🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,646 in Spain versus $1,803 in Timor-Leste.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,401 in Spain versus $2,617 in Timor-Leste.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,155 in Spain versus $3,431 in Timor-Leste.
🙂Living in Spain costs about 9% less than in Timor-Leste on average.
📊Both countries sit above the global median: Spain23% above, Timor-Leste35% above.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in Spain: monthly costs span $1,133 to $3,262, compared to $1,803–$1,803 in Timor-Leste. City choice carries more weight in Spain.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Spain
Timor-Leste
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.92
$5.08$5.08
218.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.3€49.31
$44.11$44.11
29.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.62€9.14
$8.10$8.10
31.11%
Cappuccino
$2.38€2.05
$3.80$3.80
-37.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59€2.23
$1.63$1.63
58.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91€1.64
$1.44$1.44
32.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.00
$1.96$1.96
78.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.47
$4.48$4.48
-10.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Spain
Timor-Leste
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.07
$2.39$2.39
-48.12%
White Bread(500g)
$1.59€1.37
$2.52$2.52
-36.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.59€1.37
$1.98$1.98
-19.70%
Eggs
$3.05€2.63
$2.73$2.73
11.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.55€12.53
$2.02$2.02
620.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.42€7.25
$9.61$9.61
-12.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.52€13.36
$16.11$16.11
-3.66%
Apples(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
$3.60$3.60
-29.44%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.88$1.88
6.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09€1.80
$2.04$2.04
2.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.53€2.18
$2.48$2.48
2.02%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$2.05$2.05
-9.76%
Onion(1kg)
$1.89€1.63
$1.28$1.28
47.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.35€1.16
$0.99$0.99
36.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74€0.64
$0.97$0.97
-23.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.35€5.47
$2.76$2.76
130.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.66€4.87
$11.78$11.78
-51.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25€1.08
$2.21$2.21
-43.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.77
$2.77$2.77
-25.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Spain
Timor-Leste
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.69€1.46
$0.24$0.24
604.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.10€30.22
$56.9$56.9
-38.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.42€3.80
$3.56$3.56
24.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34€1.15
$3.22$3.22
-58.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.32€22.66
$19.71$19.71
33.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.58
$1.50$1.50
22.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K€33.4K
$21.7K$21.7K
78.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.6K€27.2K
$19.6K$19.6K
60.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
Timor-Leste
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150€130
$149$149
0.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.56€17.70
$30.35$30.35
-32.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.49€29.70
$50.5$50.5
-31.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Spain
Timor-Leste
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.96€41.29
$50.5$50.5
-5.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.05€13.81
$2.96$2.96
442.23%
Cinema Ticket
$8.99€7.74
$5.39$5.39
66.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Spain
Timor-Leste
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$509€438
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,884€8,509
$15.8K$15.8K
-37.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Spain
Timor-Leste
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.5€74.5
$61.0$61.0
41.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.14€31.98
$29.49$29.49
25.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.0€79.2
$80.8$80.8
13.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109€93.7
$60.2$60.2
80.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Spain
Timor-Leste
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,045€900
$1,095$1,095
-4.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$834€718
$932$932
-10.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,689€1,454
$3,457$3,457
-51.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,238€1,066
$1,649$1,649
-24.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,378€3,769
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,747€2,365
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Spain
Timor-Leste
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,073€1,785
$4,921$4,921
-57.87%
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: May 30, 2026
Last update for Timor-Leste: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $898 in Spain, $1,096 in Timor-Leste. Capital cities: $1,566 in Madrid vs $1,096 in Dili.
💰National salary averages: $2,030 in Spain, $3,561 in Timor-Leste. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 22% higher in Timor-Leste.
⭐Dining out costs 20% more in Spain.
⭐Salaries are 75% higher in Timor-Leste, giving Timor-Leste stronger purchasing power.
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 $2,198 per month in Spain and $1,803 in Timor-Leste, there's a 22% 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?
Timor-Leste is simply cheaper day-to-day: 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 beats 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 vs Timor-Leste?
In Timor-Leste, $2,500 covers most cities easily. In Spain, it works in regional areas but 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 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.