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: $762 in Vacoas versus $2,316 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,128 in Vacoas versus $3,361 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,494 in Vacoas versus $4,405 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 69% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vacoas
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.93 MUR 279
$17.30 €14.93
-65.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.70 MUR 1,491
$63.3 €54.6
-49.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.19 MUR 291
$11.39 €9.83
-45.65%
Cappuccino
$2.72 MUR 128
$3.19 €2.75
-14.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18 MUR 55.5
$2.45 €2.11
-51.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 MUR 28.67
$1.76 €1.52
-65.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.68 MUR 126
$3.59 €3.10
-25.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.84 MUR 181
$3.39 €2.93
13.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vacoas
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.42 MUR 66.7
$1.24 €1.07
14.52%
White Bread (500g)
$0.73 MUR 34.19
$1.98 €1.71
-63.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 MUR 53.9
$1.52 €1.31
-24.34%
Eggs
$2.26 MUR 106
$4.04 €3.49
-44.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.59 MUR 122
$13.54 €11.68
-80.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.51 MUR 118
$8.39 €7.24
-70.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.30 MUR 532
$18.25 €15.75
-38.08%
Apples (1kg)
$2.49 MUR 117
$2.29 €1.98
8.73%
Banana (1kg)
$2.19 MUR 103
$1.74 €1.50
25.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.39 MUR 65.6
$1.86 €1.60
-25.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.91 MUR 137
$2.63 €2.27
10.65%
Potato (1kg)
$0.97 MUR 45.41
$1.92 €1.65
-49.48%
Onion (1kg)
$0.94 MUR 44.26
$2.09 €1.81
-55.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.75 MUR 35.15
$1.44 €1.24
-47.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 MUR 33.00
$0.84 €0.73
-16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.32 MUR 298
$6.78 €5.85
-6.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.20 MUR 292
$5.71 €4.93
8.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44 MUR 67.7
$1.38 €1.19
4.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 MUR 107
$2.22 €1.91
2.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Vacoas
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.34 MUR 63.3
$2.40 €2.07
-44.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$46.78 €40.37
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.21 MUR 198
$4.17 €3.60
0.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.14 MUR 148
$1.14 €0.98
175.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.16 MUR 196
$17.68 €15.26
-76.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.38 MUR 64.9
$2.32 €2.01
-40.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.5K MUR 1.4M
$35.3K €30.5K
-16.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.3K MUR 1.5M
$41.4K €35.8K
-24.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vacoas
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$45.72 MUR 2,151
$170 €147
-73.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.64 MUR 501
$19.34 €16.69
-44.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.45 MUR 1,150
$33.64 €29.03
-27.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vacoas
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.11 MUR 1,652
$48.10 €41.50
-27.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.90 €17.17
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.17 MUR 243
$9.92 €8.56
-47.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vacoas
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$128 MUR 6,039
$717 €619
-82.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,684 MUR 361.5K
$17.5K €15.1K
-56.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vacoas
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.90 MUR 1,501
$105 €90.4
-69.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.97 MUR 1,834
$46.95 €40.51
-17.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$63.2 MUR 2,974
$103 €89.2
-38.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.23 MUR 2,222
$124 €107
-61.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vacoas
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$268 MUR 12.6K
$1,677 €1,447
-83.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$222 MUR 10.5K
$1,271 €1,097
-82.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 MUR 22.4K
$2,985 €2,575
-84.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 MUR 11.1K
$1,992 €1,719
-88.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,826 €6,753
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$4,658 €4,019
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vacoas
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$688 MUR 32.4K
$1,583 €1,366
-56.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.67
3.79
75.99%

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

Last update for Vacoas: August 30, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $268 in Vacoas and $1,677 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 130% 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: $32.00 in Vacoas vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $175 vs $283 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 204% in total monthly costs ($762 vs $2,316 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 130% 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: $268 in Vacoas versus $1,677 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 61% 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 $762 per month in Vacoas versus $2,316 in Lisbon – a 204% 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 $762 in Vacoas versus $2,316 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 204% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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