Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ensenada and Lisbon

For one person, living is cheaper in Ensenada: $1,067 a month against $2,210 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $13,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ensenada, Mexico
Lisbon, Portugal
Ensenada
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,067
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,210
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ensenada 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 Ensenada and in Lisbon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,067 in Ensenada versus $2,210 in Lisbon.

  • Ensenada $1,067
  • Lisbon $2,210

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,704 in Ensenada versus $3,275 in Lisbon.

  • Ensenada $1,704
  • Lisbon $3,275

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,340 in Ensenada versus $4,341 in Lisbon.

  • Ensenada $2,340
  • Lisbon $4,341

Living in Ensenada costs roughly 52% less than in Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ensenada is 22% below, Lisbon is 62% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ensenada
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.01 MX$224
$16.65 €14.92
-27.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.29 MX$620
$61.7 €55.3
-46.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.07 MX$132
$11.36 €10.18
-37.76%
Cappuccino
$2.99 MX$55.7
$2.97 €2.66
0.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19 MX$22.22
$2.29 €2.05
-48.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 MX$13.09
$1.74 €1.56
-59.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.72 MX$50.6
$3.40 €3.05
-20.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.08 MX$76.1
$3.31 €2.97
23.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ensenada
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 MX$33.44
$1.16 €1.04
54.31%
White Bread (500g)
$2.64 MX$49.16
$1.91 €1.71
38.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 MX$30.50
$1.51 €1.36
8.61%
Eggs
$2.53 MX$47.18
$4.02 €3.60
-37.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.12 MX$151
$12.94 €11.59
-37.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.72 MX$125
$7.77 €6.97
-13.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.16 MX$189
$17.76 €15.92
-42.79%
Apples (1kg)
$2.17 MX$40.48
$2.30 €2.06
-5.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 MX$28.95
$1.73 €1.55
-10.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 MX$33.10
$1.86 €1.66
-4.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 MX$29.66
$2.59 €2.32
-38.61%
Potato (1kg)
$1.31 MX$24.47
$1.82 €1.63
-28.02%
Onion (1kg)
$1.78 MX$33.24
$1.97 €1.76
-9.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 MX$26.76
$1.47 €1.32
-2.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05 MX$19.60
$0.72 €0.65
45.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.93 MX$73.3
$6.58 €5.90
-40.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.15 MX$245
$5.61 €5.02
134.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 MX$32.66
$1.36 €1.22
28.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 MX$49.20
$2.14 €1.91
23.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Ensenada
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 MX$15.73
$2.33 €2.09
-63.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.37 MX$789
$44.68 €40.04
-5.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.78 MX$51.8
$3.85 €3.45
-27.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 MX$35.61
$1.07 €0.96
78.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.18 MX$357
$16.46 €14.75
16.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.39 MX$25.89
$2.20 €1.97
-36.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K MX$457.9K
$34.2K €30.6K
-28.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$434.3K
$38.7K €34.7K
-39.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ensenada
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.42 MX$865
$161 €144
-71.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.55 MX$588
$18.41 €16.50
71.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.24 MX$470
$32.74 €29.34
-22.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ensenada
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.30 MX$509
$44.55 €39.92
-38.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.72 MX$200
$19.10 €17.11
-43.87%
Cinema Ticket
$4.49 MX$83.7
$9.60 €8.60
-53.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ensenada
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$190 MX$3,548
$668 €598
-71.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,838 MX$90.1K
$17.6K €15.8K
-72.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ensenada
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.2 MX$990
$102 €91.4
-47.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.89 MX$780
$44.46 €39.85
-5.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 MX$1,908
$98.5 €88.3
3.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.5 MX$1,071
$124 €111
-53.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ensenada
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$518 MX$9,650
$1,608 €1,441
-67.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$322 MX$5,991
$1,190 €1,066
-72.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$977 MX$18.2K
$2,812 €2,520
-65.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$641 MX$11.9K
$2,013 €1,804
-68.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,346 MX$25.1K
$7,839 €7,025
-82.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$666 MX$12.4K
$4,576 €4,100
-85.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ensenada
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$650 MX$12.1K
$1,575 €1,411
-58.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.3
3.85
193.51%

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

Last update for Ensenada: October 24, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ensenada
$322
Lisbon
$1.2K 270% $868
Groceries & Markets
Ensenada
$251
Lisbon
$272 8.5% $21
Eating Out
Ensenada
$182
Lisbon
$243 32.9% $60
Clothing & Footwear
Ensenada
$115
Lisbon
$166 44.6% $51
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ensenada
$103
Lisbon
$212 106% $109
Getting Around
Ensenada
$58
Lisbon
$63 8.8% $5.1
Sport & Entertainment
Ensenada
$36
Lisbon
$64 75.7% $27

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $518 in Ensenada and $1,608 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays about 2.4 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $33 in Ensenada vs $62 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $272 per month, with Ensenada cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Ensenada
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🕒 Local time
21:01 9:01 PM
04:01 4:01 AM
7 h ahead of Ensenada
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
330,652
545,923 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 18.63 MXN (100 MXN = 5.37 USD). 1 EUR = 20.74 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ensenada Lisbon 9,170 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ensenada
  • 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
Ensenada vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ensenada and in Lisbon?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,067 in Ensenada and $2,210 in Lisbon, so Ensenada is about 52% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 59% lower in Ensenada. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Ensenada and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $518 in Ensenada versus $1,608 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ensenada or Lisbon?
All in, you’ll spend $1,067 per month in Ensenada versus $2,210 in Lisbon – Ensenada is about 52% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How do commuting costs compare in Ensenada and in Lisbon?
A monthly transit pass in Ensenada runs roughly 5% less than in Lisbon. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,067 in Ensenada versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ensenada but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Ensenada the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ensenada 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 Ensenada or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ensenada and Lisbon are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Where should expats move: Ensenada or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Ensenada gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Ensenada vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?