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: $614 in Sfax versus $2,210 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $998 in Sfax versus $3,311 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,382 in Sfax versus $4,411 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 54% below, Lisbon is 65% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sfax
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.32 TND 9.58
$15.91 €13.70
-79.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.66 TND 59.7
$64.8 €55.8
-68.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.42 TND 9.90
$10.51 €9.05
-67.46%
Cappuccino
$0.76 TND 2.18
$2.87 €2.47
-73.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 TND 1.86
$2.24 €1.93
-71.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 TND 0.72
$1.50 €1.29
-83.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.56 TND 4.51
$3.49 €3.01
-55.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 TND 5.47
$3.88 €3.34
-51.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sfax
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.54 TND 1.57
$1.14 €0.98
-52.63%
White Bread (500g)
$0.18 TND 0.52
$1.75 €1.51
-89.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 TND 4.47
$1.76 €1.51
-11.93%
Eggs
$1.66 TND 4.79
$3.22 €2.77
-48.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.33 TND 32.74
$13.49 €11.61
-16.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.62 TND 16.24
$7.91 €6.81
-28.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.48 TND 38.95
$15.87 €13.67
-15.06%
Apples (1kg)
$2.22 TND 6.41
$2.31 €1.99
-3.90%
Banana (1kg)
$2.97 TND 8.60
$1.70 €1.46
74.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.02 TND 2.93
$2.01 €1.73
-49.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.70 TND 2.02
$2.46 €2.12
-71.54%
Potato (1kg)
$0.80 TND 2.32
$1.84 €1.59
-56.52%
Onion (1kg)
$0.75 TND 2.18
$2.00 €1.72
-62.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.49 TND 1.41
$1.93 €1.66
-74.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31 TND 0.88
$0.79 €0.68
-60.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.48 TND 10.05
$6.61 €5.69
-47.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.69 TND 19.32
$5.72 €4.93
16.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 TND 3.20
$1.37 €1.18
-18.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 TND 3.19
$2.97 €2.56
-62.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Sfax
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.18 TND 0.53
$2.37 €2.04
-92.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.29 TND 29.74
$45.56 €39.22
-77.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.30 TND 0.86
$4.29 €3.69
-93.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 TND 0.88
$0.82 €0.70
-63.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.31 TND 21.13
$18.30 €15.76
-60.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 TND 2.41
$2.06 €1.78
-59.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K TND 101.4K
$34.3K €29.5K
2.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K TND 98.7K
$39.3K €33.8K
-13.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sfax
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.04 TND 133
$148 €127
-68.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.67 TND 27.96
$20.52 €17.67
-52.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.90 TND 43.05
$39.61 €34.10
-62.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sfax
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.11 TND 78.3
$47.85 €41.19
-43.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.31 TND 21.14
$18.92 €16.29
-61.36%
Cinema Ticket
$4.51 TND 13.03
$9.18 €7.91
-50.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sfax
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$106 TND 307
$614 €529
-82.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,494 TND 7,207
$16.0K €13.8K
-84.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sfax
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.42 TND 128
$105 €90.1
-57.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.53 TND 126
$42.06 €36.21
3.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 TND 289
$94.0 €80.9
6.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.8 TND 190
$120 €103
-45.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sfax
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$187 TND 542
$1,628 €1,401
-88.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$133 TND 384
$1,255 €1,081
-89.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$333 TND 962
$3,030 €2,609
-89.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$248 TND 718
$2,020 €1,739
-87.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,031 TND 2,980
$7,800 €6,715
-86.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$663 TND 1,915
$4,273 €3,678
-84.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sfax
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$322 TND 931
$1,603 €1,380
-79.90%
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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $187 in Sfax and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 398% 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 $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $269 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 260% in total monthly costs ($614 vs $2,210 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 398% 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: $187 in Sfax versus $1,628 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 $106 in Sfax versus $614 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 $614 in Sfax versus $2,210 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 260% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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