Lisbon is one of the cities in Europe that receives the most Brazilians, either to study or to work. But how much will it cost to live there? We went after the answer to that question and put together this guide on the cost of living in Lisbon with the average prices of some essential items for living in the city. According to CountryAAH, Lisbon is the capital of Portugal.

Cost of living in Lisbon: Accommodation

Prices for apartment rentals in Portugal, in general, have grown a lot in recent years, mainly in the country’s major urban centers, such as Porto and Lisbon. In the capital, the rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center usually exceeds 800 euros. Therefore, the most common way to save money in Lisbon is to rent an apartment in the suburbs of the city, which are well connected by public transport; or share an apartment with other people in the most central areas. Check below an estimated average of prices in the city.

• One bedroom apartment in the city center: 850 euros
• One bedroom apartment outside the city center: 550 euros
• Utilities (electricity, water, gas, etc.): 90 euros
• Fixed internet connection: between 20 and 30 euros (depending on speed)

Cost of living in Lisbon: Food

Eating in Lisbon, in general, is not so expensive. And that goes for both supermarkets and restaurants. But of course, cooking at home will save you even more. Finding fresh fruits and vegetables in the city is easy and there are several stalls spread out, in addition to the large supermarkets. If you do not dispense with organic products, you can expect to pay more or less twice the standard prices.

The cheapest supermarket chains (which have several promotions) are Pingo Doce, Continente, Jumbo and Lidl. Check below the average prices of some essential items:

• 1 liter of milk: 0.69 euros
• Loaf of bread: 1.13 euros
• 12 eggs: 1.73 euros
• 1 kg of local cheese: 7.99 euros
• 5 liter of water: 0.68 euros
• 1 kg of potatoes: 1 euro
• Bottle of wine: 5 euros
• 33 liter of beer: 0.85 euros

Cost of living in Lisbon: Transportation

Public transport in Lisbon, compared to other major European capitals, can be considered cheap. And, to save even more, the ideal is to buy the monthly pass, which allows you to use most of the city’s public transport, such as subway, train and bus. An individual ticket costs 1.50 euros, while the monthly pass can be purchased for 35 euros.

Cost of living in Lisbon: Restaurants

Eating out is part of the Portuguese experience and you can’t help but experience it. A standard meal in a cheap restaurant costs on average 8 euros for one person. In an average restaurant, this value rises to around 15 euros.

Cost of living in Lisbon: Clothing

Lisbon has many good stores and shopping centers, but the prices charged in large department stores are not usually so different from other branches in Europe. The good news is that there are some specific stores that sell very cheap parts. One of them is Primark, which you must visit if you want to save money. Check below the average prices of some pieces in conventional department stores:

• 1 pair of pants: 25 euros
• 1 pair of running shoes: 70 euros
• 1 dress: 20-30 euros

Cost of living in Lisbon: Monthly total

To live a comfortable life (but without many luxuries) in Lisbon, expect to spend between 1000 and 1200 euros per month. But of course, how much you spend will depend a lot on the lifestyle you will take in the city.

Cost of living in Lisbon compared to other cities

To finish today’s text, check out how much cheaper or more expensive it is to live in Lisbon compared to other important cities in Portugal and the world, according to the Expatistan website:

• São Paulo: 47% more expensive
• Rio de Janeiro: 55% more expensive
• Buenos Aires: 94% more expensive
• Santiago: 28% more expensive
• Porto: 7% more expensive
• Madrid: 11% cheaper
• Barcelona: 12% cheaper
• Faro: 16% more expensive
• Braga: 16% more expensive
• Coimbra: 23% more expensive
• Évora: 5% more expensive
• London: 43% cheaper
• Paris: 34% cheaper
• Rome: 16% cheaper
• Amsterdam: 35% cheaper
• New York: 51% cheaper
• Toronto: 29% cheaper
• Berlin: 16% cheaper