Cost of Living Comparison Between Thiva and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Thiva and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,250 in Thiva versus $2,263 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,012 in Thiva versus $3,315 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,775 in Thiva versus $4,368 in Lisbon.

Living in Thiva costs roughly 45% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Thiva is 7% below, Lisbon is 68% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Thiva
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.23 €11.47
$15.94 €13.82
-17.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.8 €49.22
$63.4 €54.9
-10.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.76 €5.86
$10.38 €9.00
-34.87%
Cappuccino
$2.56 €2.22
$2.79 €2.42
-8.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 €1.47
$2.34 €2.03
-27.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 €0.46
$1.57 €1.36
-65.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.50 €3.90
$3.43 €2.97
31.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 €2.53
$3.91 €3.39
-25.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Thiva
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 €1.32
$1.08 €0.93
41.67%
White Bread (500g)
$1.56 €1.36
$1.77 €1.53
-11.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.20 €1.91
$1.71 €1.48
28.65%
Eggs
$4.00 €3.47
$3.15 €2.73
26.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.75 €11.92
$13.68 €11.86
0.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.03 €8.69
$8.01 €6.94
25.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.02 €11.28
$15.52 €13.45
-16.11%
Apples (1kg)
$1.72 €1.49
$2.29 €1.99
-24.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.88 €1.63
$1.64 €1.42
14.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.09 €0.94
$1.94 €1.68
-43.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.88 €1.63
$2.51 €2.18
-25.10%
Potato (1kg)
$0.99 €0.86
$1.79 €1.55
-44.69%
Onion (1kg)
$1.28 €1.11
$2.01 €1.74
-36.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.93 €0.81
$1.97 €1.70
-52.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 €0.42
$0.84 €0.73
-42.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.80 €4.16
$6.79 €5.88
-29.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.23 €5.40
$5.67 €4.92
9.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 €1.45
$1.39 €1.20
20.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 €1.73
$3.02 €2.61
-33.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Thiva
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.35 €1.17
$2.27 €1.97
-40.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.07 €39.93
$45.44 €39.38
1.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.71 €3.21
$4.29 €3.72
-13.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.85 €0.74
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.80 €11.96
$18.28 €15.84
-24.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.11 €1.83
$1.99 €1.72
6.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9K €26.8K
$35.0K €30.4K
-11.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.2K €25.3K
$39.5K €34.3K
-26.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Thiva
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$186 €161
$146 €127
27.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.54 €20.40
$20.45 €17.72
15.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.64 €27.43
$38.98 €33.78
-18.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Thiva
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.20 €42.64
$48.98 €42.46
0.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.53 €22.99
$18.83 €16.32
40.89%
Cinema Ticket
$8.34 €7.23
$9.52 €8.25
-12.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Thiva
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$345 €299
$608 €527
-43.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,550 €4,810
$16.5K €14.3K
-66.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Thiva
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.1 €45.98
$104 €90.0
-48.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.41 €29.82
$42.12 €36.50
-18.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.5 €81.9
$92.2 €79.9
2.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.6 €82.9
$120 €104
-20.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Thiva
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$341 €296
$1,621 €1,405
-78.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$292 €253
$1,268 €1,099
-76.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$767 €665
$3,048 €2,642
-74.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$625 €542
$2,009 €1,741
-68.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,812 €1,571
$7,663 €6,641
-76.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,463 €1,268
$4,329 €3,752
-66.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Thiva
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,177 €1,020
$1,585 €1,374
-25.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.34
3.81
13.91%

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

Last update for Thiva: June 8, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $341 in Thiva and $1,621 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 35% 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: $57.0 in Thiva vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $260 vs $269 per month, with Thiva 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
Thiva vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Thiva and Lisbon?
Thiva and Lisbon differ by about 81% in total monthly costs ($1,250 vs $2,263 including rent). Thiva is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Lisbon earns 35% less. 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 Thiva and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $341 in Thiva versus $1,621 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 Thiva and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $345 in Thiva versus $608 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 4% 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 $1,250 in Thiva versus $2,263 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Thiva but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Thiva the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Thiva 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 Thiva or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Thiva 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: Thiva or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Thiva gentler on the wallet – expenses run 81% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Thiva vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities