Cost of Living Comparison Between Sion and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Sion and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,284 in Sion versus $2,316 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,960 in Sion versus $3,361 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,636 in Sion versus $4,405 in Lisbon.

Living in Sion is roughly 42% more expensive than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Sion 139% above, Lisbon 69% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sion
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.27 CHF 24.61
$17.30 €14.93
74.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$93.3 CHF 75.8
$63.3 €54.6
47.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$20.37 CHF 16.56
$11.39 €9.83
78.84%
Cappuccino
$4.48 CHF 3.64
$3.19 €2.75
40.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 CHF 4.01
$2.45 €2.11
101.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.07 CHF 3.31
$1.76 €1.52
131.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.27 CHF 5.91
$3.59 €3.10
102.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.36 CHF 5.98
$3.39 €2.93
117.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sion
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.99 CHF 1.62
$1.24 €1.07
60.48%
White Bread (500g)
$3.70 CHF 3.01
$1.98 €1.71
86.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.30 CHF 3.49
$1.52 €1.31
182.89%
Eggs
$7.49 CHF 6.09
$4.04 €3.49
85.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$25.80 CHF 20.98
$13.54 €11.68
90.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$23.59 CHF 19.18
$8.39 €7.24
181.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$40.76 CHF 33.13
$18.25 €15.75
123.34%
Apples (1kg)
$3.29 CHF 2.68
$2.29 €1.98
43.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 CHF 1.35
$1.74 €1.50
-4.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.50 CHF 2.03
$1.86 €1.60
34.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.25 CHF 5.08
$2.63 €2.27
137.64%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 CHF 1.56
$1.92 €1.65
-
Onion (1kg)
$2.15 CHF 1.74
$2.09 €1.81
2.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.44 CHF 1.98
$1.44 €1.24
69.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 CHF 0.96
$0.84 €0.73
40.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.00 CHF 8.94
$6.78 €5.85
62.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.49 CHF 10.16
$5.71 €4.93
118.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 CHF 1.48
$1.38 €1.19
31.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 CHF 1.52
$2.22 €1.91
-15.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Sion
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.39 CHF 4.39
$2.40 €2.07
124.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$187 CHF 152
$46.78 €40.37
299.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.06 CHF 4.93
$4.17 €3.60
45.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$5.52 CHF 4.49
$1.14 €0.98
384.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$49.88 CHF 40.55
$17.68 €15.26
182.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.29 CHF 1.86
$2.32 €2.01
-1.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.8K CHF 29.1K
$35.3K €30.5K
1.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.8K CHF 32.3K
$41.4K €35.8K
-4.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sion
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$295 CHF 240
$170 €147
73.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71 CHF 18.46
$19.34 €16.69
17.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.88 CHF 40.55
$33.64 €29.03
48.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sion
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$142 CHF 116
$48.10 €41.50
196.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$55.6 CHF 45.23
$19.90 €17.17
179.55%
Cinema Ticket
$20.28 CHF 16.49
$9.92 €8.56
104.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sion
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,002 CHF 814
$717 €619
39.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$35.3K CHF 28.7K
$17.5K €15.1K
101.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sion
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$167 CHF 136
$105 €90.4
59.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.4 CHF 47.45
$46.95 €40.51
24.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$182 CHF 148
$103 €89.2
75.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$151 CHF 123
$124 €107
22.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sion
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,260 CHF 1,024
$1,677 €1,447
-24.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,284 CHF 1,044
$1,271 €1,097
1.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,305 CHF 1,874
$2,985 €2,575
-22.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,106 CHF 1,712
$1,992 €1,719
5.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,652 CHF 6,221
$7,826 €6,753
-2.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,660 CHF 4,602
$4,658 €4,019
21.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sion
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,995 CHF 4,874
$1,583 €1,366
278.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.15
3.79
-43.27%

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

Last update for Sion: August 29, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,260 in Sion and $1,677 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sion pays 279% 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: $93.0 in Sion vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $561 vs $283 per month, with Lisbon 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
Sion vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Sion and in Lisbon?
Sion and Lisbon differ by about 42% in total monthly costs ($3,284 vs $2,316 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Sion or Lisbon?
Average pay runs 279% higher in Sion, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Sion and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,260 in Sion 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 Sion and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $1,002 in Sion 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 98% higher in Sion. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Lisbon is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Sion 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 Sion or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Sion 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: Sion or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Sion. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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