🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $740 in Valencia versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,269 in Valencia versus $3,311 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,798 in Valencia versus $4,411 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Valencia costs roughly 67% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Valencia is 45% below, Lisbon is 65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Valencia
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.13VES 3,424
$15.91€13.70
-61.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.57VES 27.7K
$64.8€55.8
-23.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.91VES 5,542
$10.51€9.05
-5.71%
Cappuccino
$2.52VES 1,409
$2.87€2.47
-12.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32VES 738
$2.24€1.93
-41.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97VES 542
$1.50€1.30
-35.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.33VES 741
$3.49€3.01
-61.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98VES 1,106
$3.88€3.34
-48.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Valencia
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88VES 1,049
$1.14€0.98
64.91%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26VES 707
$1.75€1.51
-28.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.23VES 689
$1.76€1.51
-30.11%
Eggs
$2.05VES 1,145
$3.22€2.77
-36.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.69VES 3,181
$13.49€11.62
-57.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.73VES 3,764
$7.91€6.81
-14.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.29VES 4,075
$15.87€13.67
-54.06%
Apples(1kg)
$5.23VES 2,925
$2.31€1.99
126.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.35VES 754
$1.70€1.46
-20.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94VES 1,083
$2.01€1.73
-3.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.07VES 1,157
$2.46€2.12
-15.85%
Potato(1kg)
$2.60VES 1,454
$1.84€1.59
41.30%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03VES 1,136
$2.00€1.72
1.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36VES 760
$1.93€1.66
-29.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.82VES 1,020
$0.79€0.68
130.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.56VES 1,428
$6.61€5.69
-61.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.09VES 5,642
$5.72€4.93
76.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39VES 776
$1.37€1.18
1.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97VES 1,103
$2.97€2.56
-33.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Valencia
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.31VES 175
$2.37€2.04
-86.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$36.34VES 20.3K
$45.56€39.23
-20.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.28VES 1,833
$4.29€3.69
-23.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19VES 1,225
$0.82€0.70
167.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.93VES 2,196
$18.30€15.76
-78.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.52VES 291
$2.06€1.78
-74.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7KVES 13.8M
$34.3K€29.5K
-27.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.1KVES 22.4M
$39.3K€33.8K
2.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Valencia
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$20.45VES 11.4K
$148€127
-86.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.87VES 4,399
$20.52€17.67
-61.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.07VES 20.7K
$39.61€34.11
-6.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Valencia
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.54VES 19.9K
$47.85€41.20
-25.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.33VES 17.0K
$18.92€16.29
60.31%
Cinema Ticket
$4.87VES 2,722
$9.18€7.91
-46.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Valencia
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$77.2VES 43.1K
$614€529
-87.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,041VES 1.7M
$16.0K€13.8K
-81.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Valencia
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.03VES 19.0K
$105€90.1
-67.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.12VES 18.0K
$42.06€36.22
-23.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.1VES 40.9K
$94.0€80.9
-22.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.0VES 38.6K
$120€103
-42.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Valencia
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$139VES 77.6K
$1,628€1,402
-91.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$122VES 68.0K
$1,255€1,081
-90.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$271VES 151.4K
$3,030€2,609
-91.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$241VES 134.5K
$2,020€1,740
-88.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$567VES 317.0K
$7,800€6,716
-92.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$326VES 182.2K
$4,273€3,679
-92.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Valencia
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$212VES 118.2K
$1,603€1,381
-86.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
21.33
3.81
459.84%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Valencia: May 31, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $139 in Valencia and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 658% 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: $50.0 in Valencia vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $240 vs $269 per month, with Valencia 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
Valencia vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Valencia and Lisbon?
Valencia and Lisbon differ by about 199% in total monthly costs ($740 vs $2,210 including rent). Valencia 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 658% 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 Valencia and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $139 in Valencia versus $1,628 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 Valencia and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $77.2 in Valencia versus $614 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 12% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $740 in Valencia versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Valencia but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Valencia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Valencia 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 Valencia or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Valencia 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: Valencia or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Valencia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 199% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.