🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $721 in Cotacachi versus $2,227 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,155 in Cotacachi versus $3,305 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,590 in Cotacachi versus $4,384 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Cotacachi costs roughly 68% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Cotacachi is 46% below, Lisbon is 66% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cotacachi
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.83$3.83
$16.17€13.81
-76.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.74$19.74
$64.6€55.1
-69.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.45$4.45
$10.38€8.86
-57.13%
Cappuccino
$2.22$2.22
$2.77€2.37
-19.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07$1.07
$2.25€1.92
-52.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67$0.67
$1.57€1.34
-57.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.96$1.96
$3.49€2.98
-43.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90$3.90
$4.00€3.42
-2.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cotacachi
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09$1.09
$1.08€0.93
0.93%
White Bread(500g)
$1.56$1.56
$1.74€1.49
-10.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.86$1.86
$1.74€1.48
6.90%
Eggs
$2.29$2.29
$3.18€2.71
-27.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.63$8.63
$13.43€11.47
-35.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.06$8.06
$7.99€6.83
0.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.62$7.62
$16.09€13.74
-52.64%
Apples(1kg)
$2.01$2.01
$2.28€1.95
-11.84%
Banana(1kg)
$0.88$0.88
$1.72€1.47
-48.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.03$1.03
$1.94€1.66
-46.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.30$1.30
$2.54€2.17
-48.82%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38$1.38
$1.83€1.56
-24.59%
Onion(1kg)
$1.10$1.10
$2.04€1.74
-46.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.84$0.84
$1.98€1.69
-57.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02$1.02
$0.85€0.73
20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55$4.55
$6.85€5.85
-33.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.37$7.37
$5.78€4.93
27.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52$1.52
$1.37€1.17
10.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88$2.88
$2.90€2.48
-0.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Cotacachi
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.44$0.44
$2.28€1.95
-80.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.15$15.15
$46.84€40.00
-67.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.21$1.21
$4.08€3.48
-70.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.97$0.97
$0.82€0.70
18.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.16$10.16
$18.27€15.60
-44.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.70$0.70
$2.01€1.71
-65.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.8K$19.8K
$35.3K€30.1K
-43.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K$25.4K
$38.5K€32.9K
-34.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cotacachi
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$34.56$34.56
$145€124
-76.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.78$12.78
$20.96€17.90
-39.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.36$25.36
$40.05€34.21
-36.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cotacachi
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.42$29.42
$48.79€41.66
-39.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.88$7.88
$18.69€15.97
-57.84%
Cinema Ticket
$6.82$6.82
$9.06€7.74
-24.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cotacachi
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$75.7$75.7
$607€518
-87.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,032$3,032
$16.3K€13.9K
-81.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cotacachi
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.96$40.96
$105€89.4
-60.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.26$41.26
$40.95€34.97
0.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.0$96.0
$93.6€79.9
2.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.7$60.7
$119€101
-48.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cotacachi
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$262$262
$1,604€1,370
-83.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$178$178
$1,236€1,055
-85.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$424$424
$3,046€2,601
-86.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$343$343
$2,057€1,756
-83.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$598$598
$7,709€6,583
-92.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$520$520
$4,266€3,644
-87.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cotacachi
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$434$434
$1,584€1,353
-72.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.19
3.81
193.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cotacachi: April 28, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $262 in Cotacachi and $1,604 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 265% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $20.00 in Cotacachi vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $208 vs $271 per month, with Cotacachi 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
Cotacachi vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Cotacachi and Lisbon?
Cotacachi and Lisbon differ by about 209% in total monthly costs ($721 vs $2,227 including rent). Cotacachi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Lisbon earns 265% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Cotacachi and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $262 in Cotacachi versus $1,604 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Cotacachi and Lisbon?
A monthly transit pass in Cotacachi runs roughly 209% less than in Lisbon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Cotacachi and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $75.7 in Cotacachi versus $607 in Lisbon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $721 in Cotacachi versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Cotacachi but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Cotacachi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Cotacachi 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 Cotacachi or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Cotacachi 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: Cotacachi or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Cotacachi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 209% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.