🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,628 in Ilopango versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,859 in Ilopango versus $3,311 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,090 in Ilopango versus $4,411 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Ilopango costs roughly 26% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ilopango21% above, Lisbon65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ilopango
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.14$3.14
$15.91€13.69
-80.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.76$45.76
$64.8€55.7
-29.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.11$5.11
$10.51€9.04
-51.38%
Cappuccino
$2.89$2.89
$2.87€2.47
0.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92$0.92
$2.24€1.93
-58.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93$0.93
$1.50€1.29
-38.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.96$0.96
$3.49€3.00
-72.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73$1.73
$3.88€3.34
-55.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ilopango
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.27$3.27
$1.14€0.98
186.84%
White Bread(500g)
$1.46$1.46
$1.75€1.51
-16.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.97$2.97
$1.76€1.51
68.75%
Eggs
$2.94$2.94
$3.22€2.77
-8.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.87$4.87
$13.49€11.61
-63.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.18$6.18
$7.91€6.81
-21.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.81$9.81
$15.87€13.65
-38.19%
Apples(1kg)
$3.04$3.04
$2.31€1.99
31.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.97$1.97
$1.70€1.46
15.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.98$1.98
$2.01€1.73
-1.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.98$1.98
$2.46€2.12
-19.51%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04$2.04
$1.84€1.59
10.87%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97$1.97
$2.00€1.72
-1.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.97$0.97
$1.93€1.66
-49.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.98$0.98
$0.79€0.68
24.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.91$3.91
$6.61€5.68
-40.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.85$11.85
$5.72€4.92
107.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.98$0.98
$1.37€1.17
-28.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97$1.97
$2.97€2.56
-33.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Ilopango
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.56$0.56
$2.37€2.04
-76.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.43$35.43
$45.56€39.19
-22.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.86$6.86
$4.29€3.69
59.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.25$2.25
$0.82€0.70
174.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.87$4.87
$18.30€15.74
-73.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.67$0.67
$2.06€1.78
-67.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.1K$20.1K
$34.3K€29.5K
-41.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K$25.4K
$39.3K€33.8K
-35.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ilopango
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$35.57$35.57
$148€127
-75.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.10$10.10
$20.52€17.65
-50.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.39$40.39
$39.61€34.08
1.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ilopango
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.10$40.10
$47.85€41.16
-16.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.04$10.04
$18.92€16.28
-46.93%
Cinema Ticket
$4.90$4.90
$9.18€7.90
-46.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ilopango
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$106$106
$614€528
-82.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,950$1,950
$16.0K€13.8K
-87.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ilopango
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.30$20.30
$105€90.0
-80.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.27$30.27
$42.06€36.18
-28.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.7$73.7
$94.0€80.8
-21.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.9$58.9
$120€103
-50.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ilopango
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$663$663
$1,628€1,400
-59.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,010$1,010
$1,255€1,080
-19.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$593$593
$3,030€2,607
-80.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$621$621
$2,020€1,738
-69.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,698$1,698
$7,800€6,709
-78.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$963$963
$4,273€3,675
-77.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ilopango
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$999$999
$1,603€1,379
-37.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6
3.81
57.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ilopango: June 1, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $663 in Ilopango and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 60% 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: $46.00 in Ilopango vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $269 per month, with Ilopango 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
Ilopango vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lisbon cheaper than Ilopango?
Ilopango is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 36% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ilopango or Lisbon?
On paper, Lisbon earns 60% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Ilopango and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $663 in Ilopango versus $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $106 in Ilopango versus $614 in Lisbon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Ilopango and Lisbon?
Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Ilopango or Lisbon?
At $1,628 in Ilopango versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Ilopango but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Ilopango the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ilopango or Lisbon more family-friendly?
For families, Ilopango is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lisbon, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ilopango or Lisbon?
Safety-wise, Ilopango 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Ilopango gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.