Cost of Living Comparison Between Sfax and LisbonCost of Living Comparison Between Sfax and Lisbon
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $649 in Sfax versus $2,316 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,001 in Sfax versus $3,361 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,353 in Sfax versus $4,405 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Sfax costs roughly 72% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Sfax is 53% below, Lisbon is 69% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sfax
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.43TND 9.92
$17.30€14.87
-80.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.68TND 59.8
$63.3€54.4
-67.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.04TND 14.57
$11.39€9.79
-55.75%
Cappuccino
$0.76TND 2.21
$3.19€2.74
-76.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60TND 1.74
$2.45€2.10
-75.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27TND 0.79
$1.76€1.52
-84.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.57TND 4.55
$3.59€3.09
-56.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10TND 6.08
$3.39€2.92
-38.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sfax
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.51TND 1.48
$1.24€1.06
-58.87%
White Bread(500g)
$0.23TND 0.66
$1.98€1.71
-88.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39TND 4.02
$1.52€1.31
-8.55%
Eggs
$1.67TND 4.82
$4.04€3.47
-58.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.84TND 37.12
$13.54€11.64
-5.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.69TND 16.45
$8.39€7.21
-32.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.27TND 41.28
$18.25€15.69
-21.81%
Apples(1kg)
$1.79TND 5.17
$2.29€1.97
-21.83%
Banana(1kg)
$3.24TND 9.36
$1.74€1.50
86.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.08TND 3.12
$1.86€1.60
-41.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.74TND 2.14
$2.63€2.26
-71.86%
Potato(1kg)
$0.76TND 2.21
$1.92€1.65
-60.42%
Onion(1kg)
$0.78TND 2.25
$2.09€1.80
-62.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.59TND 1.71
$1.44€1.24
-59.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33TND 0.94
$0.84€0.72
-60.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96TND 11.47
$6.78€5.83
-41.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.64TND 19.20
$5.71€4.91
16.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15TND 3.31
$1.38€1.18
-16.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11TND 3.21
$2.22€1.91
-50.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Sfax
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.17TND 0.50
$2.40€2.06
-92.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.28TND 29.72
$46.78€40.22
-78.02%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.31TND 0.89
$4.17€3.59
-92.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35TND 1.02
$1.14€0.98
-69.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.73TND 22.36
$17.68€15.20
-56.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.90TND 2.59
$2.32€2.00
-61.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.1KTND 107.3K
$35.3K€30.4K
5.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.3KTND 102.0K
$41.4K€35.6K
-14.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sfax
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$46.02TND 133
$170€146
-72.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.74TND 28.16
$19.34€16.62
-49.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.80TND 42.80
$33.64€28.92
-56.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sfax
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$28.02TND 81.1
$48.10€41.35
-41.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.20TND 20.83
$19.90€17.11
-63.82%
Cinema Ticket
$4.59TND 13.28
$9.92€8.53
-53.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sfax
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$99.7TND 288
$717€617
-86.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,463TND 7,124
$17.5K€15.0K
-85.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sfax
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.92TND 124
$105€90.1
-59.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.95TND 107
$46.95€40.36
-21.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116TND 336
$103€88.9
12.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.6TND 195
$124€107
-45.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sfax
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$194TND 562
$1,677€1,441
-88.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$140TND 406
$1,271€1,093
-88.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$339TND 982
$2,985€2,566
-88.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$217TND 626
$1,992€1,713
-89.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,037TND 2,998
$7,826€6,728
-86.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$746TND 2,159
$4,658€4,004
-83.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sfax
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$332TND 960
$1,583€1,361
-79.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.6
3.79
258.84%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sfax: August 31, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $194 in Sfax and $1,677 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 377% 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: $21.00 in Sfax vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $197 vs $283 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 257% in total monthly costs ($649 vs $2,316 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 377% 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: $194 in Sfax versus $1,677 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 $99.7 in Sfax versus $717 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 43% 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 $649 in Sfax versus $2,316 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 257% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.