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Lisbon vs Madrid cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇪🇸 MadridLisbon and Madrid cost about the same
Living on $4,855 a month in Lisbon feels like about $4,794 in Madrid — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$237 vs $252
Per month
$4,855 vs $4,794
Local meal
€ 11 vs € 12
$12.8 vs $14
Taxi 5 km
€ 6.5 vs € 10
$7.56 vs $11.6
At a glance
FoodLisbon 7% cheaper
Cafés & drinkssimilar
TransportLisbon 15% cheaper
Staysimilar
FunLisbon 17% cheaper
- Where Madrid is clearly cheaper: Transit (17%↓)
- Where Lisbon is clearly cheaper: Taxi (35%↓), Convenience store (34%↓), Bottled water (33%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Lisbon | Madrid | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | € 11$12.8 | € 12$14 | Lisbon −8% |
| Street food1 item | € 5$5.81 | € 5.4$6.28 | Lisbon −7% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | € 25$29.1 | € 26$30.2 | similar |
| Coffeeone cup | € 2$2.33 | € 2$2.33 | similar |
| Beerone bottle | € 3$3.49 | € 3$3.49 | similar |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | € 7.8$9.07 | € 7.8$9.07 | similar |
| Bottled water | € 1$1.16 | € 1.5$1.74 | Lisbon −33% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | € 2.5$2.91 | € 3.8$4.42 | Lisbon −34% |
| Taxi5 km in town | € 6.5$7.56 | € 10$11.6 | Lisbon −35% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | € 6$6.98 | € 7$8.14 | Lisbon −14% |
| Transitone ride | € 1.8$2.09 | € 1.5$1.74 | Madrid −17% |
| Scooter rentalper day | € 26$30.2 | € 30$34.9 | Lisbon −13% |
| Hotel night3-star | € 120$140 | € 120$140 | similar |
| Studio rent (month) | € 1,300$1,512 | € 1,200$1,395 | Madrid −8% |
| Laundry | € 2.5$2.91 | € 3$3.49 | Lisbon −17% |
| SIM card1 week data | € 10$11.6 | € 13$15.1 | Lisbon −23% |
| Haircutcut | € 14$16.3 | € 16$18.6 | Lisbon −12% |
| Massage1 hour | € 39$45.3 | € 47$54.7 | Lisbon −17% |
| Half-day tourper person | € 39$45.3 | € 43$50 | Lisbon −9% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | € 10$11.6 | € 13$15.1 | Lisbon −23% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Lisbon or Madrid?
Lisbon and Madrid cost about the same. Daily budget $237 vs $252; a month $4,855 vs $4,794.
How do monthly costs compare between Lisbon and Madrid?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Lisbon is about $4,855 and Madrid about $4,794 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.