Cost of Living Comparison Between Caracas and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Caracas and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,187 per month in Caracas vs $2,291 in Lisbon, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,010 per month in Caracas vs $3,322 in Lisbon, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,833 per month in Caracas vs $4,354 in Lisbon, rent included.

Caracas is about 48% cheaper than Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Caracas sits 11% below the global median, while Lisbon is 71% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Caracas
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.20 VES 8,913
$16.19 €14.15
-24.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.2 VES 39.6K
$63.3 €55.3
-14.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.13 VES 7,400
$10.32 €9.02
-1.84%
Cappuccino
$2.52 VES 1,842
$2.83 €2.47
-10.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 VES 963
$2.29 €2.00
-42.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 VES 696
$1.58 €1.38
-39.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.53 VES 1,115
$3.40 €2.97
-55.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 VES 2,130
$4.03 €3.52
-27.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Caracas
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.86 VES 1,359
$1.09 €0.95
70.64%
White Bread (500g)
$2.76 VES 2,016
$1.75 €1.53
57.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 VES 1,037
$1.76 €1.54
-19.32%
Eggs
$2.84 VES 2,078
$3.17 €2.77
-10.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.98 VES 7,294
$13.19 €11.53
-24.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.31 VES 5,343
$7.97 €6.96
-8.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.40 VES 5,406
$15.53 €13.57
-52.35%
Apples (1kg)
$5.33 VES 3,895
$2.37 €2.07
124.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 VES 1,346
$1.71 €1.49
7.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.28 VES 1,663
$2.01 €1.75
13.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.99 VES 1,452
$2.43 €2.12
-18.11%
Potato (1kg)
$2.70 VES 1,976
$1.76 €1.54
53.41%
Onion (1kg)
$2.06 VES 1,506
$2.03 €1.78
1.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.34 VES 979
$1.92 €1.68
-30.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.97 VES 1,437
$0.85 €0.74
131.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 VES 2,890
$6.58 €5.75
-39.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.20 VES 8,912
$5.58 €4.87
118.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 VES 1,107
$1.33 €1.16
14.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 VES 1,444
$2.97 €2.60
-33.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Caracas
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 VES 575
$2.28 €1.99
-65.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.41 VES 22.2K
$45.79 €40.01
-33.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.87 VES 3,556
$4.23 €3.69
15.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.71 VES 1,983
$0.81 €0.71
234.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.95 VES 7,272
$18.44 €16.11
-46.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.51 VES 374
$2.08 €1.82
-75.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K VES 18.1M
$34.7K €30.3K
-28.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.0K VES 29.2M
$39.2K €34.2K
2.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Caracas
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$19.82 VES 14.5K
$148 €129
-86.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.26 VES 9,687
$20.46 €17.88
-35.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.50 VES 28.9K
$39.56 €34.56
-0.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Caracas
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.9 VES 49.6K
$47.99 €41.93
41.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.57 VES 11.4K
$18.60 €16.25
-16.29%
Cinema Ticket
$6.09 VES 4,448
$9.22 €8.06
-33.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Caracas
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$130 VES 94.8K
$616 €538
-78.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,392 VES 3.9M
$16.4K €14.4K
-67.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Caracas
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.5 VES 46.4K
$103 €89.7
-38.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.35 VES 28.8K
$41.74 €36.47
-5.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 VES 76.0K
$94.8 €82.8
9.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 VES 82.6K
$122 €107
-7.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Caracas
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$453 VES 331.2K
$1,633 €1,426
-72.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$367 VES 268.3K
$1,232 €1,077
-70.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$983 VES 717.9K
$3,098 €2,707
-68.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$840 VES 614.1K
$2,031 €1,775
-58.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,480 VES 1.1M
$7,831 €6,842
-81.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$666 VES 486.6K
$4,389 €3,835
-84.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Caracas
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$307 VES 224.0K
$1,607 €1,404
-80.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
21.33
3.81
459.84%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Caracas: July 13, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $453 in Caracas versus $1,633 in Lisbon. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 424% higher in Lisbon, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Caracas versus $63.0 in Lisbon. Groceries tell a different story – $286 in Caracas vs $267 in Lisbon – so Lisbon wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Caracas vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lisbon cheaper than Caracas?
Yes – Lisbon is pricier by about 93%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,780 per month in Caracas and $3,437 in Lisbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Caracas, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 51% less in Caracas. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $130 per month in Caracas and $616 in Lisbon. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Caracas or in Lisbon?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Caracas, where all-in costs run around $1,187, than in Lisbon at $2,291. In Caracas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Caracas or Lisbon more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Caracas – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Caracas or Lisbon?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Caracas. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lisbon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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