Lisbon vs Madrid: Which Is Cheaper in 2026?
Detailed cost of living comparison between Lisbon, Portugal and Madrid, Spain. Lisbon is more affordable with an Anchor Cost Index of 66/100 compared to Madrid's 70/100.
Quick Summary
Rent is
$0/mo cheaper
in Lisbon
Food is
+9% more
in Madrid
Transport is
+22% more
in Madrid
📊Anchor Prices
| Item | Lisbon | Madrid | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🍔Big Mac(20%) | $4.70 | $5.12 | +9% |
| 🏠1BR Rent(30%) | $1,155.00/mo | $1,155.00/mo | 0% |
| 🚗Uber 5km(20%) | $4.50 | $5.50 | +22% |
| ☕Starbucks Latte(15%) | $4.70 | $4.70 | 0% |
| 📺YouTube Premium(15%) | $10.99 | $12.99 | +18% |
| 📐 Anchor Cost Index | 66 | 70 | +6% |
📉Visual Comparison
📋Extended Costs
| Item | Lisbon | Madrid | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (City Center) | $1,540.00/mo | $1,540.00/mo | 0% |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside Center) | $770.00/mo | $770.00/mo | 0% |
| 3BR Apartment (City Center) | $3,080.00/mo | $3,080.00/mo | 0% |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside Center) | $1,760.00/mo | $1,760.00/mo | 0% |
| Price per m² (Buy, City) | $10,800.00/m² | $10,800.00/m² | 0% |
| Price per m² (Buy, Outside) | $6,500.00/m² | $6,500.00/m² | 0% |
| Airbnb (1BR, Monthly) | $1,980.00/mo | $1,980.00/mo | 0% |
| Coliving Space | $990.00/mo | $990.00/mo | 0% |
| Hostel/Dormitory | $32.00/night | $32.00/night | 0% |
| Item | Lisbon | Madrid | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $13.30 | $13.30 | 0% |
| Meal (Mid-range, 2 people) | $67.00 | $67.00 | 0% |
| McMeal at McDonald's | $8.50 | $8.50 | 0% |
| Domestic Beer (Restaurant) | $5.70 | $5.70 | 0% |
| Imported Beer (Restaurant) | $7.60 | $7.60 | 0% |
| Cappuccino | $4.70 | $4.70 | 0% |
| Coca-Cola (0.33L) | $1.90 | $1.90 | 0% |
| Water (0.33L, Restaurant) | $1.50 | $1.50 | 0% |
| Item | Lisbon | Madrid | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milk (1L) | $2.15 | $2.15 | 0% |
| Bread (500g) | $2.15 | $2.09 | +3% |
| Rice (1kg) | $1.83 | $1.99 | +9% |
| Eggs (12) | $1.99 | $2.31 | +16% |
| Chicken Breast (1kg) | $2.15 | $1.99 | +8% |
| Beef Round (1kg) | $2.15 | $2.15 | 0% |
| Apples (1kg) | $2.15 | $2.09 | +3% |
| Banana (1kg) | $2.15 | $2.15 | 0% |
| Tomato (1kg) | $2.04 | $2.31 | +13% |
| Potato (1kg) | $2.15 | $2.09 | +3% |
| Onion (1kg) | $2.09 | $2.15 | +3% |
| Lettuce (1 head) | $1.90 | $1.90 | 0% |
| Water (1.5L) | $2.15 | $2.15 | 0% |
| Wine (Mid-range) | $13.00 | $13.00 | 0% |
| Domestic Beer (0.5L, Store) | $2.15 | $1.83 | +17% |
| Cigarettes (Marlboro) | $9.50 | $9.50 | 0% |
| Item | Lisbon | Madrid | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way Ticket | $2.00 | $2.00 | 0% |
| Monthly Pass | $77.00/mo | $77.00/mo | 0% |
| Taxi Start | $3.40 | $3.40 | 0% |
| Taxi (1km) | $1.70/km | $1.70/km | 0% |
| Taxi 1hr Waiting | $30.00 | $30.00 | 0% |
| Gasoline (1L) | $1.24 | $1.24 | 0% |
| Parking (Monthly, City) | $240.00/mo | $240.00/mo | 0% |
| Car Insurance (Annual) | $1,360.00/yr | $1,360.00/yr | 0% |
| Item | Lisbon | Madrid | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Utilities (85m²) | $171.00/mo | $171.00/mo | 0% |
| Gas (Monthly) | $57.00/mo | $57.00/mo | 0% |
| Mobile Phone (10GB+) | $43.00/mo | $43.00/mo | 0% |
| Internet (60 Mbps+) | $48.00/mo | $48.00/mo | 0% |
| Item | Lisbon | Madrid | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fitness Club | $77.00/mo | $77.00/mo | 0% |
| Tennis Court (1hr) | $24.00 | $24.00 | 0% |
| Cinema Ticket | $15.00 | $15.00 | 0% |
| Netflix (Standard) | $13.00/mo | $13.00/mo | 0% |
| Spotify Premium | $9.00/mo | $9.00/mo | 0% |
| Coworking (Daily) | $29.00/day | $29.00/day | 0% |
| Coworking (Monthly) | $306.00/mo | $306.00/mo | 0% |
| Item | Lisbon | Madrid | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeans (Levi's 501) | $66.00 | $66.00 | 0% |
| Summer Dress (Zara/H&M) | $37.00 | $37.00 | 0% |
| Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas) | $93.00 | $93.00 | 0% |
| Business Shoes (Leather) | $121.00 | $121.00 | 0% |
| Item | Lisbon | Madrid | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preschool | $675.00/mo | $675.00/mo | 0% |
| International School | $28,800.00/yr | $28,800.00/yr | 0% |
| Private Tutoring (1hr) | $58.00 | $58.00 | 0% |
| Item | Lisbon | Madrid | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doctor Visit (15 min) | $41.00 | $41.00 | 0% |
| Dentist Visit | $59.00 | $59.00 | 0% |
| Prescription Medicine | $12.00 | $12.00 | 0% |
| Item | Lisbon | Madrid | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Salary (After Tax) | $3,375.00/mo | $3,375.00/mo | 0% |
| Mortgage Rate | 6.5% | 5.3% | +23% |
💵Budget Scenarios
| Scenario | Lisbon | Madrid | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🎒Backpacker | $2,253/mo | $2,253/mo | — |
| 💻Digital Nomad | $2,808/mo | $2,808/mo | — |
| 👨👩👧Small Family | $4,592/mo | $4,592/mo | — |
| 🏢Expat Professional | $3,433/mo | $3,433/mo | — |
📈Key Metrics
| Metric | Lisbon | Madrid |
|---|---|---|
| 🏠 Rent Burden | 34% | 34% |
| 🍽️ Food Affordability | 12% | 12% |
| 💻 Nomad Score | 67/100 | 67/100 |
| 👨👩👧 Family Score | 70/100 | 70/100 |
✅Verdict: Lisbon vs Madrid
Lisbon is the more affordable city overall, with an Anchor Cost Index of 66/100 compared to Madrid's 70/100.
Housing: Average 1-bedroom rent is $1,155.00/month in Lisbon vs $1,155.00/month in Madrid — a difference of —/month.
Food: A Big Mac costs $4.70 in Lisbon and $5.12 in Madrid, indicating food prices are +9% higher in Madrid.
Digital Nomad Budget: A digital nomad can expect to spend approximately $2,808/month in Lisbon vs $2,808/month in Madrid.
Data sources: Big Mac Index, Numbeo, World Bank. Updated 2026.
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❓Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lisbon cheaper than Madrid?
Lisbon is more affordable than Madrid. Lisbon has an Anchor Cost Index of 66/100 while Madrid scores 70/100. Average rent in Lisbon is $1,155.00/month compared to $1,155.00/month in Madrid.
What is the biggest cost difference between Lisbon and Madrid?
Housing is typically the biggest cost difference. Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment is $1,155.00/month in Lisbon vs $1,155.00/month in Madrid, a difference of —/month.
How is the Anchor Cost Index calculated?
Our Anchor Cost Index is a weighted average of 5 standardized items: 1BR Rent (30%), Big Mac (20%), Uber 5km (20%), Starbucks Latte (15%), and YouTube Premium (15%). Scores range from 0 (most affordable) to 100 (most expensive) across 160+ cities worldwide.