Cost of Living Comparison Between Ciudad del Carmen and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Ciudad del Carmen and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,100 in Ciudad del Carmen versus $2,243 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,758 in Ciudad del Carmen versus $3,315 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,415 in Ciudad del Carmen versus $4,387 in Lisbon.

Living in Ciudad del Carmen costs roughly 51% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ciudad del Carmen is 18% below, Lisbon is 67% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ciudad del Carmen
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.60 MX$184
$15.73 €13.42
-32.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.27 MX$663
$63.2 €53.9
-39.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.01 MX$139
$10.32 €8.80
-22.38%
Cappuccino
$3.37 MX$58.5
$2.81 €2.40
19.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 MX$22.17
$2.33 €1.99
-45.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 MX$15.53
$1.51 €1.29
-40.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.31 MX$40.11
$3.37 €2.87
-31.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.93 MX$68.1
$3.91 €3.34
0.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ciudad del Carmen
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 MX$25.87
$1.08 €0.92
37.96%
White Bread (500g)
$2.64 MX$45.74
$1.75 €1.49
50.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 MX$27.90
$1.75 €1.50
-8.00%
Eggs
$2.33 MX$40.35
$3.10 €2.64
-24.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.19 MX$142
$13.28 €11.33
-38.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.75 MX$134
$7.85 €6.70
-1.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.50 MX$182
$16.05 €13.69
-34.58%
Apples (1kg)
$2.62 MX$45.47
$2.39 €2.04
9.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 MX$25.00
$1.72 €1.47
-16.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 MX$29.55
$1.97 €1.68
-13.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 MX$27.49
$2.55 €2.17
-37.65%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 MX$33.10
$1.79 €1.53
6.70%
Onion (1kg)
$1.95 MX$33.84
$1.97 €1.68
-1.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.20 MX$20.75
$1.96 €1.67
-38.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 MX$17.07
$0.84 €0.71
17.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.28 MX$74.2
$6.82 €5.82
-37.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.29 MX$213
$5.85 €4.99
110.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 MX$26.67
$1.38 €1.18
11.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 MX$48.71
$2.92 €2.49
-3.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Ciudad del Carmen
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.66 MX$11.44
$2.29 €1.95
-71.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$46.88 €39.99
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.66 MX$46.11
$4.12 €3.51
-35.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.61 MX$27.84
$0.81 €0.69
98.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.07 MX$140
$18.94 €16.16
-57.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$21.99
$2.09 €1.78
-39.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K MX$368.4K
$35.1K €30.0K
-39.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K MX$384.0K
$39.7K €33.9K
-44.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ciudad del Carmen
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$56.0 MX$971
$150 €128
-62.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.33 MX$387
$20.49 €17.48
8.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.70 MX$497
$39.15 €33.40
-26.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ciudad del Carmen
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.65 MX$618
$49.65 €42.35
-28.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.65 MX$271
$18.47 €15.76
-15.27%
Cinema Ticket
$4.53 MX$78.5
$9.20 €7.84
-50.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ciudad del Carmen
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$203 MX$3,512
$624 €533
-67.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,642 MX$63.1K
$15.9K €13.6K
-77.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ciudad del Carmen
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.2 MX$922
$102 €87.2
-47.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.33 MX$682
$40.88 €34.87
-3.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.2 MX$1,546
$95.7 €81.6
-6.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.4 MX$1,376
$121 €103
-34.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ciudad del Carmen
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$499 MX$8,648
$1,653 €1,410
-69.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$399 MX$6,910
$1,233 €1,051
-67.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$916 MX$15.9K
$3,043 €2,596
-69.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$778 MX$13.5K
$2,059 €1,756
-62.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,152 MX$37.3K
$7,879 €6,720
-72.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,172 MX$20.3K
$4,303 €3,671
-72.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ciudad del Carmen
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,566 €1,336
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.48
3.81
201.31%

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

Last update for Ciudad del Carmen: April 20, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $499 in Ciudad del Carmen and $1,653 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $38 in Ciudad del Carmen vs $63 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $253 vs $270 per month, with Ciudad del Carmen cheaper across the board.

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
Ciudad del Carmen vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ciudad del Carmen and Lisbon?
Ciudad del Carmen and Lisbon differ by about 104% in total monthly costs ($1,100 vs $2,243 including rent). Ciudad del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Ciudad del Carmen compared to Lisbon?
You'd need roughly $1,651 in Ciudad del Carmen and $3,365 in Lisbon to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Ciudad del Carmen and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $499 in Ciudad del Carmen versus $1,653 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ciudad del Carmen or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $1,100 per month in Ciudad del Carmen versus $2,243 in Lisbon – a 104% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,100 in Ciudad del Carmen versus $2,243 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ciudad del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Ciudad del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ciudad del Carmen and Lisbon?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Ciudad del Carmen or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ciudad del Carmen and Lisbon are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Ciudad del Carmen or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Ciudad del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 104% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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