🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,506 in Torrevieja versus $2,316 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,176 in Torrevieja versus $3,361 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,847 in Torrevieja versus $4,405 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Torrevieja costs roughly 35% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Torrevieja10% above, Lisbon69% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Torrevieja
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.55€13.41
$17.30€14.92
-10.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.21€39.85
$63.3€54.6
-26.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.27€8.86
$11.39€9.83
-9.83%
Cappuccino
$2.47€2.13
$3.19€2.75
-22.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€1.97
$2.45€2.11
-6.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92€1.66
$1.76€1.52
9.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.44€2.97
$3.59€3.10
-4.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82€2.44
$3.39€2.93
-16.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Torrevieja
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21€1.04
$1.24€1.07
-2.42%
White Bread(500g)
$1.40€1.21
$1.98€1.71
-29.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63€1.41
$1.52€1.31
7.24%
Eggs
$3.40€2.93
$4.04€3.49
-15.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.07€13.00
$13.54€11.68
11.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.98€6.88
$8.39€7.23
-4.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.01€18.98
$18.25€15.74
20.60%
Apples(1kg)
$2.08€1.79
$2.29€1.97
-9.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62€1.40
$1.74€1.50
-6.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.37€1.18
$1.86€1.60
-26.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.15€1.85
$2.63€2.27
-18.25%
Potato(1kg)
$1.12€0.96
$1.92€1.65
-41.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.23€1.06
$2.09€1.81
-41.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.34€1.15
$1.44€1.24
-6.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47€0.40
$0.84€0.73
-44.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.18€5.33
$6.78€5.85
-8.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.60€3.97
$5.71€4.93
-19.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93€0.80
$1.38€1.19
-32.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$2.22€1.91
-38.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Torrevieja
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.82€1.57
$2.40€2.07
-24.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.42€20.20
$46.78€40.35
-49.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.32€4.59
$4.17€3.60
27.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.98€1.71
$1.14€0.98
73.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.50€30.62
$17.68€15.25
100.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.66€1.43
$2.32€2.00
-28.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.0K€31.9K
$35.3K€30.5K
4.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.3K€26.1K
$41.4K€35.7K
-26.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Torrevieja
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$118€102
$170€147
-30.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.74€8.40
$19.34€16.68
-49.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.20€20.87
$33.64€29.01
-28.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Torrevieja
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.22€34.69
$48.10€41.48
-16.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.30€4.57
$19.90€17.16
-73.37%
Cinema Ticket
$10.31€8.89
$9.92€8.56
3.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Torrevieja
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$523€451
$717€619
-27.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.9K€16.3K
$17.5K€15.1K
7.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Torrevieja
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.80€40.36
$105€90.4
-55.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.55€29.80
$46.95€40.49
-26.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.1€63.1
$103€89.2
-29.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.3€57.2
$124€107
-46.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Torrevieja
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$732€632
$1,677€1,446
-56.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$675€583
$1,271€1,096
-46.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,251€1,079
$2,985€2,574
-58.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$916€790
$1,992€1,718
-54.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,965€2,557
$7,826€6,750
-62.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,726€2,351
$4,658€4,017
-41.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Torrevieja
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,960€1,690
$1,583€1,365
23.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.9
3.79
-23.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Torrevieja: August 31, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $732 in Torrevieja and $1,677 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Torrevieja pays 24% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Torrevieja vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $283 per month, with Torrevieja 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
Torrevieja vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Torrevieja and in Lisbon?
Torrevieja and Lisbon differ by about 54% in total monthly costs ($1,506 vs $2,316 including rent). Torrevieja is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Torrevieja or Lisbon?
Average pay runs 24% higher in Torrevieja, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Torrevieja and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $732 in Torrevieja 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 Torrevieja and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $523 in Torrevieja 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 6% 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 $1,506 in Torrevieja versus $2,316 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Torrevieja but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Torrevieja the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Torrevieja 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 Torrevieja or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Torrevieja 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: Torrevieja or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Torrevieja gentler on the wallet – expenses run 54% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Torrevieja vs other spots: cost of living compared