🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $839 in Valencia versus $2,268 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,336 in Valencia versus $3,348 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,834 in Valencia versus $4,429 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Valencia costs roughly 63% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Valencia is 39% below, Lisbon is 64% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Valencia
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.07VES 4,925
$17.55€15.09
-65.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.49VES 28.0K
$64.5€55.5
-46.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.86VES 12.9K
$11.65€10.01
36.14%
Cappuccino
$3.41VES 2,768
$3.26€2.80
4.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69VES 1,375
$2.49€2.14
-32.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29VES 1,050
$1.67€1.44
-22.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.02VES 1,643
$3.47€2.99
-41.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07VES 2,493
$3.58€3.07
-14.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Valencia
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.12VES 1,722
$1.18€1.02
79.66%
White Bread(500g)
$1.36VES 1,107
$1.95€1.67
-30.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39VES 1,125
$1.56€1.34
-10.90%
Eggs
$2.15VES 1,746
$4.01€3.45
-46.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.21VES 5,043
$13.27€11.41
-53.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.86VES 5,565
$8.42€7.24
-18.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.26VES 5,893
$18.23€15.68
-60.18%
Apples(1kg)
$5.14VES 4,175
$2.32€2.00
121.55%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45VES 1,175
$1.73€1.49
-16.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94VES 1,572
$1.93€1.66
0.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.40VES 1,950
$2.64€2.27
-9.09%
Potato(1kg)
$2.70VES 2,190
$1.90€1.63
42.11%
Onion(1kg)
$1.96VES 1,593
$2.11€1.82
-7.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93VES 1,567
$1.44€1.24
34.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.85VES 1,501
$0.80€0.69
131.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.54VES 2,061
$7.01€6.03
-63.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.03VES 8,141
$5.92€5.09
69.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34VES 1,084
$1.36€1.17
-1.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30VES 1,863
$2.15€1.85
6.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Valencia
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.31VES 254
$2.38€2.05
-86.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$50.9VES 41.3K
$46.22€39.74
10.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.32VES 2,694
$4.19€3.60
-20.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.99VES 1,612
$1.10€0.94
80.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.08VES 3,309
$17.26€14.84
-76.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76VES 620
$2.25€1.93
-66.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.7KVES 25.0M
$34.5K€29.6K
-10.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.7KVES 33.9M
$41.6K€35.8K
0.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Valencia
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$20.06VES 16.3K
$171€147
-88.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.70VES 7,063
$19.01€16.34
-54.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.77VES 29.0K
$34.28€29.48
4.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Valencia
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.96VES 29.2K
$49.65€42.69
-27.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.16VES 24.5K
$19.51€16.77
54.59%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86VES 3,945
$10.10€8.68
-51.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Valencia
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$75.3VES 61.1K
$699€601
-89.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,974VES 2.4M
$17.8K€15.3K
-83.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Valencia
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.14VES 35.0K
$105€89.9
-58.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.47VES 37.7K
$47.97€41.24
-3.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.8VES 74.5K
$102€87.6
-9.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.16VES 38.3K
$128€110
-63.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Valencia
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$211VES 171.4K
$1,661€1,428
-87.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$138VES 112.2K
$1,228€1,056
-88.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$285VES 231.0K
$2,915€2,506
-90.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$244VES 198.4K
$2,023€1,740
-87.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$558VES 452.9K
$8,129€6,989
-93.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$330VES 268.1K
$4,635€3,985
-92.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Valencia
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$203VES 165.2K
$1,619€1,392
-87.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
3.78
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Valencia: September 8, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $211 in Valencia and $1,661 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 696% 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: $34.00 in Valencia vs $64.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $281 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 in Lisbon?
Valencia and Lisbon differ by about 170% in total monthly costs ($839 vs $2,268 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, salaries run 696% 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 Valencia and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $211 in Valencia versus $1,661 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 $75.3 in Valencia versus $699 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 $839 in Valencia versus $2,268 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 170% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.