🇵🇹 Lisbon vs 🇵🇹 Porto
Cost of Living Comparison (2026)
Porto is 16% cheaper than Lisbon
Quick answer
Comparing Lisbon, Portugal and Porto, Portugal: a moderate single-person monthly budget is approximately $2,604 in Lisbon versus $2,184 in Porto. Porto is roughly 16% cheaper overall. Central 1-bed rent: $1,466/mo (Lisbon) vs $1,176/mo (Porto). The totals use the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Key facts
- Moderate budget: $2,604/mo in Lisbon single person — city-centre rent + modeled non-housing categories.
- Moderate budget: $2,184/mo in Porto single person — like-for-like city-centre basket.
- Central 1-bed rent $1,466/mo in Lisbon · $1,176/mo in Porto.
- Cheaper overall: Porto ~16% cheaper than Lisbon.
- Source World Bank ICP + national statistics + item-level price snapshots · CC BY 4.0.
Monthly Budget Comparison
| Lifestyle | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | 🇵🇹 Porto | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $1,800/mo | $1,550/mo | -14% |
| Moderate | $2,604/mo | $2,184/mo | -16% |
| Comfortable | $3,900/mo | $3,300/mo | -15% |
The Moderate row equals the category table below: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending. Budget and Comfortable scale that same basket.
Cost Breakdown by Category
| Category | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | 🇵🇹 Porto | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1-bed, center) | $1,466/mo | $1,176/mo | -20% |
| Groceries & Food | $350/mo | $310/mo | -11% |
| Dining Out | $175/mo | $155/mo | -11% |
| Transport | $175/mo | $155/mo | -11% |
| Utilities & Internet | $175/mo | $155/mo | -11% |
| Healthcare | $140/mo | $124/mo | -11% |
| Leisure & Personal | $123/mo | $109/mo | -11% |
Category sum = Moderate budget. Basis: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Housing (1-bed, center)
Lisbon
$1,466
Porto
$1,176
Groceries & Food
Lisbon
$350
Porto
$310
Dining Out
Lisbon
$175
Porto
$155
Transport
Lisbon
$175
Porto
$155
Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$175
Porto
$155
Healthcare
Lisbon
$140
Porto
$124
Leisure & Personal
Lisbon
$123
Porto
$109
Detailed Price Comparison
Sources: INE (Statistics Portugal), Eurostat / INE (Statistics Portugal), Eurostat. Updated Jan 2026.
Groceries
| Item | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | 🇵🇹 Porto | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loaf of bread (500g) | $1 | $1 | -8% |
| Milk (1 liter) | $1 | $1 | -6% |
| Eggs (12) | $3 | $2 | -8% |
| Chicken breast (1 kg) | $7 | $6 | -8% |
| Rice (1 kg) | $1 | $1 | -8% |
| Apples (1 kg) | $2 | $2 | -11% |
| Tomatoes (1 kg) | $2 | $2 | -14% |
Restaurants & Cafes
| Item | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | 🇵🇹 Porto | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch menu (business district) | $10 | $9 | -8% |
| Fast food combo meal | $8 | $7 | -7% |
| Cappuccino | $2 | $2 | -17% |
| Beer (0.5L, restaurant) | $3 | $3 | -18% |
| Beer (0.5L, store) | $1 | $1 | -18% |
Housing
| Item | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | 🇵🇹 Porto | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-bedroom apartment, center | $1,466 | $1,176 | -20% |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside | $800 | $600 | -25% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, center | $2,100 | $1,600 | -24% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, outside | $1,400 | $1,000 | -29% |
Transport
| Item | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | 🇵🇹 Porto | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly transit pass | $44 | $40 | -9% |
| Taxi start (normal tariff) | $4 | $4 | -5% |
| Taxi per km | $1 | $1 | -7% |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | $2 | $2 | 0% |
Utilities & Internet
| Item | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | 🇵🇹 Porto | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity, water, garbage (85m²) | $120 | $110 | -8% |
| Internet (60+ Mbps) | $35 | $33 | -6% |
| Mobile plan (10GB+) | $18 | $17 | -6% |
Leisure & Fitness
| Item | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | 🇵🇹 Porto | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gym membership (monthly) | $40 | $35 | -13% |
| Cinema ticket | $8 | $8 | -5% |
Personal Care
| Item | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | 🇵🇹 Porto | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haircut (men) | $15 | $12 | -20% |
Quick Facts
🇵🇹 Lisbon
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $2,604
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $1,466/mo
- Cappuccino
- $2.45
- Inexpensive meal
- $14.00
- Monthly transit pass
- $44
- Internet speed
- 115 Mbps
- Safety index
- 78/100(very safe)
- Healthcare index
- 95/100
- Country
- Portugal
🇵🇹 Porto
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $2,184
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $1,176/mo
- Cappuccino
- $1.50
- Inexpensive meal
- $9.00
- Monthly transit pass
- $40
- Internet speed
- 110 Mbps
- Safety index
- 82/100(very safe)
- Healthcare index
- 95/100
- Country
- Portugal
Explore more: Lisbon city guide | Porto city guide | Portugal
Related Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lisbon or Porto cheaper to live in?
Porto is approximately 16% cheaper than Lisbon overall.
How much does it cost to live in Lisbon per month?
A moderate monthly budget for a single person in Lisbon is approximately $2,604 on the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
How much does it cost to live in Porto per month?
A moderate monthly budget for a single person in Porto is approximately $2,184 on the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
What is the rent difference between Lisbon and Porto?
A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center costs around $1,466/month in Lisbon and $1,176/month in Porto.