😐A single person spends $2,291 per month in Lisbon vs $974 in Acapulco, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,322 per month in Lisbon vs $1,448 in Acapulco, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,354 per month in Lisbon vs $1,921 in Acapulco, rent included.
😐Lisbon costs about 135% more than Acapulco, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Lisbon sits 71% above the global median, while Acapulco is 27% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Acapulco
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.17
$10.66MX$187
51.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.4
$32.14MX$564
97.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.03
$11.30MX$198
-8.67%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$3.61MX$63.3
-21.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.00
$1.83MX$32.12
25.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$1.63MX$28.61
-3.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$2.68MX$46.93
26.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.52
$4.72MX$82.8
-14.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Acapulco
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.95
$1.61MX$28.20
-32.30%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$3.18MX$55.8
-44.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.55MX$27.19
13.55%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$1.75MX$30.64
81.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.54
$6.37MX$112
107.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.97
$8.16MX$143
-2.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.59
$10.45MX$183
48.61%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$4.37MX$76.7
-45.77%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$1.71MX$29.97
-
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$3.22MX$56.6
-37.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$3.09MX$54.2
-21.36%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$3.26MX$57.3
-46.01%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$2.80MX$49.12
-27.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$1.20MX$21.12
60.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$0.81MX$14.22
4.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$7.79MX$137
-15.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.88
$6.74MX$118
-17.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$1.08MX$18.88
23.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$2.63MX$46.12
12.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Acapulco
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$0.73MX$12.84
212.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.06
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$4.21MX$73.8
0.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$1.56MX$27.31
-48.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.13
$8.48MX$149
117.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$1.32MX$23.22
57.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.3K
$21.5KMX$377.5K
61.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$22.9KMX$401.1K
71.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Acapulco
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$38.62MX$677
283.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.90
$22.48MX$394
-8.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.61
$21.00MX$368
88.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Acapulco
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€41.99
$18.38MX$322
161.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.27
$12.97MX$228
43.41%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.07
$3.74MX$65.6
146.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Acapulco
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€539
$156MX$2,732
295.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$3,663MX$64.2K
348.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Acapulco
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€89.9
$63.1MX$1,106
62.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.52
$43.08MX$756
-3.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€82.9
$108MX$1,893
-12.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$79.2MX$1,389
54.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Acapulco
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,428
$495MX$8,691
229.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,078
$236MX$4,146
421.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,711
$921MX$16.2K
236.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,777
$248MX$4,357
717.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,851
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,840
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Acapulco
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,406
$479MX$8,393
235.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
11.5
-66.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Last update for Acapulco: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,633 in Lisbon versus $495 in Acapulco. 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 236% higher in Lisbon, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Lisbon versus $32.00 in Acapulco. Groceries tell a different story – $267 in Lisbon vs $267 in Acapulco – so Lisbon 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
Lisbon vs Acapulco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Acapulco?
Lisbon costs about 135% more than Acapulco, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Lisbon and in Acapulco?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,437 per month in Lisbon and $1,461 in Acapulco. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Lisbon or Acapulco?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Acapulco, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Lisbon compared to Acapulco?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,291 in Lisbon and $974 in Acapulco. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Lisbon and in Acapulco?
Kindergarten costs $616 per month in Lisbon and $156 in Acapulco. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Lisbon or in Acapulco?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Acapulco, where all-in costs run around $974, than in Lisbon at $2,291. In Acapulco it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Acapulco?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Acapulco costs $974 versus $2,291 in Lisbon. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Acapulco?
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.
Should I move to Lisbon or to Acapulco?
If budget matters most, go with Acapulco. 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.