A recent study by the international magazine Chef’s Pencil has revealed that Lisbon and Porto are among the cities where dining out puts the most strain on household budgets. The analysis compared the cost of meals, coffee, and beer against local salaries in 177 cities worldwide, focusing on mid-range restaurants as a key indicator of affordability.
Mariana Valle Lima | Bife à Brilhante
The study, based on data from Numbeo, a collaborative cost-of-living database, measured affordability by calculating the percentage of the average monthly net salary needed for a three-course meal. Results show stark contrasts: in 26 cities, primarily in the U.S. and East Asia, such a meal costs 1% or less of income, while Caracas and Lagos are the least affordable.
For Portugal, Lisbon ranks 119th globally, with a mid-range three-course meal (€30 per person) accounting for 2.2% of the average monthly salary of €1,340. Porto is similarly positioned at 116th place. In comparison, European cities like Berlin (34th), Madrid (69th), and Rome (97th) are more affordable, indicating that Lisbon is pricier relative to local earnings.
The analysis also included coffee and beer costs. In Lisbon, a cappuccino (€2.55) equals 0.2% of the salary, while 10 beers per month (€3.35 each) consume 1.6%. Porto offers a cheaper cappuccino (€1.95) but beer costs (€3.15 each) take up 2.6% of income, highlighting regional differences.
Additionally, the study examined budget meals (cheap eats). In Lisbon, a simple meal (€13.85) requires 1.1% of the monthly salary, placing it 114th, with Singapore leading at just €7.90 on average.
The full ranking is available online, providing insights into global dining affordability trends.
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