Cost of Living Comparison Between Cuiaba and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Cuiaba and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $816 in Cuiaba versus $2,210 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,252 in Cuiaba versus $3,311 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,689 in Cuiaba versus $4,411 in Lisbon.

Living in Cuiaba costs roughly 63% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Cuiaba is 39% below, Lisbon is 65% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cuiaba
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.54 R$17.73
$15.91 €13.69
-77.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.96 R$89.9
$64.8 €55.7
-72.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.08 R$30.44
$10.51 €9.04
-42.15%
Cappuccino
$1.62 R$8.09
$2.87 €2.47
-43.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96 R$4.82
$2.24 €1.93
-57.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 R$3.07
$1.50 €1.29
-59.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.24 R$6.23
$3.49 €3.00
-64.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 R$10.94
$3.88 €3.34
-43.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cuiaba
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 R$5.32
$1.14 €0.98
-7.02%
White Bread (500g)
$1.51 R$7.57
$1.75 €1.51
-13.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.67 R$8.34
$1.76 €1.51
-5.11%
Eggs
$3.20 R$16.02
$3.22 €2.77
-0.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.24 R$56.3
$13.49 €11.61
-16.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.45 R$22.25
$7.91 €6.81
-43.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.13 R$50.7
$15.87 €13.65
-36.17%
Apples (1kg)
$2.16 R$10.79
$2.31 €1.99
-6.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 R$8.49
$1.70 €1.46
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 R$8.89
$2.01 €1.73
-11.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 R$11.31
$2.46 €2.12
-8.13%
Potato (1kg)
$2.09 R$10.47
$1.84 €1.59
13.59%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 R$7.97
$2.00 €1.72
-20.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 R$3.42
$1.93 €1.66
-64.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 R$6.37
$0.79 €0.68
60.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.08 R$10.39
$6.61 €5.68
-68.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.17 R$50.9
$5.72 €4.92
77.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 R$8.82
$1.37 €1.17
28.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 R$11.20
$2.97 €2.56
-24.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Cuiaba
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 R$4.41
$2.37 €2.04
-62.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.75 R$194
$45.56 €39.19
-14.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.05 R$5.27
$4.29 €3.69
-75.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.74 R$3.73
$0.82 €0.70
-9.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.22 R$31.15
$18.30 €15.74
-66.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.00 R$5.00
$2.06 €1.78
-51.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K R$105.3K
$34.3K €29.5K
-38.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K R$138.7K
$39.3K €33.8K
-29.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cuiaba
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.3 R$307
$148 €127
-58.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.30 R$91.6
$20.52 €17.65
-10.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.56 R$118
$39.61 €34.08
-40.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cuiaba
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.56 R$113
$47.85 €41.16
-52.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.91 R$99.7
$18.92 €16.28
5.23%
Cinema Ticket
$4.37 R$21.85
$9.18 €7.90
-52.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cuiaba
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$248 R$1,242
$614 €528
-59.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,108 R$25.6K
$16.0K €13.8K
-68.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cuiaba
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.6 R$253
$105 €90.0
-51.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.86 R$230
$42.06 €36.18
9.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$137 R$688
$94.0 €80.8
46.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$62.7 R$314
$120 €103
-47.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cuiaba
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$285 R$1,429
$1,628 €1,400
-82.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$192 R$962
$1,255 €1,080
-84.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$564 R$2,823
$3,030 €2,607
-81.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$316 R$1,581
$2,020 €1,738
-84.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,279 R$6,398
$7,800 €6,709
-83.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$800 R$4,003
$4,273 €3,675
-81.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cuiaba
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$426 R$2,131
$1,603 €1,379
-73.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
18.5
3.81
385.56%

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

Last update for Cuiaba: May 30, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $285 in Cuiaba and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 276% 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: $18.00 in Cuiaba vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $269 per month, with Cuiaba 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
Cuiaba vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cuiaba or Lisbon?
Cuiaba wins on cost – living expenses run 171% lower than in Lisbon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cuiaba the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Cuiaba or Lisbon?
On paper, Lisbon earns 276% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Cuiaba vs Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $285 in Cuiaba versus $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Cuiaba vs Lisbon?
Dining out is cheaper in Cuiaba – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $65.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Cuiaba compared to Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $816 per month in Cuiaba versus $2,210 in Lisbon – a 171% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Cuiaba or Lisbon?
At $816 in Cuiaba versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Cuiaba but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Cuiaba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Cuiaba or Lisbon?
Both work as nomad bases, but Cuiaba delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $816 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Cuiaba hard to pass up.
How safe is Cuiaba compared to Lisbon?
Safety-wise, Cuiaba 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Cuiaba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 171% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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