Cost of Living Comparison Between El Calafate and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between El Calafate and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $969 in El Calafate versus $2,316 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,588 in El Calafate versus $3,361 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,207 in El Calafate versus $4,405 in Lisbon.

Living in El Calafate costs roughly 58% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: El Calafate is 30% below, Lisbon is 69% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
El Calafate
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.49 ARS 15.8K
$17.30 €14.87
-39.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.47 ARS 50.5K
$63.3 €54.4
-47.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.23 ARS 13.9K
$11.39 €9.79
-18.96%
Cappuccino
$2.78 ARS 4,186
$3.19 €2.74
-12.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 ARS 2,472
$2.45 €2.10
-33.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ARS 2,360
$1.76 €1.52
-11.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.07 ARS 3,127
$3.59 €3.09
-42.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 ARS 4,415
$3.39 €2.92
-13.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
El Calafate
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.30 ARS 1,957
$1.24 €1.06
4.84%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ARS 2,361
$1.98 €1.71
-20.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.02 ARS 3,045
$1.52 €1.31
32.89%
Eggs
$2.27 ARS 3,421
$4.04 €3.47
-43.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.96 ARS 15.0K
$13.54 €11.64
-26.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.38 ARS 9,627
$8.39 €7.21
-23.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.11 ARS 13.7K
$18.25 €15.69
-50.08%
Apples (1kg)
$1.95 ARS 2,948
$2.29 €1.97
-14.85%
Banana (1kg)
$2.05 ARS 3,087
$1.74 €1.50
17.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.26 ARS 1,894
$1.86 €1.60
-32.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.57 ARS 3,876
$2.63 €2.26
-2.28%
Potato (1kg)
$1.19 ARS 1,798
$1.92 €1.65
-38.02%
Onion (1kg)
$1.20 ARS 1,816
$2.09 €1.80
-42.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.32 ARS 1,995
$1.44 €1.24
-8.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.44 ARS 2,167
$0.84 €0.72
71.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.10 ARS 4,671
$6.78 €5.83
-54.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.01 ARS 7,564
$5.71 €4.91
-12.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01 ARS 3,028
$1.38 €1.18
45.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 ARS 4,611
$2.22 €1.91
37.84%
🚌 Getting Around
El Calafate
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.78 ARS 1,176
$2.40 €2.06
-67.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$46.78 €40.22
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 ARS 2,223
$4.17 €3.59
-64.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.92 ARS 1,390
$1.14 €0.98
-19.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.90 ARS 8,904
$17.68 €15.20
-66.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.07 ARS 1,609
$2.32 €2.00
-53.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.3K ARS 41.2M
$35.3K €30.4K
-22.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.3K ARS 45.7M
$41.4K €35.6K
-26.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Calafate
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$65.8 ARS 99.2K
$170 €146
-61.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.07 ARS 25.7K
$19.34 €16.62
-11.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.38 ARS 33.8K
$33.64 €28.92
-33.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
El Calafate
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.00 ARS 39.2K
$48.10 €41.35
-45.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.99 ARS 21.1K
$19.90 €17.11
-29.70%
Cinema Ticket
$6.21 ARS 9,373
$9.92 €8.53
-37.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
El Calafate
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$216 ARS 325.3K
$717 €617
-69.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,691 ARS 4.1M
$17.5K €15.0K
-84.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
El Calafate
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.0 ARS 110.1K
$105 €90.1
-30.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$69.3 ARS 104.5K
$46.95 €40.36
47.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 ARS 171.1K
$103 €88.9
9.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 ARS 169.6K
$124 €107
-9.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
El Calafate
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$331 ARS 499.4K
$1,677 €1,441
-80.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$233 ARS 351.0K
$1,271 €1,093
-81.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$672 ARS 1.0M
$2,985 €2,566
-77.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$540 ARS 814.1K
$1,992 €1,713
-72.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,870 ARS 2.8M
$7,826 €6,728
-76.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,596 ARS 2.4M
$4,658 €4,004
-65.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
El Calafate
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,583 €1,361
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
58.5
3.79
1443.54%

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

Last update for El Calafate: August 30, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $331 in El Calafate and $1,677 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $33.00 in El Calafate vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $230 vs $283 per month, with El Calafate 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
El Calafate vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in El Calafate and in Lisbon?
El Calafate and Lisbon differ by about 139% in total monthly costs ($969 vs $2,316 including rent). El Calafate is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in El Calafate compared to Lisbon?
You'd need roughly $1,453 in El Calafate and $3,474 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 El Calafate and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $331 in El Calafate versus $1,677 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between El Calafate and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $216 in El Calafate versus $717 in Lisbon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in El Calafate – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $63.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $969 in El Calafate versus $2,316 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in El Calafate but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes El Calafate the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between El Calafate 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 El Calafate or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, El Calafate 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: El Calafate or Lisbon?
Expats usually find El Calafate gentler on the wallet – expenses run 139% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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