
$39.15โฌ33.40
-16.76%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Rueil-Malmaison
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.11โฌ31.65
$49.65โฌ42.35
-25.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.26โฌ15.57
$18.47โฌ15.76
-1.14%
Cinema Ticket
$14.17โฌ12.08
$9.20โฌ7.84
54.02%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Rueil-Malmaison
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$771โฌ658
$624โฌ533
23.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,603โฌ7,339
$15.9Kโฌ13.6K
-45.91%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Rueil-Malmaison
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104โฌ88.7
$102โฌ87.2
1.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.30โฌ33.53
$40.88โฌ34.87
-3.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.3โฌ76.2
$95.7โฌ81.6
-6.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140โฌ120
$121โฌ103
16.00%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Rueil-Malmaison
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,075โฌ917
$1,653โฌ1,410
-34.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$898โฌ766
$1,233โฌ1,051
-27.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,377โฌ1,175
$3,043โฌ2,596
-54.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,105โฌ942
$2,059โฌ1,756
-46.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,917โฌ5,900
$7,879โฌ6,720
-12.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,070โฌ2,618
$4,303โฌ3,671
-28.67%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Rueil-Malmaison
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,358โฌ2,865
$1,566โฌ1,336
114.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.63
3.81
-4.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rueil-Malmaison: April 20, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,075 in Rueil-Malmaison and $1,653 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐRueil-Malmaison pays 114% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
๐Dining out: $48 in Rueil-Malmaison vs $63 in Lisbon. Groceries flip the comparison at $363 vs $270, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.
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
Rueil-Malmaison vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Rueil-Malmaison and Lisbon?
Rueil-Malmaison and Lisbon differ by about 4% in total monthly costs ($2,152 vs $2,243 including rent). Rueil-Malmaison is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Rueil-Malmaison or Lisbon?
Rueil-Malmaison pays 114% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Rueil-Malmaison and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,075 in Rueil-Malmaison versus $1,653 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 Rueil-Malmaison and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $771 in Rueil-Malmaison versus $624 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?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 35% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $2,152 in Rueil-Malmaison versus $2,243 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Rueil-Malmaison but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Rueil-Malmaison the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Rueil-Malmaison and Lisbon?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Rueil-Malmaison or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Rueil-Malmaison 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: Rueil-Malmaison or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Rueil-Malmaison gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 4% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Rueil-Malmaison vs other spots: cost of living compared