🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $848 in Curitiba versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,333 in Curitiba versus $3,311 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,818 in Curitiba versus $4,411 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Curitiba costs roughly 62% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Curitiba is 37% below, Lisbon is 65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Curitiba
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.35R$27.11
$15.91€13.70
-66.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.23R$163
$64.8€55.8
-50.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.16R$31.19
$10.51€9.05
-41.39%
Cappuccino
$2.07R$10.47
$2.87€2.47
-27.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13R$5.70
$2.24€1.93
-49.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69R$3.49
$1.50€1.29
-54.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.22R$11.23
$3.49€3.01
-36.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31R$16.74
$3.88€3.34
-14.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Curitiba
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.97R$4.91
$1.14€0.98
-14.91%
White Bread(500g)
$1.48R$7.49
$1.75€1.51
-15.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.14R$5.80
$1.76€1.51
-35.23%
Eggs
$2.05R$10.40
$3.22€2.77
-36.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.15R$41.25
$13.49€11.61
-39.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.76R$19.03
$7.91€6.81
-52.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.54R$38.16
$15.87€13.67
-52.49%
Apples(1kg)
$2.13R$10.80
$2.31€1.99
-7.79%
Banana(1kg)
$0.93R$4.72
$1.70€1.46
-45.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.96R$4.87
$2.01€1.73
-52.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.21R$6.12
$2.46€2.12
-50.81%
Potato(1kg)
$1.04R$5.24
$1.84€1.59
-43.48%
Onion(1kg)
$0.87R$4.42
$2.00€1.72
-56.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.59R$3.01
$1.93€1.66
-69.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66R$3.34
$0.79€0.68
-16.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.11R$10.67
$6.61€5.69
-68.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.92R$40.13
$5.72€4.93
38.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18R$5.99
$1.37€1.18
-13.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15R$10.90
$2.97€2.56
-27.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Curitiba
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.07R$5.40
$2.37€2.04
-54.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$47.33R$240
$45.56€39.22
3.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.10R$5.58
$4.29€3.69
-74.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69R$3.50
$0.82€0.70
-15.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.38R$32.31
$18.30€15.76
-65.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22R$6.20
$2.06€1.78
-40.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KR$94.8K
$34.3K€29.5K
-45.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2KR$132.7K
$39.3K€33.8K
-33.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Curitiba
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$72.4R$366
$148€127
-51.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.52R$58.3
$20.52€17.67
-43.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.29R$108
$39.61€34.10
-46.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Curitiba
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.34R$128
$47.85€41.19
-47.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.61R$84.1
$18.92€16.29
-12.21%
Cinema Ticket
$6.43R$32.54
$9.18€7.91
-29.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Curitiba
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$286R$1,446
$614€529
-53.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,389R$32.4K
$16.0K€13.8K
-60.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Curitiba
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2R$274
$105€90.1
-48.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.55R$226
$42.06€36.21
5.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.9R$420
$94.0€80.9
-11.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.5R$347
$120€103
-42.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Curitiba
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$354R$1,794
$1,628€1,401
-78.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$246R$1,247
$1,255€1,081
-80.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$674R$3,415
$3,030€2,609
-77.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$495R$2,506
$2,020€1,739
-75.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,354R$11.9K
$7,800€6,715
-69.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,721R$8,717
$4,273€3,678
-59.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Curitiba
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$656R$3,321
$1,603€1,380
-59.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11
3.81
188.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Curitiba: June 1, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $354 in Curitiba and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 144% 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: $32.00 in Curitiba vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $170 vs $269 per month, with Curitiba 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
Curitiba vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Curitiba or Lisbon?
Curitiba wins on cost – living expenses run 161% lower than in Lisbon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Curitiba the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Curitiba or Lisbon?
On paper, Lisbon earns 144% 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 Curitiba vs Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $354 in Curitiba versus $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Curitiba vs Lisbon?
A monthly transit pass in Curitiba runs roughly 4% less than in Lisbon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Curitiba and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $286 in Curitiba versus $614 in Lisbon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Curitiba or Lisbon?
At $848 in Curitiba versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Curitiba but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Curitiba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Curitiba or Lisbon?
Both work as nomad bases, but Curitiba delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $848 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Curitiba hard to pass up.
How safe is Curitiba compared to Lisbon?
Safety-wise, Curitiba 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 Curitiba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 161% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.