Cost of Living Comparison Between Spain and Timor-Leste Cost of Living Comparison Between Spain and Timor-Leste

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,642 in Spain versus $1,755 in Timor-Leste.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,393 in Spain versus $2,648 in Timor-Leste.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,144 in Spain versus $3,540 in Timor-Leste.

Living in Spain costs about 6% less than in Timor-Leste on average.

Both countries sit above the global median: Spain 23% above, Timor-Leste 31% above.

Internal cost variation is higher in Spain: monthly costs span $1,125 to $3,182, compared to $1,755$1,755 in Timor-Leste. City choice carries more weight in Spain.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Spain
Timor-Leste
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.46 €14.42
$5.02 $5.02
227.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.1 €50.9
$44.32 $44.32
31.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.59 €9.27
$8.23 $8.23
28.68%
Cappuccino
$2.30 €2.01
$3.82 $3.82
-39.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59 €2.27
$1.59 $1.59
62.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 €1.65
$1.43 $1.43
31.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.41 €2.98
$2.02 $2.02
68.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97 €3.47
$4.44 $4.44
-10.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Spain
Timor-Leste
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 €1.03
$2.46 $2.46
-52.03%
White Bread (500g)
$1.54 €1.35
$2.47 $2.47
-37.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.59 €1.40
$1.96 $1.96
-18.88%
Eggs
$3.05 €2.67
$2.64 $2.64
15.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.38 €12.59
$1.95 $1.95
637.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.46 €7.40
$9.61 $9.61
-11.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.94 €13.96
$15.93 $15.93
0.06%
Apples (1kg)
$2.54 €2.22
$3.56 $3.56
-28.65%
Banana (1kg)
$2.08 €1.82
$1.86 $1.86
11.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.02 €1.77
$1.96 $1.96
3.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.66 €2.33
$2.46 $2.46
8.13%
Potato (1kg)
$1.82 €1.59
$1.97 $1.97
-7.61%
Onion (1kg)
$1.88 €1.65
$1.27 $1.27
48.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.35 €1.18
$1.02 $1.02
32.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 €0.66
$0.98 $0.98
-23.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.35 €5.56
$2.71 $2.71
134.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.75 €5.04
$12.01 $12.01
-52.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 €1.14
$2.22 $2.22
-41.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 €1.85
$2.88 $2.88
-26.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Spain
Timor-Leste
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.72 €1.50
$0.26 $0.26
561.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.11 €30.75
$56.6 $56.6
-37.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.56 €4.00
$3.57 $3.57
27.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.30 €1.14
$3.31 $3.31
-60.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.70 €23.39
$20.38 $20.38
31.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.81 €1.58
$1.49 $1.49
21.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.2K €34.4K
$21.4K $21.4K
83.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6K €26.8K
$19.8K $19.8K
54.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
Timor-Leste
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$153 €134
$148 $148
3.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.36 €17.84
$29.53 $29.53
-31.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.00 €29.78
$50.2 $50.2
-32.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Spain
Timor-Leste
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.13 €42.15
$49.12 $49.12
-2.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.14 €14.13
$3.05 $3.05
429.18%
Cinema Ticket
$9.37 €8.21
$5.44 $5.44
72.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Spain
Timor-Leste
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$520 €455
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.2K €8,909
$16.1K $16.1K
-36.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Spain
Timor-Leste
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.9 €75.3
$60.6 $60.6
41.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.75 €32.18
$29.67 $29.67
23.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.7 €80.3
$78.5 $78.5
16.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 €94.9
$59.4 $59.4
82.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Spain
Timor-Leste
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,043 €913
$1,081 $1,081
-3.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$834 €730
$935 $935
-10.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,674 €1,466
$3,434 $3,434
-51.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,223 €1,071
$1,643 $1,643
-25.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,158 €3,642
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,629 €2,303
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Spain
Timor-Leste
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,965 €1,721
$4,850 $4,850
-59.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.51
5.37
-34.64%

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

Last update for Spain: July 12, 2026

Last update for Timor-Leste: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $897 in Spain, $1,117 in Timor-Leste. Capital cities: $1,607 in Madrid vs $1,117 in Dili.

National salary averages: $1,989 in Spain, $3,612 in Timor-Leste. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 25% higher in Timor-Leste.

Dining out costs 18% more in Spain.

Salaries are 82% higher in Timor-Leste, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Timor-Leste.

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 $2,154 per month in Spain and $1,755 in Timor-Leste, there's a 23% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: Spain or Timor-Leste?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Timor-Leste: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
How do rents compare between Spain and Timor-Leste?
Rent in Spain is consistently higher than in Timor-Leste across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
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.

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