Cost of Living Comparison Between Side and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Side and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,076 in Side versus $2,243 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,642 in Side versus $3,315 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,208 in Side versus $4,387 in Lisbon.

Living in Side costs roughly 52% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Side is 20% below, Lisbon is 67% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Side
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.79 β‚Ί350
$15.73 €13.42
-50.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.29 β‚Ί1,047
$63.2 €53.9
-63.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.18 β‚Ί278
$10.32 €8.80
-40.12%
Cappuccino
$2.64 β‚Ί119
$2.81 €2.40
-6.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 β‚Ί78.0
$2.33 €1.99
-25.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 β‚Ί21.24
$1.51 €1.29
-68.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.14 β‚Ί141
$3.37 €2.87
-6.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.10 β‚Ί184
$3.91 €3.34
4.86%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Side
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.84 β‚Ί37.96
$1.08 €0.92
-22.22%
White Bread (500g)
$0.98 β‚Ί44.13
$1.75 €1.49
-44.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.88 β‚Ί39.38
$1.75 €1.50
-49.71%
Eggs
$1.77 β‚Ί79.5
$3.10 €2.64
-42.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.38 β‚Ί377
$13.28 €11.33
-36.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.33 β‚Ί240
$7.85 €6.70
-32.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.31 β‚Ί733
$16.05 €13.69
1.62%
Apples (1kg)
$1.01 β‚Ί45.32
$2.39 €2.04
-57.74%
Banana (1kg)
$2.09 β‚Ί93.9
$1.72 €1.47
21.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.73 β‚Ί32.71
$1.97 €1.68
-62.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.11 β‚Ί49.76
$2.55 €2.17
-56.47%
Potato (1kg)
$0.56 β‚Ί24.97
$1.79 €1.53
-68.72%
Onion (1kg)
$0.45 β‚Ί20.33
$1.97 €1.68
-77.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.27 β‚Ί56.9
$1.96 €1.67
-35.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.34 β‚Ί15.30
$0.84 €0.71
-59.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.05 β‚Ί92.0
$6.82 €5.82
-69.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.72 β‚Ί392
$5.85 €4.99
49.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 β‚Ί76.6
$1.38 €1.18
23.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 β‚Ί95.3
$2.92 €2.49
-27.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Side
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.63 β‚Ί28.09
$2.29 €1.95
-72.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.68 β‚Ί1,379
$46.88 €39.99
-34.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.08 β‚Ί48.74
$4.12 €3.51
-73.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.61 β‚Ί27.31
$0.81 €0.69
-24.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.65 β‚Ί344
$18.94 €16.16
-59.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 β‚Ί52.0
$2.09 €1.78
-44.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.1K β‚Ί1.8M
$35.1K €30.0K
14.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.7K β‚Ί1.9M
$39.7K €33.9K
7.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Side
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$48.43 β‚Ί2,177
$150 €128
-67.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.03 β‚Ί361
$20.49 €17.48
-60.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.49 β‚Ί292
$39.15 €33.40
-83.42%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Side
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.64 β‚Ί1,917
$49.65 €42.35
-14.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.47 €15.76
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.47 β‚Ί291
$9.20 €7.84
-29.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Side
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$619 β‚Ί27.8K
$624 €533
-0.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,974 β‚Ί403.4K
$15.9K €13.6K
-43.58%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Side
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.2 β‚Ί3,379
$102 €87.2
-26.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.66 β‚Ί2,053
$40.88 €34.87
11.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$163 β‚Ί7,318
$95.7 €81.6
70.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 β‚Ί5,025
$121 €103
-7.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Side
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$513 β‚Ί23.0K
$1,653 €1,410
-68.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$395 β‚Ί17.8K
$1,233 €1,051
-67.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$889 β‚Ί40.0K
$3,043 €2,596
-70.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$702 β‚Ί31.6K
$2,059 €1,756
-65.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,382 β‚Ί62.1K
$7,879 €6,720
-82.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,010 β‚Ί45.4K
$4,303 €3,671
-76.52%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Side
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,566 €1,336
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20
3.81
424.93%

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

Last update for Side: April 20, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $513 in Side and $1,653 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $23 in Side vs $63 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $198 vs $270 per month, with Side 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
Side vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Side and Lisbon?
Side and Lisbon differ by about 108% in total monthly costs ($1,076 vs $2,243 including rent). Side is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Side compared to Lisbon?
You'd need roughly $1,614 in Side and $3,365 in Lisbon to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Side and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $513 in Side versus $1,653 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 Side and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $619 in Side versus $624 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 36% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,076 in Side versus $2,243 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Side but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Side the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Side 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 Side or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Side 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: Side or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Side gentler on the wallet – expenses run 108% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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