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: $1,074 in Side versus $2,263 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,658 in Side versus $3,315 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,242 in Side versus $4,368 in Lisbon.

Living in Side costs roughly 53% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Side is 20% below, Lisbon is 68% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Side
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.82 β‚Ί361
$15.94 €13.82
-50.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.27 β‚Ί1,073
$63.4 €54.9
-63.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.17 β‚Ί284
$10.38 €9.00
-40.56%
Cappuccino
$2.75 β‚Ί127
$2.79 €2.42
-1.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76 β‚Ί80.9
$2.34 €2.03
-24.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 β‚Ί21.65
$1.57 €1.36
-70.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.08 β‚Ί142
$3.43 €2.97
-10.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.11 β‚Ί189
$3.91 €3.39
5.12%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Side
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.89 β‚Ί41.21
$1.08 €0.93
-17.59%
White Bread (500g)
$0.93 β‚Ί42.68
$1.77 €1.53
-47.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.93 β‚Ί42.84
$1.71 €1.48
-45.61%
Eggs
$1.77 β‚Ί81.4
$3.15 €2.73
-43.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.07 β‚Ί372
$13.68 €11.86
-41.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.34 β‚Ί246
$8.01 €6.94
-33.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.56 β‚Ί763
$15.52 €13.45
6.70%
Apples (1kg)
$1.00 β‚Ί46.16
$2.29 €1.99
-56.33%
Banana (1kg)
$2.07 β‚Ί95.3
$1.64 €1.42
26.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.73 β‚Ί33.70
$1.94 €1.68
-62.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.16 β‚Ί53.5
$2.51 €2.18
-53.78%
Potato (1kg)
$0.55 β‚Ί25.51
$1.79 €1.55
-69.27%
Onion (1kg)
$0.42 β‚Ί19.44
$2.01 €1.74
-79.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.26 β‚Ί58.3
$1.97 €1.70
-36.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.34 β‚Ί15.88
$0.84 €0.73
-59.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.15 β‚Ί99.1
$6.79 €5.88
-68.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.15 β‚Ί606
$5.67 €4.92
131.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 β‚Ί79.0
$1.39 €1.20
23.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 β‚Ί94.8
$3.02 €2.61
-31.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Side
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.62 β‚Ί28.76
$2.27 €1.97
-72.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.78 β‚Ί1,419
$45.44 €39.38
-32.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.05 β‚Ί48.39
$4.29 €3.72
-75.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.66 β‚Ί30.33
$0.85 €0.74
-22.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.80 β‚Ί359
$18.28 €15.84
-57.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 β‚Ί54.1
$1.99 €1.72
-41.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.9K β‚Ί1.9M
$35.0K €30.4K
16.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K β‚Ί1.9M
$39.5K €34.3K
4.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Side
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$48.53 β‚Ί2,237
$146 €127
-66.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.95 β‚Ί366
$20.45 €17.72
-61.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.34 β‚Ί292
$38.98 €33.78
-83.74%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Side
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.32 β‚Ί1,997
$48.98 €42.46
-11.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.83 €16.32
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.44 β‚Ί297
$9.52 €8.25
-32.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Side
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$607 β‚Ί28.0K
$608 €527
-0.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,932 β‚Ί411.8K
$16.5K €14.3K
-45.90%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Side
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.1 β‚Ί3,509
$104 €90.0
-26.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.64 β‚Ί2,058
$42.12 €36.50
5.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$158 β‚Ί7,291
$92.2 €79.9
71.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 β‚Ί5,189
$120 €104
-6.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Side
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$522 β‚Ί24.0K
$1,621 €1,405
-67.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$400 β‚Ί18.5K
$1,268 €1,099
-68.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$874 β‚Ί40.3K
$3,048 €2,642
-71.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$697 β‚Ί32.1K
$2,009 €1,741
-65.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,388 β‚Ί64.0K
$7,663 €6,641
-81.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,040 β‚Ί47.9K
$4,329 €3,752
-75.98%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Side
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,585 €1,374
-
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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $522 in Side and $1,621 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $23.00 in Side vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $269 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 111% in total monthly costs ($1,074 vs $2,263 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 $1,611 in Side and $3,394 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: $522 in Side versus $1,621 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 $607 in Side versus $608 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 30% 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 $1,074 in Side versus $2,263 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 111% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Side vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities