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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,313 per month in Caracas vs $2,316 in Lisbon, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,237 per month in Caracas vs $3,361 in Lisbon, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,162 per month in Caracas vs $4,405 in Lisbon, rent included.

Caracas is about 43% cheaper than Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Caracas sits 4% below the global median, while Lisbon is 69% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Caracas
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.86 VES 8,815
$17.30 €14.89
-37.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.5 VES 55.6K
$63.3 €54.5
8.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.05 VES 8,971
$11.39 €9.81
-2.99%
Cappuccino
$3.53 VES 2,862
$3.19 €2.75
10.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49 VES 1,206
$2.45 €2.11
-39.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 VES 1,063
$1.76 €1.52
-25.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.03 VES 1,647
$3.59 €3.09
-43.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 VES 2,401
$3.39 €2.92
-12.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Caracas
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.75 VES 2,235
$1.24 €1.06
121.77%
White Bread (500g)
$2.24 VES 1,819
$1.98 €1.71
13.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.87 VES 1,522
$1.52 €1.31
23.03%
Eggs
$4.76 VES 3,865
$4.04 €3.48
17.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.01 VES 8,126
$13.54 €11.65
-26.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.11 VES 7,391
$8.39 €7.22
8.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.24 VES 9,126
$18.25 €15.71
-38.41%
Apples (1kg)
$7.11 VES 5,771
$2.29 €1.97
210.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.98 VES 1,609
$1.74 €1.50
13.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 VES 1,766
$1.86 €1.60
17.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.34 VES 1,900
$2.63 €2.26
-11.03%
Potato (1kg)
$2.37 VES 1,925
$1.92 €1.65
23.44%
Onion (1kg)
$2.13 VES 1,729
$2.09 €1.80
1.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.57 VES 1,277
$1.44 €1.24
9.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.41 VES 1,959
$0.84 €0.72
186.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.67 VES 3,789
$6.78 €5.84
-31.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.92 VES 9,672
$5.71 €4.92
108.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 VES 1,105
$1.38 €1.18
-1.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 VES 1,664
$2.22 €1.91
-7.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Caracas
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 VES 425
$2.40 €2.07
-78.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.55 VES 24.8K
$46.78 €40.27
-34.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.11 VES 4,147
$4.17 €3.59
22.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.83 VES 2,295
$1.14 €0.98
148.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.28 VES 12.4K
$17.68 €15.22
-13.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 VES 673
$2.32 €2.00
-64.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.1K VES 20.4M
$35.3K €30.4K
-28.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K VES 31.3M
$41.4K €35.7K
-7.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Caracas
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$23.11 VES 18.8K
$170 €147
-86.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.85 VES 9,617
$19.34 €16.65
-38.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.68 VES 29.8K
$33.64 €28.96
9.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Caracas
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.0 VES 54.4K
$48.10 €41.40
39.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.84 VES 14.5K
$19.90 €17.13
-10.35%
Cinema Ticket
$6.59 VES 5,352
$9.92 €8.54
-33.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Caracas
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$161 VES 131.0K
$717 €617
-77.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,113 VES 5.0M
$17.5K €15.0K
-65.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Caracas
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.5 VES 60.5K
$105 €90.2
-28.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.55 VES 37.8K
$46.95 €40.41
-0.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$123 VES 99.6K
$103 €89.0
18.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$141 VES 114.2K
$124 €107
13.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Caracas
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$608 VES 493.9K
$1,677 €1,443
-63.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$433 VES 351.7K
$1,271 €1,094
-65.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,104 VES 895.9K
$2,985 €2,569
-63.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$866 VES 703.0K
$1,992 €1,715
-56.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,457 VES 1.2M
$7,826 €6,737
-81.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$681 VES 552.9K
$4,658 €4,010
-85.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Caracas
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$303 VES 246.1K
$1,583 €1,362
-80.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
22
3.79
480.47%

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

Last update for Caracas: August 30, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $608 in Caracas versus $1,677 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 422% 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 $68.0 in Caracas versus $63.0 in Lisbon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $335 vs $283 – making Lisbon the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 76%, 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 $1,969 per month in Caracas and $3,474 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 53% less in Caracas. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $161 per month in Caracas and $717 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 $1,313, than in Lisbon at $2,316. 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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