Cost of Living Comparison Between Cuernavaca and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Cuernavaca and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,012 in Cuernavaca versus $2,227 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,682 in Cuernavaca versus $3,305 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,352 in Cuernavaca versus $4,384 in Lisbon.

Living in Cuernavaca costs roughly 55% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Cuernavaca is 24% below, Lisbon is 66% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cuernavaca
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.51 MX$165
$16.17 €13.81
-41.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.72 MX$656
$64.6 €55.1
-41.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.03 MX$122
$10.38 €8.86
-32.27%
Cappuccino
$2.32 MX$40.34
$2.77 €2.37
-16.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.26 MX$21.93
$2.25 €1.92
-44.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 MX$13.45
$1.57 €1.34
-50.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.19 MX$38.02
$3.49 €2.98
-37.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22 MX$56.0
$4.00 €3.42
-19.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cuernavaca
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 MX$27.06
$1.08 €0.93
44.44%
White Bread (500g)
$1.77 MX$30.87
$1.74 €1.49
1.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 MX$23.12
$1.74 €1.48
-23.56%
Eggs
$1.89 MX$32.87
$3.18 €2.71
-40.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.26 MX$144
$13.43 €11.47
-38.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.26 MX$109
$7.99 €6.83
-21.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.99 MX$226
$16.09 €13.74
-19.27%
Apples (1kg)
$2.10 MX$36.50
$2.28 €1.95
-7.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.31 MX$22.87
$1.72 €1.47
-23.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 MX$29.76
$1.94 €1.66
-11.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 MX$26.99
$2.54 €2.17
-38.98%
Potato (1kg)
$1.76 MX$30.69
$1.83 €1.56
-3.83%
Onion (1kg)
$1.91 MX$33.27
$2.04 €1.74
-6.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 MX$17.19
$1.98 €1.69
-50.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 MX$12.32
$0.85 €0.73
-16.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16 MX$72.5
$6.85 €5.85
-39.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.56 MX$149
$5.78 €4.93
48.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 MX$19.99
$1.37 €1.17
-16.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 MX$51.2
$2.90 €2.48
1.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Cuernavaca
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.03
$2.28 €1.95
-77.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.90 MX$468
$46.84 €40.00
-42.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.87 MX$32.48
$4.08 €3.48
-54.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.19 MX$20.69
$0.82 €0.70
45.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.06 MX$158
$18.27 €15.60
-50.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 MX$22.47
$2.01 €1.71
-35.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K MX$321.7K
$35.3K €30.1K
-47.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.6K MX$358.5K
$38.5K €32.9K
-46.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cuernavaca
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$60.2 MX$1,047
$145 €124
-58.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.63 MX$394
$20.96 €17.90
7.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.78 MX$483
$40.05 €34.21
-30.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cuernavaca
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.94 MX$399
$48.79 €41.66
-52.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.76 MX$274
$18.69 €15.97
-15.68%
Cinema Ticket
$5.34 MX$93.0
$9.06 €7.74
-41.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cuernavaca
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$214 MX$3,728
$607 €518
-64.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,891 MX$85.1K
$16.3K €13.9K
-70.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cuernavaca
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.02 MX$836
$105 €89.4
-54.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.62 MX$689
$40.95 €34.97
-3.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 MX$1,758
$93.6 €79.9
7.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.3 MX$1,467
$119 €101
-28.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cuernavaca
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$371 MX$6,459
$1,604 €1,370
-76.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$318 MX$5,541
$1,236 €1,055
-74.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$910 MX$15.8K
$3,046 €2,601
-70.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$772 MX$13.4K
$2,057 €1,756
-62.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$928 MX$16.1K
$7,709 €6,583
-87.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$635 MX$11.0K
$4,266 €3,644
-85.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cuernavaca
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$683 MX$11.9K
$1,584 €1,353
-56.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.33
3.81
197.38%

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

Last update for Cuernavaca: April 25, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $371 in Cuernavaca and $1,604 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 132% 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: $38.00 in Cuernavaca vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $225 vs $271 per month, with Cuernavaca 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
Cuernavaca vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lisbon cheaper than Cuernavaca?
Cuernavaca is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 120% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cuernavaca or Lisbon?
On paper, Lisbon earns 132% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Cuernavaca and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $371 in Cuernavaca versus $1,604 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Cuernavaca and Lisbon?
Supermarket bills run roughly 21% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Cuernavaca or Lisbon?
Dining out is cheaper in Cuernavaca – a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $65.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Cuernavaca or Lisbon?
At $1,012 in Cuernavaca versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cuernavaca but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Cuernavaca the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cuernavaca or Lisbon more family-friendly?
For families, Cuernavaca is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lisbon, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cuernavaca or Lisbon?
Safety-wise, Cuernavaca 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Cuernavaca gentler on the wallet – expenses run 120% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Cuernavaca vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities