Cost of Living Comparison Between Isla de Margarita and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Isla de Margarita and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $663 per month in Isla de Margarita vs $2,227 in Lisbon, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,232 per month in Isla de Margarita vs $3,305 in Lisbon, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,801 per month in Isla de Margarita vs $4,384 in Lisbon, rent included.

Isla de Margarita is about 70% cheaper than Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Isla de Margarita sits 51% below the global median, while Lisbon is 66% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.96 VES 4,841

$16.17 €13.81

-38.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.1 VES 38.4K

$64.6 €55.1

22.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.38 €8.86

Cappuccino

$2.51 VES 1,222

$2.77 €2.37

-9.39%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 VES 494

$2.25 €1.92

-54.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 VES 740

$1.57 €1.34

-3.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 VES 476

$3.49 €2.98

-71.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 VES 1,501

$4.00 €3.42

-22.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 VES 952

$1.08 €0.93

81.48%

White Bread (500g)

$2.95 VES 1,433

$1.74 €1.49

69.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 VES 955

$1.74 €1.48

12.64%

Eggs

$2.45 VES 1,193

$3.18 €2.71

-22.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.24 VES 4,006

$13.43 €11.47

-38.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.78 VES 3,785

$7.99 €6.83

-2.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.90 VES 3,841

$16.09 €13.74

-50.90%

Apples (1kg)

$3.88 VES 1,888

$2.28 €1.95

70.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 VES 740

$1.72 €1.47

-11.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 VES 980

$1.94 €1.66

3.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.43 VES 1,179

$2.54 €2.17

-4.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 VES 716

$1.83 €1.56

-19.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.78 VES 865

$2.04 €1.74

-12.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 VES 480

$1.98 €1.69

-50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 €0.73

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.85 €5.85

Wine (Bottle)

$4.88 VES 2,374

$5.78 €4.93

-15.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 VES 476

$1.37 €1.17

-28.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 VES 740

$2.90 €2.48

-47.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.28 €1.95

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.84 €40.00

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 VES 1,420

$4.08 €3.48

-28.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.02 VES 1,467

$0.82 €0.70

268.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.27 €15.60

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.01 €1.71

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.3K €30.1K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$38.5K €32.9K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$29.45 VES 14.3K

$145 €124

-79.75%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.74 VES 7,165

$20.96 €17.90

-29.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.33 VES 19.6K

$40.05 €34.21

0.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.9 VES 24.8K

$48.79 €41.66

4.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.73 VES 7,160

$18.69 €15.97

-21.19%

Cinema Ticket

$4.92 VES 2,393

$9.06 €7.74

-45.70%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$607 €518

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.3K €13.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.9 VES 38.3K

$105 €89.4

-24.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.95 €34.97

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 VES 49.1K

$93.6 €79.9

7.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 VES 49.5K

$119 €101

-14.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$298 VES 144.6K

$1,604 €1,370

-81.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,236 €1,055

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$498 VES 242.3K

$3,046 €2,601

-83.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,057 €1,756

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$589 VES 286.2K

$7,709 €6,583

-92.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,266 €3,644

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,584 €1,353

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.81

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

Last update for Isla de Margarita: April 27, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $298 in Isla de Margarita versus $1,604 in Lisbon. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in Isla de Margarita versus $65.0 in Lisbon. Groceries tell a different story – $232 in Isla de Margarita vs $271 in Lisbon – so Isla de Margarita wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Isla de Margarita vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Lisbon is pricier by about 236%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $994 per month in Isla de Margarita and $3,341 in Lisbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Isla de Margarita, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 16% more in Lisbon, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in Isla de Margarita and $65.0 in Lisbon. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Isla de Margarita, where all-in costs run around $663, than in Lisbon at $2,227. In Isla de Margarita it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Isla de Margarita – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Isla de Margarita. 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.