Cost of Living Comparison Between Sfax and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Sfax and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $607 in Sfax versus $2,291 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $984 in Sfax versus $3,322 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,360 in Sfax versus $4,354 in Lisbon.

Living in Sfax costs roughly 74% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Sfax is 55% below, Lisbon is 71% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sfax
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.37 TND 9.54
$16.19 €14.17
-79.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.38 TND 57.8
$63.3 €55.4
-67.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.30 TND 9.36
$10.32 €9.03
-68.02%
Cappuccino
$0.78 TND 2.20
$2.83 €2.48
-72.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 TND 1.83
$2.29 €2.00
-72.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 TND 0.71
$1.58 €1.38
-84.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.56 TND 4.41
$3.40 €2.98
-54.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 TND 5.43
$4.03 €3.52
-52.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sfax
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.53 TND 1.51
$1.09 €0.95
-51.38%
White Bread (500g)
$0.16 TND 0.44
$1.75 €1.53
-90.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 TND 4.24
$1.76 €1.54
-14.77%
Eggs
$1.58 TND 4.49
$3.17 €2.77
-50.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.15 TND 31.59
$13.19 €11.54
-15.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.76 TND 16.31
$7.97 €6.97
-27.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.29 TND 37.65
$15.53 €13.59
-14.42%
Apples (1kg)
$2.23 TND 6.32
$2.37 €2.07
-5.91%
Banana (1kg)
$2.95 TND 8.37
$1.71 €1.49
72.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.05 TND 2.98
$2.01 €1.76
-47.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.69 TND 1.97
$2.43 €2.13
-71.60%
Potato (1kg)
$0.80 TND 2.27
$1.76 €1.54
-54.55%
Onion (1kg)
$0.77 TND 2.18
$2.03 €1.78
-62.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.51 TND 1.45
$1.92 €1.68
-73.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31 TND 0.87
$0.85 €0.74
-63.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.60 TND 10.21
$6.58 €5.76
-45.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.65 TND 18.85
$5.58 €4.88
19.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10 TND 3.12
$1.33 €1.17
-17.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 TND 2.98
$2.97 €2.60
-64.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Sfax
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.21 TND 0.59
$2.28 €1.99
-90.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.10 TND 28.63
$45.79 €40.06
-77.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.32 TND 0.92
$4.23 €3.70
-92.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 TND 0.94
$0.81 €0.71
-59.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.59 TND 21.51
$18.44 €16.13
-58.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 TND 2.32
$2.08 €1.82
-60.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.3K TND 102.8K
$34.7K €30.3K
4.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0K TND 99.3K
$39.2K €34.3K
-10.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sfax
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$45.93 TND 130
$148 €130
-68.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.42 TND 26.70
$20.46 €17.90
-53.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.56 TND 41.26
$39.56 €34.61
-63.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sfax
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.04 TND 76.6
$47.99 €41.99
-43.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.49 TND 21.23
$18.60 €16.27
-59.73%
Cinema Ticket
$4.67 TND 13.25
$9.22 €8.07
-49.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sfax
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$110 TND 312
$616 €539
-82.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,482 TND 7,032
$16.4K €14.4K
-84.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sfax
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.06 TND 125
$103 €89.9
-57.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.10 TND 125
$41.74 €36.52
5.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 TND 287
$94.8 €82.9
7.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.1 TND 184
$122 €107
-46.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sfax
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$187 TND 529
$1,633 €1,428
-88.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$134 TND 378
$1,232 €1,078
-89.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$336 TND 953
$3,098 €2,711
-89.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$249 TND 706
$2,031 €1,777
-87.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,017 TND 2,883
$7,831 €6,851
-87.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$647 TND 1,833
$4,389 €3,840
-85.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sfax
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$327 TND 927
$1,607 €1,406
-79.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.6
3.81
256.96%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Sfax: July 14, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $187 in Sfax and $1,633 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 391% 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: $20.00 in Sfax vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $267 per month, with Sfax 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
Sfax vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Sfax and in Lisbon?
Sfax and Lisbon differ by about 277% in total monthly costs ($607 vs $2,291 including rent). Sfax 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 391% 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 Sfax and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $187 in Sfax versus $1,633 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 Sfax and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $110 in Sfax versus $616 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 42% 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 $607 in Sfax versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sfax but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Sfax the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Sfax 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 Sfax or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Sfax 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: Sfax or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Sfax gentler on the wallet – expenses run 277% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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