Cost of Living Comparison Between Zimba and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Zimba and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $113 in Zimba versus $2,291 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $174 in Zimba versus $3,322 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $235 in Zimba versus $4,354 in Lisbon.

Living in Zimba costs roughly 95% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Zimba is 92% below, Lisbon is 71% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zimba
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$16.19 €14.17
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$63.3 €55.4
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.43 ZMW 44.19
$10.32 €9.03
-76.45%
Cappuccino
$1.28 ZMW 23.22
$2.83 €2.48
-54.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ZMW 11.74
$2.29 €2.00
-72.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ZMW 5.52
$1.58 €1.38
-81.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.63 ZMW 11.47
$3.40 €2.98
-81.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ZMW 15.44
$4.03 €3.52
-78.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zimba
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
-
$1.09 €0.95
-
White Bread (500g)
$0.80 ZMW 14.54
$1.75 €1.53
-54.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 ZMW 21.90
$1.76 €1.54
-31.82%
Eggs
$1.05 ZMW 19.18
$3.17 €2.77
-66.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$13.19 €11.54
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$7.97 €6.97
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$2.93 ZMW 53.4
$15.53 €13.59
-81.13%
Apples (1kg)
$1.43 ZMW 25.98
$2.37 €2.07
-39.66%
Banana (1kg)
$1.27 ZMW 23.04
$1.71 €1.49
-25.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.43 ZMW 44.15
$2.01 €1.76
20.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.63 ZMW 11.48
$2.43 €2.13
-74.07%
Potato (1kg)
-
$1.76 €1.54
-
Onion (1kg)
$0.63 ZMW 11.53
$2.03 €1.78
-68.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.69 ZMW 12.47
$1.92 €1.68
-64.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.39 ZMW 7.13
$0.85 €0.74
-54.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$6.58 €5.76
-
Wine (Bottle)
$6.62 ZMW 121
$5.58 €4.88
18.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.64 ZMW 11.63
$1.33 €1.17
-51.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ZMW 15.45
$2.97 €2.60
-71.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Zimba
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.28 €1.99
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$45.79 €40.06
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$4.23 €3.70
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.81 €0.71
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$18.44 €16.13
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$2.08 €1.82
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$34.7K €30.3K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$39.2K €34.3K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zimba
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$148 €130
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$20.46 €17.90
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$39.56 €34.61
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zimba
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$47.99 €41.99
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.60 €16.27
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$9.22 €8.07
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zimba
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$616 €539
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$16.4K €14.4K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zimba
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$103 €89.9
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$41.74 €36.52
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$94.8 €82.9
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$122 €107
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zimba
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,633 €1,428
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,232 €1,078
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$3,098 €2,711
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,031 €1,777
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,831 €6,851
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$4,389 €3,840
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zimba
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,607 €1,406
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
3.81
-

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

Last update for Zimba: July 11, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

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
Zimba vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Zimba and in Lisbon?
Zimba and Lisbon differ by about 1919% in total monthly costs ($113 vs $2,291 including rent). Zimba is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Zimba compared to Lisbon?
You'd need roughly $170 in Zimba and $3,437 in Lisbon to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 233% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Zimba or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $113 per month in Zimba versus $2,291 in Lisbon – a 1919% 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 $113 in Zimba versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Zimba but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Zimba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Zimba 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 Zimba or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Zimba 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: Zimba or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Zimba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1919% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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