Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between El Congo and Lisbon

For one person, living is cheaper in El Congo: $575 a month against $2,202 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $19,500 less a year.

El Congo, El Salvador
Lisbon, Portugal
El Congo
🇸🇻 El Salvador
$575
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,202
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in El Congo and in Lisbon

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in El Congo and in Lisbon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $575 per month in El Congo vs $2,202 in Lisbon, rent included.

  • El Congo $575
  • Lisbon $2,202

A couple spends around $600 per month in El Congo vs $3,274 in Lisbon, rent included.

  • El Congo $600
  • Lisbon $3,274

A family of three spends $625 per month in El Congo vs $4,346 in Lisbon, rent included.

  • El Congo $625
  • Lisbon $4,346

El Congo is about 74% cheaper than Lisbon.

El Congo sits 58% below the global median, while Lisbon is 62% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
El Congo
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$17.04 €15.18
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$62.3 €55.5
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$11.02 €9.82
-
Cappuccino
-
$3.12 €2.78
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.27 €2.02
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.74 €1.55
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.42 €3.05
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.74 €3.33
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
El Congo
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
-
$1.17 €1.04
-
White Bread (500g)
-
$1.86 €1.66
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
-
$1.54 €1.38
-
Eggs
-
$4.06 €3.62
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$12.91 €11.51
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$7.90 €7.05
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$17.64 €15.73
-
Apples (1kg)
-
$2.26 €2.02
-
Banana (1kg)
-
$1.75 €1.56
-
Oranges (1kg)
-
$1.89 €1.69
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$2.56 €2.28
-
Potato (1kg)
-
$1.85 €1.65
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$1.97 €1.76
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.45 €1.29
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.77 €0.69
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$6.71 €5.98
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$5.67 €5.05
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.37 €1.22
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.11 €1.88
-
🚌 Getting Around
El Congo
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.32 €2.07
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$44.43 €39.60
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.95 €3.52
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.05 €0.94
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$17.15 €15.29
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$2.19 €1.96
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$33.8K €30.1K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$38.3K €34.1K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Congo
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$164 €146
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$18.48 €16.47
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$32.96 €29.38
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
El Congo
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$45.87 €40.88
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.68 €16.65
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$9.75 €8.69
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
El Congo
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$684 €610
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$17.6K €15.7K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
El Congo
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$104 €92.5
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$46.20 €41.18
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$99.7 €88.9
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$125 €111
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
El Congo
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$711 $711
$1,589 €1,417
-55.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$575 $575
$1,169 €1,042
-50.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$968 $968
$2,851 €2,541
-66.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$625 $625
$1,993 €1,776
-68.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,225 $4,225
$7,793 €6,946
-45.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,307 $1,307
$4,418 €3,938
-70.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
El Congo
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$942 $942
$1,600 €1,426
-41.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.72
3.85
48.57%

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

Last update for El Congo: October 19, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
El Congo
–
Lisbon
$1.2K
Groceries & Markets
El Congo
–
Lisbon
$273
Eating Out
El Congo
–
Lisbon
$247
Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Congo
–
Lisbon
$215
Clothing & Footwear
El Congo
–
Lisbon
$168
Sport & Entertainment
El Congo
–
Lisbon
$65
Getting Around
El Congo
–
Lisbon
$63

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $711 in El Congo versus $1,589 in Lisbon. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 70% higher in Lisbon, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

Good to know
🇸🇻 El Congo
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🕒 Local time
01:47 1:47 AM
07:47 7:47 AM
6 h ahead of El Congo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
8,905
545,923 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 26, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.891 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 26, 2026: 1 USD = 0.891 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • El Congo Lisbon 8,220 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • El Congo
  • Lisbon

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Congo vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do El Congo and Lisbon compare in cost of living?
Lisbon costs about 283% more than El Congo, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
What salary covers living expenses in El Congo compared to Lisbon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $863 per month in El Congo and $3,302 in Lisbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between El Congo and Lisbon?
Rent is clearly cheaper in El Congo, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $711 there versus $1,589 in Lisbon.
Which city is more doable on $1,200 per month?
A $1,200 monthly budget goes further in El Congo, where all-in costs run around $575, than in Lisbon at $2,202. In El Congo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between El Congo and Lisbon?
It depends on your priorities. Lisbon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $575 in El Congo to $2,202 in Lisbon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between El Congo and Lisbon?
If budget matters most, go with El Congo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lisbon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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