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: $724 in Vacoas versus $2,291 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,107 in Vacoas versus $3,322 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,490 in Vacoas versus $4,354 in Lisbon.

Living in Vacoas costs roughly 68% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Vacoas is 46% below, Lisbon is 71% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vacoas
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.58 MUR 309
$16.19 €14.15
-59.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.98 MUR 1,550
$63.3 €55.3
-47.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.98 MUR 234
$10.32 €9.02
-51.74%
Cappuccino
$2.58 MUR 121
$2.83 €2.47
-8.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MUR 45.64
$2.29 €2.00
-57.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 MUR 28.03
$1.58 €1.38
-62.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.26 MUR 106
$3.40 €2.97
-33.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 MUR 93.6
$4.03 €3.52
-50.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vacoas
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 MUR 62.9
$1.09 €0.95
22.94%
White Bread (500g)
$0.66 MUR 30.81
$1.75 €1.53
-62.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.26 MUR 59.4
$1.76 €1.54
-28.41%
Eggs
$2.10 MUR 98.6
$3.17 €2.77
-33.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.83 MUR 133
$13.19 €11.53
-78.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.92 MUR 137
$7.97 €6.96
-63.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.44 MUR 256
$15.53 €13.57
-64.97%
Apples (1kg)
$1.99 MUR 93.5
$2.37 €2.07
-16.03%
Banana (1kg)
$2.01 MUR 94.5
$1.71 €1.49
17.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.45 MUR 68.2
$2.01 €1.75
-27.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.72 MUR 128
$2.43 €2.12
11.93%
Potato (1kg)
$0.98 MUR 46.26
$1.76 €1.54
-44.32%
Onion (1kg)
$1.01 MUR 47.25
$2.03 €1.78
-50.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.80 MUR 37.64
$1.92 €1.68
-58.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 MUR 35.31
$0.85 €0.74
-11.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.80 MUR 273
$6.58 €5.75
-11.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.48 MUR 305
$5.58 €4.87
16.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.46 MUR 68.7
$1.33 €1.16
9.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 MUR 104
$2.97 €2.60
-25.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Vacoas
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 MUR 44.37
$2.28 €1.99
-58.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$45.79 €40.01
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.30 MUR 202
$4.23 €3.69
1.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.66 MUR 125
$0.81 €0.71
228.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.53 MUR 213
$18.44 €16.11
-75.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.40 MUR 65.8
$2.08 €1.82
-32.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.9K MUR 1.3M
$34.7K €30.3K
-22.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3K MUR 1.3M
$39.2K €34.2K
-27.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vacoas
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$49.42 MUR 2,323
$148 €129
-66.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.04 MUR 519
$20.46 €17.88
-46.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.44 MUR 1,196
$39.56 €34.56
-35.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vacoas
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.11 MUR 1,227
$47.99 €41.93
-45.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.60 €16.25
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.46 MUR 257
$9.22 €8.06
-40.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vacoas
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$157 MUR 7,381
$616 €538
-74.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,037 MUR 189.7K
$16.4K €14.4K
-75.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vacoas
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.83 MUR 1,402
$103 €89.7
-70.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.57 MUR 1,343
$41.74 €36.47
-31.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$66.6 MUR 3,132
$94.8 €82.8
-29.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.5 MUR 2,795
$122 €107
-51.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vacoas
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$262 MUR 12.3K
$1,633 €1,426
-83.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 MUR 11.1K
$1,232 €1,077
-80.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$520 MUR 24.4K
$3,098 €2,707
-83.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$326 MUR 15.3K
$2,031 €1,775
-83.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,831 €6,842
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$4,389 €3,835
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vacoas
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$697 MUR 32.8K
$1,607 €1,404
-56.63%
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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $262 in Vacoas and $1,633 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 131% 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 $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $156 vs $267 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 in Lisbon?
Vacoas and Lisbon differ by about 216% in total monthly costs ($724 vs $2,291 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, salaries run 131% 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 Vacoas and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $262 in Vacoas versus $1,633 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 71% 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 $724 per month in Vacoas versus $2,291 in Lisbon – a 216% 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 $724 in Vacoas versus $2,291 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 216% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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