For one person, living is cheaper in Safi: $588 a month against $2,210 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $19,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Safi and in Lisbon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $588 in Safi versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
Safi $588
Lisbon $2,210
Estimated couple costs with rent: $904 in Safi versus $3,275 in Lisbon.
Safi $904
Lisbon $3,275
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,221 in Safi versus $4,341 in Lisbon.
Safi $1,221
Lisbon $4,341
🌍
Living in Safi costs roughly 73% less than in Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
The two cities straddle the global median: Safi is 57% below, Lisbon is 62% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Safi
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.13MAD 30.76
$16.65€14.91
-81.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.10MAD 178
$61.7€55.3
-70.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.06MAD 59.6
$11.36€10.17
-46.65%
Cappuccino
$1.49MAD 14.68
$2.97€2.66
-49.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46MAD 4.51
$2.29€2.05
-79.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34MAD 3.30
$1.74€1.56
-80.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.58MAD 15.49
$3.40€3.05
-53.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50MAD 14.77
$3.31€2.96
-54.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Safi
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.82MAD 8.08
$1.16€1.04
-29.31%
White Bread(500g)
$0.49MAD 4.84
$1.91€1.71
-74.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58MAD 15.54
$1.51€1.35
4.64%
Eggs
$1.66MAD 16.31
$4.02€3.60
-58.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.63MAD 65.2
$12.94€11.59
-48.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.71MAD 65.9
$7.77€6.96
-13.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.50MAD 83.6
$17.76€15.91
-52.14%
Apples(1kg)
$1.16MAD 11.43
$2.30€2.06
-49.57%
Banana(1kg)
$1.14MAD 11.24
$1.73€1.55
-34.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.76MAD 7.45
$1.86€1.66
-59.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.71MAD 6.96
$2.59€2.32
-72.59%
Potato(1kg)
$0.60MAD 5.86
$1.82€1.63
-67.03%
Onion(1kg)
$0.77MAD 7.61
$1.97€1.76
-60.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.39MAD 3.85
$1.47€1.32
-73.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61MAD 5.98
$0.72€0.65
-15.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.68MAD 36.14
$6.58€5.90
-44.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.57MAD 74.4
$5.61€5.02
34.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.90MAD 18.67
$1.36€1.22
39.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80MAD 17.71
$2.14€1.91
-15.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Safi
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.45MAD 4.41
$2.33€2.09
-80.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.21MAD 100
$44.68€40.01
-77.15%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.68MAD 6.64
$3.85€3.45
-82.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.49MAD 4.79
$1.07€0.96
-54.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.95MAD 58.5
$16.46€14.74
-63.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49MAD 14.63
$2.20€1.97
-32.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.8KMAD 302.4K
$34.2K€30.6K
-10.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5KMAD 319.4K
$38.7K€34.7K
-16.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Safi
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$35.26MAD 347
$161€144
-78.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.00MAD 98.3
$18.41€16.49
-45.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.24MAD 337
$32.74€29.32
4.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Safi
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.60MAD 183
$44.55€39.90
-58.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.14MAD 50.6
$19.10€17.10
-73.09%
Cinema Ticket
$3.58MAD 35.24
$9.60€8.60
-62.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Safi
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$96.0MAD 943
$668€598
-85.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,608MAD 35.5K
$17.6K€15.8K
-79.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Safi
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.78MAD 381
$102€91.4
-61.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.65MAD 321
$44.46€39.82
-26.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.6MAD 910
$98.5€88.2
-6.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.25MAD 347
$124€111
-71.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Safi
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$278MAD 2,734
$1,608€1,440
-82.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$138MAD 1,355
$1,190€1,066
-88.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$464MAD 4,557
$2,812€2,519
-83.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$234MAD 2,300
$2,013€1,803
-88.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$884MAD 8,687
$7,839€7,021
-88.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$551MAD 5,413
$4,576€4,098
-87.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Safi
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$445MAD 4,374
$1,575€1,411
-71.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.55
3.85
18.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Safi: October 24, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: October 27, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🛒Groceries & Markets
Safi
$165 28%
Lisbon
$272 12.3% ↑ 65.3%$108
🏠Accommodation & Living
Safi
$138 23.5%
Lisbon
$1.2K 53.8% ↑ 764%$1.1K
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Safi
$90 15.3%
Lisbon
$166 7.5% ↑ 85%$76
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Safi
$80 13.5%
Lisbon
$212 9.6% ↑ 167%$133
🍽Eating Out
Safi
$75 12.8%
Lisbon
$243 11% ↑ 223%$167
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Safi
$26 4.4%
Lisbon
$64 2.9% ↑ 147%$38
🚌Getting Around
Safi
$15 2.6%
Lisbon
$63 2.9% ↑ 318%$48
🛒Groceries & Markets
Safi
$374 30.6%
Lisbon
$649 15% ↑ 73.7%$276
🏠Accommodation & Living
Safi
$234 19.2%
Lisbon
$2K 46.4% ↑ 760%$1.8K
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Safi
$199 16.3%
Lisbon
$369 8.5% ↑ 85%$169
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Safi
$90 7.3%
Lisbon
$231 5.3% ↑ 158%$141
🍽Eating Out
Safi
$236 19.4%
Lisbon
$801 18.5% ↑ 239%$565
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Safi
$57 4.6%
Lisbon
$147 3.4% ↑ 159%$90
🚌Getting Around
Safi
$31 2.6%
Lisbon
$131 3% ↑ 321%$100
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $278 in Safi and $1,608 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays about 3.5 times 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: $18 in Safi vs $62 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $165 vs $272 per month, with Safi cheaper across the board.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
Safi vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Safi and in Lisbon?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $588 in Safi and $2,210 in Lisbon, so Safi is about 73% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 72% lower in Safi. 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 Safi and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $278 in Safi versus $1,608 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 Safi and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $96 in Safi versus $668 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 65% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,200 per month?
At $588 in Safi versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,200 budget is realistic in Safi but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Safi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Safi 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 Safi or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Safi and Lisbon are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Where should expats move: Safi or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Safi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 73% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.