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: $628 in Sfax versus $2,258 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,005 in Sfax versus $3,328 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,382 in Sfax versus $4,397 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 68% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sfax
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.36TND 9.67
$15.82€13.46
-78.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.94TND 57.4
$64.4€54.8
-69.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.43TND 9.89
$10.37€8.82
-66.92%
Cappuccino
$0.72TND 2.07
$2.89€2.46
-75.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64TND 1.85
$2.23€1.90
-71.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23TND 0.66
$1.55€1.32
-85.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.50TND 4.31
$3.38€2.88
-55.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89TND 5.45
$3.90€3.32
-51.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sfax
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.54TND 1.54
$1.12€0.96
-51.79%
White Bread(500g)
$0.18TND 0.52
$1.80€1.53
-90.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.54TND 4.44
$1.75€1.49
-12.00%
Eggs
$1.58TND 4.56
$3.17€2.70
-50.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.44TND 32.94
$13.50€11.49
-15.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.77TND 16.62
$7.79€6.63
-25.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.43TND 38.68
$15.65€13.32
-14.19%
Apples(1kg)
$2.16TND 6.23
$2.28€1.94
-5.26%
Banana(1kg)
$2.98TND 8.58
$1.71€1.46
74.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.05TND 3.02
$1.93€1.65
-45.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.69TND 2.00
$2.52€2.15
-72.62%
Potato(1kg)
$0.74TND 2.13
$1.79€1.52
-58.66%
Onion(1kg)
$0.71TND 2.05
$2.05€1.74
-65.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.52TND 1.50
$1.94€1.65
-73.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33TND 0.96
$0.81€0.69
-59.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.50TND 10.09
$6.65€5.66
-47.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.86TND 19.76
$5.79€4.92
18.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10TND 3.17
$1.33€1.14
-17.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09TND 3.14
$2.91€2.47
-62.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Sfax
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18TND 0.53
$2.35€2.00
-92.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.00TND 28.80
$45.70€38.89
-78.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.30TND 0.85
$4.20€3.58
-92.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31TND 0.88
$0.81€0.69
-61.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.52TND 21.65
$18.70€15.91
-59.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.88TND 2.53
$2.09€1.78
-57.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.8KTND 103.0K
$34.6K€29.5K
3.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4KTND 99.1K
$39.7K€33.7K
-13.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sfax
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$45.20TND 130
$146€124
-69.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.57TND 27.55
$20.84€17.73
-54.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.11TND 43.50
$39.78€33.85
-62.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sfax
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.00TND 77.8
$48.58€41.35
-44.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.42TND 21.37
$18.85€16.04
-60.64%
Cinema Ticket
$4.64TND 13.36
$9.07€7.72
-48.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sfax
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$110TND 317
$618€526
-82.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,460TND 7,086
$16.2K€13.8K
-84.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sfax
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.58TND 131
$105€89.0
-56.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.60TND 128
$40.54€34.50
10.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101TND 290
$93.8€79.8
7.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.6TND 189
$123€104
-46.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sfax
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$188TND 542
$1,604€1,365
-88.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$133TND 384
$1,260€1,073
-89.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$336TND 968
$3,065€2,608
-89.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$251TND 722
$2,008€1,709
-87.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$995TND 2,867
$7,702€6,555
-87.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$669TND 1,927
$4,367€3,716
-84.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sfax
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$325TND 936
$1,638€1,394
-80.17%
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: April 12, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $188 in Sfax and $1,604 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 404% 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 in Sfax vs $64 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $191 vs $268 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 Lisbon?
Sfax and Lisbon differ by about 259% in total monthly costs ($628 vs $2,258 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, Lisbon earns 404% 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 Sfax and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $188 in Sfax versus $1,604 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 $618 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 41% 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 $628 in Sfax versus $2,258 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 259% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.