Cost of Living Comparison Between Vacoas and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Vacoas and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $737 in Vacoas versus $2,210 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,124 in Vacoas versus $3,311 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,511 in Vacoas versus $4,411 in Lisbon.

Living in Vacoas costs roughly 67% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Vacoas is 45% below, Lisbon is 65% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vacoas
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.45 MUR 305
$15.91 €13.70
-59.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.98 MUR 1,560
$64.8 €55.8
-49.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.94 MUR 234
$10.51 €9.05
-53.00%
Cappuccino
$2.57 MUR 122
$2.87 €2.47
-10.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96 MUR 45.29
$2.24 €1.93
-57.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 MUR 26.64
$1.50 €1.30
-62.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.17 MUR 103
$3.49 €3.01
-37.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 MUR 94.9
$3.88 €3.34
-48.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vacoas
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.28 MUR 60.4
$1.14 €0.98
12.28%
White Bread (500g)
$0.71 MUR 33.75
$1.75 €1.51
-59.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.29 MUR 60.9
$1.76 €1.51
-26.70%
Eggs
$2.18 MUR 103
$3.22 €2.77
-32.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.67 MUR 126
$13.49 €11.62
-80.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.01 MUR 142
$7.91 €6.81
-61.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.52 MUR 261
$15.87 €13.67
-65.22%
Apples (1kg)
$1.99 MUR 94.0
$2.31 €1.99
-13.85%
Banana (1kg)
$2.03 MUR 96.3
$1.70 €1.46
19.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.44 MUR 68.0
$2.01 €1.73
-28.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.74 MUR 130
$2.46 €2.12
11.38%
Potato (1kg)
$1.03 MUR 48.50
$1.84 €1.59
-44.02%
Onion (1kg)
$1.01 MUR 48.01
$2.00 €1.72
-49.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.79 MUR 37.31
$1.93 €1.66
-59.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 MUR 33.55
$0.79 €0.68
-10.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.67 MUR 268
$6.61 €5.69
-14.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.31 MUR 299
$5.72 €4.93
10.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44 MUR 68.0
$1.37 €1.18
5.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 MUR 103
$2.97 €2.56
-26.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Vacoas
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.01 MUR 47.96
$2.37 €2.04
-57.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$45.56 €39.23
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.47 MUR 212
$4.29 €3.69
4.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.63 MUR 124
$0.82 €0.70
220.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.32 MUR 204
$18.30 €15.76
-76.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.41 MUR 66.9
$2.06 €1.78
-31.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7K MUR 1.3M
$34.3K €29.5K
-22.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.2K MUR 1.4M
$39.3K €33.8K
-25.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vacoas
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$49.62 MUR 2,348
$148 €127
-66.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.89 MUR 515
$20.52 €17.67
-46.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.99 MUR 1,230
$39.61 €34.11
-34.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vacoas
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.80 MUR 1,268
$47.85 €41.20
-43.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.92 €16.29
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.49 MUR 260
$9.18 €7.91
-40.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vacoas
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$155 MUR 7,353
$614 €529
-74.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,977 MUR 188.2K
$16.0K €13.8K
-75.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vacoas
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.28 MUR 1,386
$105 €90.1
-72.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.55 MUR 1,399
$42.06 €36.22
-29.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$65.7 MUR 3,108
$94.0 €80.9
-30.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.8 MUR 2,830
$120 €103
-50.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vacoas
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$266 MUR 12.6K
$1,628 €1,402
-83.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$238 MUR 11.2K
$1,255 €1,081
-81.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$506 MUR 23.9K
$3,030 €2,609
-83.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$320 MUR 15.2K
$2,020 €1,740
-84.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,800 €6,716
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$4,273 €3,679
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vacoas
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$700 MUR 33.1K
$1,603 €1,381
-56.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.25
3.81
11.55%

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

Last update for Vacoas: June 2, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $266 in Vacoas and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 129% 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: $33.00 in Vacoas vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $156 vs $269 per month, with Vacoas 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
Vacoas vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Vacoas and Lisbon?
Vacoas and Lisbon differ by about 200% in total monthly costs ($737 vs $2,210 including rent). Vacoas 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 129% 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 Vacoas and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $266 in Vacoas versus $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 73% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Vacoas or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $737 per month in Vacoas versus $2,210 in Lisbon – a 200% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $737 in Vacoas versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Vacoas but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Vacoas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Vacoas 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 Vacoas or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Vacoas 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: Vacoas or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Vacoas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 200% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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