Should you visit Lisbon or London?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Lisbon and London. We’ll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget. So, let's dig into it.
Lisbon
Portugal's capital city of Lisbon continues to grow in popularity as a travel destination. The cultural scene has come to life in recent years and the city itself is stunningly beautiful. It sits on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and is made up of hills that create a dramatic and scenic layout. The city has many white-bleached limestone buildings, narrow alleyways, and a laidback charm that appeals to visitors.
London
The capital of the United Kingdom is a thriving multicultural metropolis. Steeped in iconic landmarks, world-class museums and royal parks, London is energetic, majestic, ambitious and one of the world's greatest cities. London is a cultural and fashion capital, a great place to go out, an amazing place to eat and one of those cities that is constantly changing with new and exciting things sprouting up almost every day. History and tradition greet you at every turn in the UK's capital. London is also a city with an edgy underbelly, delighting in neon pink dive bars, cheeky graffiti and mind-blowing street food. When you need a break from the action, pop into a pub or relax in one of the city's many parks. Blow through the city on a double-decker bus, and take a pinch-me-I'm-in-London walk through the West End. As one of the most visited cities in the world, London is busy, vibrant and very tourist friendly. The only problem with London is that it's very expensive; it can eat away at your budget if you aren't careful. Luckily, there are also tons of free or cheap things to do in London that can fill your time.
Which city is cheaper, London or Lisbon?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Lisbon is €96, while the average daily cost in London is €169. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Lisbon and London in more detail.
Accommodation
For a normal double-occupancy room in Lisbon, €86 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Lisbon, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is €43, such as in a hostel.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about €212 in London For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
In Lisbon travelers spend around €31 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
London food costs typically run travelers around €33 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Lisbon
€31
London
€33
Typical Food prices in Lisbon
For Lisbon, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lisbon
For Lisbon, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
2-Hour Pastel de Nata Cooking Class:
$55
-
Private Family-Friendly Food Tour:
$67
-
3-Hour Bike Food Tour:
$70
-
Lisbon Hands-on Portuguese Cooking Class:
$80
-
Lisbon by night - Walking Tour, Fado and Dinner:
$108
-
Drag Queen Cooking Party and Live Show:
$119
-
Half–Day Private Electric Tuk Tuk Guided Food Tour:
$119
-
Azeitão and Alentejo Wine and Food Tour from Lisbon:
$182
-
Lisbon Fado and Dinner Private Prestige Tour:
$327
-
Fado Dinner Show Private Night Lisbon Tour:
$273
Typical Food prices in London
For London, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in London
For London, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Moroccan Couscous Dinner in Shoreditch:
$50
-
3-Hour Secret British Food Tour:
$82
-
London Gourmet Food Tour:
$125
-
London Half-Day Food Tour: International Foods of Soho:
$111
-
3-Hour Thames Jazz Dinner Cruise:
$92
-
The London Showboat: Dinner, Show & Sightseeing Cruise:
$114
-
River Thames Dinner Cruise:
$116
-
Modern British Dinner at Chef's Home in East London:
$62
-
Dinner with Filmmakers & Filmmaking Experience in London:
$74
-
4-Hour East End Food Tour:
$98
Local Transportation
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Lisbon than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend €17 on transportation in Lisbon on average per day.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in London than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend €24 on transportation in London on average per day.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Lisbon
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Lisbon:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lisbon
Also for Lisbon, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Lisbon Airport: Shared Arrival and Departure Transfers:
$12
-
Lisbon Sailing Tour with Transfers:
$35
-
Lisbon Airport Transfer Service to Cascais Hotels:
$46
-
Private Transfer from/to Lisbon Airport:
$46
-
Lisbon Airport Transfer to Cascais, Estoril or Sintra:
$64
-
Lisbon Airport to City Center Private Transfer:
$68
-
Full-Day Kayak Tour with Picnic and Transfer:
$97
-
Transfer between Lisbon and Popular Cities in Portugal:
$260
-
Lisbon Airport to or from Algarve Private Transfer:
$358
-
Lisbon to Seville Private Transfer:
$666
Typical Local Transportation prices in London
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in London:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in London
Also for London, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Shared City Center Transfer to London City Airport:
$30
-
Executive Transfer Between Heathrow and Central London:
$115
-
Executive Transfer Gatwick to or from Central London:
$169
-
Private Transfer: London to Southend Airport:
$173
-
Oxford Full-Day Tour from London with Train Transfers:
$57
-
Harry Potter Studios and Private Transfer from London:
$126
-
Harry Potter Warner Brothers Studio Tour & Transfers:
$117
-
Harry Potter: Warner Bros. Studio Tour with Transfer:
$118
-
London Airports: Shared Transfer to London Hotels:
$16
-
Warner Bros. Studio Tour and Transfer from London:
$118
Entertainment
Sightseeing expenses in Lisbon, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of €14 per day, per person.
Sightseeing expenses in London, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of €30 per day, per person.
Tours and Activities in Lisbon
Here are a few actual costs in Lisbon for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
Lisboa Story Centre: 1-Day Admission Ticket:
$8.48
-
Private 1.5-Hour Kickstart Tour w/ a Local:
$9.10
-
4-Hour Walking Tour and Free Tram Ride:
$16
-
Belém Guided Tour:
$17
-
Small Group Walking Tour of Belém:
$18
-
Self-Drive City Tour With GPS Audio Guide:
$20
-
Lisbon’s South Side, River Tejo & 3-Hour Walking Tour:
$22
-
Private Off the Beaten Path Tour with a Local:
$26
-
Old Lisbon Private Walk Tour:
$26
-
Lisbon Half-Day Private Tour:
$28
Typical Entertainment prices in London
Here are a few typical costs in London for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in London
Here are a few actual costs in London for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
90 minute Jack the Ripper Guided Walking Tour:
$14
-
Soho and Camden Market 3-Hour Tour in Spanish:
$15
-
Hidden London Walking Tour:
$17
-
World Rugby Museum Entrance Ticket:
$18
-
Notting Hill 2–Hour Walking Tour:
$20
-
South Bank 3-Hour Walking Tour and River Cruise:
$28
-
The London Time Tour Bus:
$28
-
Royal Parks and Palaces Bike Tour:
$34
-
Gangster London Walking Tour with Celebrity Guide:
$35
-
Small Group Children's Tour of Westminster in German:
$35
Alcohol
The average person spends about €12 on alcoholic beverages in Lisbon per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
The average person spends about €14 on alcoholic beverages in London per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in Lisbon
Also in Lisbon, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
From Private Wine Tour with Setúbal & Arrábida:
$61
-
Arrábida: Full-Day Private Tour with Wine Tasting:
$71
-
Port Wine Tasting & Tapas:
$90
-
Private Van Tour Evora and Alentejo Wine Tasting:
$91
-
Private Wine Tour in Lisbon:
$91
-
Lisbon Wine Tasting, Tapas and Old City Tour:
$118
-
Cheleiros and Bucelas Wine Tasting Tour from Lisbon:
$205
-
Setúbal Region & Arrábida: Full-Day Private Wine Tour:
$239
-
Sintra: Full-Day Tour from Lisbon with Wine Tasting:
$64
-
Portuguese Wine Tasting and Cheese Lunch:
$44
Sample the Local Flavors in London
Also in London, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
2-Hour Historic Pub Tour:
$28
-
West End Beer Tasting Pub Tour:
$68
-
Drink London! Historical Pub Walking Tour:
$35
-
2.5-Hour East End Pub Tour:
$48
-
London Pub Crawl and Nightlife Tour:
$28
-
The London Pub Crawl - Shoreditch:
$14
-
Camden Pub Crawl:
$20
-
The Original Shoreditch Pub Crawl:
$28
-
Central Daily 5-Hour Pub Crawl:
$14
-
5-Hour Shoreditch Pub Crawl:
$14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lisbon and London, we can see that London is more expensive. And not only is Lisbon much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Lisbon would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lisbon and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in London would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in London than you might in Lisbon.
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