For one person, living is cheaper in Vac: $1,333 a month against $2,202 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $10,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Vac and in Lisbon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,333 in Vac versus $2,202 in Lisbon.
Vac $1,333
Lisbon $2,202
Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,250 in Vac versus $3,274 in Lisbon.
Vac $2,250
Lisbon $3,274
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,167 in Vac versus $4,346 in Lisbon.
Vac $3,167
Lisbon $4,346
🌍
Living in Vac costs roughly 39% less than in Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.
📊
The two cities straddle the global median: Vac is 2% below, Lisbon is 62% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Vac
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.05Ft 6,154
$17.04€15.15
11.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$111Ft 35.9K
$62.3€55.4
78.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.10Ft 2,939
$11.02€9.80
-17.42%
Cappuccino
$2.47Ft 798
$3.12€2.78
-20.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55Ft 499
$2.27€2.02
-31.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25Ft 405
$1.74€1.55
-28.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.29Ft 739
$3.42€3.04
-33.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34Ft 755
$3.74€3.33
-37.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vac
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27Ft 409
$1.17€1.04
8.55%
White Bread(500g)
$1.43Ft 461
$1.86€1.66
-23.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.35Ft 758
$1.54€1.37
52.60%
Eggs
$3.22Ft 1,040
$4.06€3.61
-20.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.78Ft 2,836
$12.91€11.49
-31.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.01Ft 1,941
$7.90€7.03
-23.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.46Ft 5,319
$17.64€15.69
-6.69%
Apples(1kg)
$1.87Ft 604
$2.26€2.01
-17.26%
Banana(1kg)
$2.13Ft 687
$1.75€1.55
21.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08Ft 673
$1.89€1.68
10.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.39Ft 771
$2.56€2.27
-6.64%
Potato(1kg)
$1.67Ft 541
$1.85€1.64
-9.73%
Onion(1kg)
$1.10Ft 355
$1.97€1.75
-44.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.33Ft 431
$1.45€1.29
-8.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50Ft 163
$0.77€0.69
-35.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.82Ft 2,525
$6.71€5.97
16.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.08Ft 1,642
$5.67€5.04
-10.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.84Ft 272
$1.37€1.22
-38.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23Ft 720
$2.11€1.88
5.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Vac
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.36Ft 439
$2.32€2.07
-41.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.23Ft 8,474
$44.43€39.52
-40.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.30Ft 1,065
$3.95€3.51
-16.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.66Ft 538
$1.05€0.93
58.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.40Ft 6,268
$17.15€15.26
13.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.94Ft 627
$2.19€1.95
-11.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.6KFt 8.3M
$33.8K€30.0K
-24.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.3KFt 12.4M
$38.3K€34.0K
0.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vac
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$154Ft 49.7K
$164€146
-6.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.43Ft 7,891
$18.48€16.43
32.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.58Ft 6,971
$32.96€29.32
-34.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vac
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9Ft 17.1K
$45.87€40.80
15.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.41Ft 6,272
$18.68€16.61
3.91%
Cinema Ticket
$7.92Ft 2,559
$9.75€8.67
-18.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vac
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$250Ft 80.8K
$684€608
-63.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,440Ft 2.7M
$17.6K€15.7K
-52.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vac
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.8Ft 28.7K
$104€92.3
-14.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.27Ft 10.4K
$46.20€41.09
-30.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.1Ft 27.8K
$99.7€88.7
-13.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104Ft 33.5K
$125€111
-16.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vac
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$514Ft 165.9K
$1,589€1,414
-67.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$410Ft 132.4K
$1,169€1,040
-64.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838Ft 270.7K
$2,851€2,536
-70.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$779Ft 251.6K
$1,993€1,773
-60.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,061Ft 989.0K
$7,793€6,932
-60.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,600Ft 839.9K
$4,418€3,930
-41.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vac
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,398Ft 451.6K
$1,600€1,423
-12.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.67
3.85
73.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Vac: October 17, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: October 19, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Vac
$410 30.8%
Lisbon
$1.2K 53.1% ↑ 185%$759
🍽Eating Out
Vac
$237 17.8%
Lisbon
$247 11.2% ↑ 4.6%$11
🛒Groceries & Markets
Vac
$235 17.6%
Lisbon
$273 12.4% ↑ 16.3%$38
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vac
$200 15%
Lisbon
$215 9.8% ↑ 7.7%$15
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Vac
$140 10.5%
Lisbon
$168 7.7% ↑ 20.5%$29
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Vac
$69 5.2%
Lisbon
$65 3% ↓ 4.8%$3.3
🚌Getting Around
Vac
$43 3.3%
Lisbon
$63 2.9% ↑ 45.4%$20
🏠Accommodation & Living
Vac
$779 24.6%
Lisbon
$2K 45.9% ↑ 156%$1.2K
🍽Eating Out
Vac
$1K 33.1%
Lisbon
$815 18.7% ↓ 22.2%$233
🛒Groceries & Markets
Vac
$560 17.7%
Lisbon
$651 15% ↑ 16.2%$91
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vac
$224 7.1%
Lisbon
$234 5.4% ↑ 4.2%$9.4
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Vac
$311 9.8%
Lisbon
$374 8.6% ↑ 20.5%$64
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Vac
$157 5%
Lisbon
$149 3.4% ↓ 4.7%$7.4
🚌Getting Around
Vac
$89 2.8%
Lisbon
$130 3% ↑ 46.2%$41
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $514 in Vac and $1,589 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 14% 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: $111 in Vac vs $62.0 in Lisbon. Groceries flip the comparison at $235 vs $273, with Vac cheaper for home cooking.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
Vac vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Vac and in Lisbon?
Vac and Lisbon differ by about 65% in total monthly costs ($1,333 vs $2,202 including rent). Vac 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 14% 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 Vac and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $514 in Vac versus $1,589 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 Vac and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $250 in Vac versus $684 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 16% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,333 in Vac versus $2,202 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Vac but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Vac the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Vac 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 Vac or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Vac 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: Vac or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Vac gentler on the wallet – expenses run 65% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.