Cost of Living Comparison Between Castro and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Castro and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,078 per month in Castro vs $2,210 in Lisbon, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,662 per month in Castro vs $3,311 in Lisbon, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,246 per month in Castro vs $4,411 in Lisbon, rent included.

Castro is about 51% cheaper than Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Castro sits 20% below the global median, while Lisbon is 65% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Castro
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.44 CLPΒ 7,487
$15.91 €13.69
-46.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.13 CLPΒ 40.1K
$64.8 €55.7
-30.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.22 CLPΒ 7,293
$10.51 €9.04
-21.79%
Cappuccino
$2.80 CLPΒ 2,485
$2.87 €2.47
-2.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36 CLPΒ 1,211
$2.24 €1.93
-39.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 CLPΒ 938
$1.50 €1.29
-29.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.32 CLPΒ 2,942
$3.49 €3.00
-4.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19 CLPΒ 3,719
$3.88 €3.34
7.99%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Castro
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 CLPΒ 971
$1.14 €0.98
-4.39%
White Bread (500g)
$1.51 CLPΒ 1,343
$1.75 €1.51
-13.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 CLPΒ 1,227
$1.76 €1.51
-21.59%
Eggs
$4.32 CLPΒ 3,832
$3.22 €2.77
34.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.05 CLPΒ 8,918
$13.49 €11.61
-25.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.33 CLPΒ 3,846
$7.91 €6.81
-45.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.78 CLPΒ 7,791
$15.87 €13.65
-44.68%
Apples (1kg)
$1.48 CLPΒ 1,316
$2.31 €1.99
-35.93%
Banana (1kg)
$2.43 CLPΒ 2,157
$1.70 €1.46
42.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.59 CLPΒ 1,408
$2.01 €1.73
-20.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.11 CLPΒ 1,873
$2.46 €2.12
-14.23%
Potato (1kg)
$1.20 CLPΒ 1,064
$1.84 €1.59
-34.78%
Onion (1kg)
$1.42 CLPΒ 1,258
$2.00 €1.72
-29.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.28 CLPΒ 1,133
$1.93 €1.66
-33.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 CLPΒ 1,094
$0.79 €0.68
55.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.37 CLPΒ 4,764
$6.61 €5.68
-18.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.45 CLPΒ 7,497
$5.72 €4.92
47.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 CLPΒ 1,365
$1.37 €1.17
12.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 CLPΒ 1,979
$2.97 €2.56
-24.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Castro
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.76 CLPΒ 676
$2.37 €2.04
-67.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$45.56 €39.19
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 CLPΒ 422
$4.29 €3.69
-88.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.82 €0.70
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$18.30 €15.74
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.38 CLPΒ 1,221
$2.06 €1.78
-33.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.3K CLPΒ 17.1M
$34.3K €29.5K
-43.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.0K CLPΒ 18.7M
$39.3K €33.8K
-46.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Castro
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$131 CLPΒ 116.4K
$148 €127
-11.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.36 CLPΒ 11.9K
$20.52 €17.65
-34.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.24 CLPΒ 19.7K
$39.61 €34.08
-43.85%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Castro
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.17 CLPΒ 33.9K
$47.85 €41.16
-20.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.55 CLPΒ 19.1K
$18.92 €16.28
13.90%
Cinema Ticket
$5.77 CLPΒ 5,121
$9.18 €7.90
-37.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Castro
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$443 CLPΒ 392.9K
$614 €528
-27.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$16.0K €13.8K
-
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Castro
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.6 CLPΒ 45.8K
$105 €90.0
-50.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.17 CLPΒ 26.8K
$42.06 €36.18
-28.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$62.4 CLPΒ 55.4K
$94.0 €80.8
-33.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.2 CLPΒ 73.0K
$120 €103
-31.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Castro
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$474 CLPΒ 420.8K
$1,628 €1,400
-70.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$366 CLPΒ 324.7K
$1,255 €1,080
-70.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$885 CLPΒ 785.2K
$3,030 €2,607
-70.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$630 CLPΒ 559.0K
$2,020 €1,738
-68.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,800 €6,709
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$4,273 €3,675
-
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Castro
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$685 CLPΒ 607.9K
$1,603 €1,379
-57.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.18
3.81
35.96%

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

Last update for Castro: June 1, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $474 in Castro versus $1,628 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 134% 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 $45.00 in Castro versus $65.0 in Lisbon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $221 vs $269 – making Castro 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
Castro vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Castro or Lisbon?
Lisbon costs about 105% more than Castro, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Castro vs Lisbon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,617 per month in Castro and $3,315 in Lisbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Castro or Lisbon?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Castro, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Castro compared to Lisbon?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,078 in Castro and $2,210 in Lisbon. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Castro and Lisbon?
Kindergarten costs $443 per month in Castro and $614 in Lisbon. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Castro or Lisbon?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Castro, where all-in costs run around $1,078, than in Lisbon at $2,210. In Castro it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Castro or Lisbon?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Castro costs $1,078 versus $2,210 in Lisbon. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Castro compared to 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.
Should I move to Castro or Lisbon?
If budget matters most, go with Castro. 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.

Castro vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities