For one person, living is cheaper in Timor-Leste: $1,598 a month against $1,760 in Spain, rent and utilities included – about $1,900 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Spain and in Timor-Leste actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,760 in Spain versus $1,598 in Timor-Leste.
Spain $1,760
Timor-Leste $1,598
Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,581 in Spain versus $2,482 in Timor-Leste.
Spain $2,581
Timor-Leste $2,482
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,402 in Spain versus $3,366 in Timor-Leste.
Spain $3,402
Timor-Leste $3,366
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in Spain: monthly costs span $937 to $2,649, compared to $1,619–$1,619 in Timor-Leste. City choice carries more weight in Spain.
🌍
Living in Spain is roughly 10% more expensive than in Timor-Leste on average.
📊
Both countries sit above the global median: Spain 30% above, Timor-Leste 18% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Spain
Timor-Leste
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.72€14.87
$5.11$5.11
227.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.0€49.76
$35.38$35.38
58.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.13€9.90
$6.57$6.57
69.41%
Cappuccino
$2.43€2.17
$3.95$3.95
-38.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63€2.34
$1.80$1.80
46.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81€1.61
$2.88$2.88
-37.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€3.03
$2.97$2.97
14.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.82€3.39
$3.89$3.89
-1.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Spain
Timor-Leste
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17€1.04
$2.28$2.28
-48.68%
White Bread(500g)
$1.50€1.33
$2.42$2.42
-38.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.60€1.43
$0.97$0.97
64.95%
Eggs
$3.33€2.96
$2.64$2.64
26.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.41€12.82
$1.94$1.94
642.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.33€7.41
$9.62$9.62
-13.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.30€14.50
$15.83$15.83
2.97%
Apples(1kg)
$2.57€2.29
$3.28$3.28
-21.65%
Banana(1kg)
$2.04€1.82
$1.86$1.86
9.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.04€1.82
$2.49$2.49
-18.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.27
$2.31$2.31
10.39%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.63
$1.20$1.20
52.50%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.80
$1.20$1.20
69.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36€1.21
$0.86$0.86
58.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74€0.66
$1.02$1.02
-27.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.35€5.65
$3.03$3.03
109.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.52€4.91
$11.86$11.86
-53.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.17
$2.29$2.29
-42.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02€1.80
$2.81$2.81
-28.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Spain
Timor-Leste
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.71€1.52
$0.24$0.24
612.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$33.15€29.49
$42.44$42.44
-21.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.52€4.02
$3.60$3.60
25.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.50€1.34
$3.63$3.63
-58.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.43€21.73
$19.61$19.61
24.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.79€1.59
$1.42$1.42
26.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.9K€32.0K
$20.1K$20.1K
78.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.2K€27.7K
$18.0K$18.0K
73.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
Timor-Leste
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150€133
$147$147
1.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.57€15.62
$26.97$26.97
-34.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.32€27.86
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Spain
Timor-Leste
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.55€40.52
$74.1$74.1
-38.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.00€13.34
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.47€8.43
$6.06$6.06
56.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Spain
Timor-Leste
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$544€484
$1,527$1,527
-64.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.8K€9,563
$15.9K$15.9K
-32.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Spain
Timor-Leste
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.1€74.8
$61.1$61.1
37.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.90€32.82
$29.83$29.83
23.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.5€78.7
$79.4$79.4
11.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104€92.8
$59.1$59.1
76.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Spain
Timor-Leste
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,017€904
$830$830
22.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$793€705
$745$745
6.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,605€1,428
$2,689$2,689
-40.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209€1,075
$1,533$1,533
-21.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,093€3,640
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,581€2,296
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Spain
Timor-Leste
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,001€1,780
$4,866$4,866
-58.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.3
5.37
-38.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Spain: October 20, 2026
Last update for Timor-Leste: October 18, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Spain
$793 45%
Timor-Leste
$745 46.6% ↓ 6%$47
🛒Groceries & Markets
Spain
$272 15.4%
Timor-Leste
$274 17.2% ↑ 1%$2.7
🍽Eating Out
Spain
$239 13.6%
Timor-Leste
$149 9.3% ↓ 37.5%$90
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
$199 11.3%
Timor-Leste
$174 * 10.9% ↓ 12.3%$24
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Spain
$141 8%
Timor-Leste
$103 6.5% ↓ 26.9%$38
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Spain
$65 3.7%
Timor-Leste
$86 5.4% ↑ 33.7%$22
🚌Getting Around
Spain
$52 3%
Timor-Leste
$65 4.1% ↑ 25.3%$13
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Spain
$1.2K 35.6%
Timor-Leste
$1.5K 45.5% ↑ 26.8%$324
🛒Groceries & Markets
Spain
$647 19%
Timor-Leste
$635 18.9% ↓ 1.8%$12
🍽Eating Out
Spain
$764 22.5%
Timor-Leste
$464 13.8% ↓ 39.3%$300
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
$216 6.4%
Timor-Leste
$201 * 6% ↓ 6.9%$15
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Spain
$314 9.2%
Timor-Leste
$229 6.8% ↓ 26.9%$84
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Spain
$144 4.2%
Timor-Leste
$172 * 5.1% ↑ 19.7%$28
🚌Getting Around
Spain
$107 3.2%
Timor-Leste
$131 3.9% ↑ 21.7%$23
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $913 in Spain, $815 in Timor-Leste. Capital cities: $1,509 in Madrid vs $815 in Dili.
💰National salary averages: $1,977 in Spain, $3,531 in Timor-Leste. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 12% higher in Spain.
⭐Dining out costs 14% more in Spain.
⭐Salaries are 79% higher in Timor-Leste, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Timor-Leste.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
Spain vs Timor-Leste: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: Spain or Timor-Leste?
At $1,760 per month in Spain and $1,598 in Timor-Leste, there's a 10% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
How do rents compare between Spain and Timor-Leste?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $913 in Spain and $815 in Timor-Leste. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
How far does $2,500 go in Spain compared to Timor-Leste?
In Timor-Leste, $2,500 covers most cities easily; in Spain it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
How do I choose between living in Spain and in Timor-Leste?
It depends on what you're after: Timor-Leste wins on affordability; Spain may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.