Lisbon vs Rome
The short answer
Lisbon is the cheaper trip, by roughly 12% a day — $80–150 against $95–170 mid-range per person. Meals run the other way, though: a cheap plate is €6–12 ($6.50–13) in Rome against $11–16 in Lisbon. Both are at their best in Apr–May, Sep–Oct, so one trip can take in both.
Side by side
Mid-range, per person, in US dollars. Both guides were costed the same way — see how we work these out.
| 🇵🇹 Lisbon | 🇮🇹 Rome | |
|---|---|---|
| Daily budgetmid-range, per person | $80–150cheaper | $95–170 |
| Cheap meallocal staple | $11–16 | €6–12 ($6.50–13)cheaper |
| Mid-range hotelper night | $85–160cheaper | €100–200 ($108–216) |
| Transit ridesingle trip | $1.90–2.10 | €1.50 ($1.60)cheaper |
| Avg. monthly salarylocal, for context | ≈ $1,750 | ≈ $2,100 |
When to go
Filled months are the ones each guide recommends; hollow ones it warns off.
What you'd actually do
A few of each guide's picks, one per category before seconds — the full lists are on the guides themselves.
🇵🇹 Lisbon
Seven hills, yellow trams and tiled façades above a river the size of a sea. Western Europe's best-value capital, and one of the few where the historic centre is still somewhere people live.
- Jerónimos Monastery$$Landmarks
- Alfama$Neighbourhoods & views
- Pastéis de Belém$Restaurants & food
- Fado in Alfama$$Nightlife & music
- Belém Tower$$Landmarks
🇮🇹 Rome
The Eternal City — ancient ruins, Renaissance piazzas, and some of the world's best food, all stacked on top of 2,700 years of history.
- Freni e Frizioni$$Nightlife
- Roscioli$$$Restaurants
- Teatro dell'Opera di Roma$$$Theater & shows
- Jerry Thomas Speakeasy$$$Nightlife
- Da Enzo al 29$$Restaurants
Practicalities
| Lisbon | Rome | |
|---|---|---|
| Language | Portuguese. English is widely spoken in the centre and by anyone under about 40 | Italian. English is common around major sights and hotels, less so in neighborhood trattorias. |
| Currency | Euro (€) | Euro (€). US$1 ≈ €0.93 |
| Time zone | WET (UTC+0), WEST (UTC+1) in summer — an hour behind most of Western Europe | CET (UTC+1), CEST (UTC+2) in summer |
| Power | 230V, Type F — the standard two-pin European plug | Type C/F/L plugs, 230V |
| Tap water | Safe and perfectly drinkable everywhere | Safe to drink — including from the city's public nasoni drinking fountains |
| Emergency | 112 for everything | 112 general emergency (EU-wide) |