Cost of Living Comparison Between Tena and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Tena and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $804 in Tena versus $2,210 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,205 in Tena versus $3,311 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,606 in Tena versus $4,411 in Lisbon.

Living in Tena costs roughly 64% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Tena is 40% below, Lisbon is 65% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tena
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.06 $3.06
$15.91 €13.69
-80.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.75 $17.75
$64.8 €55.7
-72.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.45 $5.45
$10.51 €9.04
-48.14%
Cappuccino
$2.23 $2.23
$2.87 €2.47
-22.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 $1.12
$2.24 €1.93
-50.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 $0.71
$1.50 €1.29
-52.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.52 $1.52
$3.49 €3.00
-56.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$3.88 €3.34
-35.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tena
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 $1.10
$1.14 €0.98
-3.51%
White Bread (500g)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.75 €1.51
-41.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.27 $1.27
$1.76 €1.51
-27.84%
Eggs
$1.82 $1.82
$3.22 €2.77
-43.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.49 $2.49
$13.49 €11.61
-81.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.93 $2.93
$7.91 €6.81
-62.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.48 $3.48
$15.87 €13.65
-78.07%
Apples (1kg)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.31 €1.99
-12.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.23 $1.23
$1.70 €1.46
-27.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.07 $1.07
$2.01 €1.73
-46.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.28 $1.28
$2.46 €2.12
-47.97%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 $1.32
$1.84 €1.59
-28.26%
Onion (1kg)
$1.02 $1.02
$2.00 €1.72
-49.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.49 $0.49
$1.93 €1.66
-74.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 $1.02
$0.79 €0.68
29.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.47 $3.47
$6.61 €5.68
-47.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.93 $4.93
$5.72 €4.92
-13.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.53 $1.53
$1.37 €1.17
11.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 $1.48
$2.97 €2.56
-50.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Tena
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 $0.38
$2.37 €2.04
-83.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$24.16 $24.16
$45.56 €39.19
-46.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 $1.27
$4.29 €3.69
-70.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.00 $1.00
$0.82 €0.70
21.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.92 $4.92
$18.30 €15.74
-73.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.67 $0.67
$2.06 €1.78
-67.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.3K $20.3K
$34.3K €29.5K
-40.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0K $25.0K
$39.3K €33.8K
-36.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tena
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$24.96 $24.96
$148 €127
-83.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.40 $14.40
$20.52 €17.65
-29.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.94 $14.94
$39.61 €34.08
-62.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tena
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.08 $30.08
$47.85 €41.16
-37.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.57 $14.57
$18.92 €16.28
-22.99%
Cinema Ticket
$7.18 $7.18
$9.18 €7.90
-21.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tena
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$276 $276
$614 €528
-55.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,515 $8,515
$16.0K €13.8K
-46.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tena
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0 $58.0
$105 €90.0
-44.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.38 $43.38
$42.06 €36.18
3.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.2 $99.2
$94.0 €80.8
5.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.0 $86.0
$120 €103
-28.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tena
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$343 $343
$1,628 €1,400
-78.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$321 $321
$1,255 €1,080
-74.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$625 $625
$3,030 €2,607
-79.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$495 $495
$2,020 €1,738
-75.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,156 $1,156
$7,800 €6,709
-85.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$678 $678
$4,273 €3,675
-84.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tena
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,603 €1,379
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.19
3.81
193.70%

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

Last update for Tena: June 1, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $343 in Tena and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $18.00 in Tena vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $135 vs $269 per month, with Tena 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
Tena vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tena and Lisbon?
Tena and Lisbon differ by about 175% in total monthly costs ($804 vs $2,210 including rent). Tena is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Tena compared to Lisbon?
You'd need roughly $1,207 in Tena and $3,315 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 Tena and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $343 in Tena versus $1,628 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 Tena and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $276 in Tena versus $614 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 100% 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 $804 in Tena versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Tena but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Tena the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tena 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 Tena or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tena 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: Tena or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Tena gentler on the wallet – expenses run 175% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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