Cost of Living Comparison Between Thiruvananthapuram and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Thiruvananthapuram and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $394 in Thiruvananthapuram versus $2,316 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $625 in Thiruvananthapuram versus $3,361 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $855 in Thiruvananthapuram versus $4,405 in Lisbon.

Living in Thiruvananthapuram costs roughly 83% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Thiruvananthapuram is 71% below, Lisbon is 69% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Thiruvananthapuram
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.57 ₹243
$17.30 €14.87
-85.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.59 ₹1,001
$63.3 €54.4
-83.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.01 ₹379
$11.39 €9.79
-64.79%
Cappuccino
$1.89 ₹179
$3.19 €2.74
-40.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41 ₹38.44
$2.45 €2.10
-83.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20 ₹19.15
$1.76 €1.52
-88.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.15 ₹203
$3.59 €3.09
-40.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 ₹253
$3.39 €2.92
-21.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Thiruvananthapuram
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.55 ₹51.9
$1.24 €1.06
-55.65%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 ₹52.6
$1.98 €1.71
-71.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.60 ₹56.4
$1.52 €1.31
-60.53%
Eggs
$0.82 ₹77.2
$4.04 €3.47
-79.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.29 ₹500
$13.54 €11.64
-60.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.86 ₹270
$8.39 €7.21
-65.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$18.25 €15.69
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.21 ₹209
$2.29 €1.97
-3.49%
Banana (1kg)
$0.73 ₹68.7
$1.74 €1.50
-58.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.15 ₹109
$1.86 €1.60
-38.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.46 ₹42.99
$2.63 €2.26
-82.51%
Potato (1kg)
$0.48 ₹45.43
$1.92 €1.65
-75.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.48 ₹45.34
$2.09 €1.80
-77.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.52 ₹48.76
$1.44 €1.24
-63.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30 ₹28.42
$0.84 €0.72
-64.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31 ₹407
$6.78 €5.83
-36.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.23 ₹494
$5.71 €4.91
-8.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ₹169
$1.38 €1.18
29.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15 ₹297
$2.22 €1.91
41.89%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$5.00 ₹472
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Thiruvananthapuram
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.20 ₹18.86
$2.40 €2.06
-91.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$2.95 ₹279
$46.78 €40.22
-93.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.76 ₹166
$4.17 €3.59
-57.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.27 ₹25.53
$1.14 €0.98
-76.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.61 ₹246
$17.68 €15.20
-85.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 ₹104
$2.32 €2.00
-52.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$10.5K ₹995.3K
$35.3K €30.4K
-70.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K ₹2.6M
$41.4K €35.6K
-34.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Thiruvananthapuram
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$34.30 ₹3,240
$170 €146
-79.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.46 ₹327
$19.34 €16.62
-82.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.04 ₹760
$33.64 €28.92
-76.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Thiruvananthapuram
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$14.11 ₹1,333
$48.10 €41.35
-70.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.75 ₹732
$19.90 €17.11
-61.06%
Cinema Ticket
$2.13 ₹201
$9.92 €8.53
-78.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Thiruvananthapuram
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$33.02 ₹3,120
$717 €617
-95.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,983 ₹187.4K
$17.5K €15.0K
-88.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Thiruvananthapuram
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.54 ₹1,940
$105 €90.1
-80.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.63 ₹1,854
$46.95 €40.36
-58.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$37.75 ₹3,566
$103 €88.9
-63.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$25.98 ₹2,454
$124 €107
-79.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Thiruvananthapuram
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$180 ₹17.0K
$1,677 €1,441
-89.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$97.5 ₹9,208
$1,271 €1,093
-92.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$355 ₹33.6K
$2,985 €2,566
-88.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$217 ₹20.5K
$1,992 €1,713
-89.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$667 ₹63.0K
$7,826 €6,728
-91.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$431 ₹40.7K
$4,658 €4,004
-90.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Thiruvananthapuram
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$238 ₹22.5K
$1,583 €1,361
-84.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.64
3.79
180.74%

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

Last update for Thiruvananthapuram: August 29, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $180 in Thiruvananthapuram and $1,677 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 565% 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: $11.00 in Thiruvananthapuram vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $103 vs $283 per month, with Thiruvananthapuram 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
Thiruvananthapuram vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Thiruvananthapuram and in Lisbon?
Thiruvananthapuram and Lisbon differ by about 488% in total monthly costs ($394 vs $2,316 including rent). Thiruvananthapuram is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 565% lower in Lisbon. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Thiruvananthapuram and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $180 in Thiruvananthapuram 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 Thiruvananthapuram and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $33.02 in Thiruvananthapuram 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 174% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $394 in Thiruvananthapuram versus $2,316 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Thiruvananthapuram but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Thiruvananthapuram the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Thiruvananthapuram 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 Thiruvananthapuram or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Thiruvananthapuram 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: Thiruvananthapuram or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Thiruvananthapuram gentler on the wallet – expenses run 488% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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