😐A single person spends $2,210 per month in Lisbon vs $955 in Acapulco, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,311 per month in Lisbon vs $1,460 in Acapulco, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,411 per month in Lisbon vs $1,965 in Acapulco, rent included.
😐Lisbon costs about 131% more than Acapulco, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Lisbon sits 65% above the global median, while Acapulco is 29% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Acapulco
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.69
$10.78MX$186
47.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.7
$32.02MX$554
102.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.04
$11.34MX$196
-7.32%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$3.76MX$65.0
-23.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$1.82MX$31.49
23.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$1.54MX$26.69
-2.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.00
$2.57MX$44.51
35.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$4.74MX$81.9
-18.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Acapulco
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.56MX$26.91
-26.92%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$3.19MX$55.1
-45.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$1.55MX$26.82
13.55%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$1.74MX$30.15
85.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$6.24MX$108
116.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$8.12MX$141
-2.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.65
$10.78MX$186
47.22%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$4.53MX$78.4
-49.01%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$1.68MX$29.07
1.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$3.19MX$55.2
-36.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$3.12MX$53.9
-21.15%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$3.44MX$59.4
-46.51%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$2.87MX$49.68
-30.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$1.25MX$21.67
54.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.78MX$13.42
1.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.68
$7.82MX$135
-15.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.92
$7.04MX$122
-18.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.17
$1.04MX$17.99
31.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$2.62MX$45.37
13.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Acapulco
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$0.73MX$12.67
224.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.19
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$4.27MX$73.8
0.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$1.54MX$26.68
-46.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.74
$8.38MX$145
118.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$1.26MX$21.73
63.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$21.0KMX$362.7K
63.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$22.1KMX$382.6K
77.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Acapulco
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$38.89MX$673
280.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.65
$22.51MX$389
-8.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.08
$20.88MX$361
89.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Acapulco
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.16
$18.76MX$324
155.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.28
$13.24MX$229
42.90%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.90
$3.62MX$62.7
153.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Acapulco
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€528
$156MX$2,706
292.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$3,565MX$61.7K
350.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Acapulco
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.0
$63.9MX$1,105
63.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.18
$41.96MX$726
0.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.8
$106MX$1,826
-11.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$80.3MX$1,390
48.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Acapulco
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,400
$506MX$8,748
221.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,080
$243MX$4,208
415.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,607
$918MX$15.9K
230.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,738
$249MX$4,302
712.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,709
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,675
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Acapulco
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,379
$486MX$8,412
229.70%
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Acapulco: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,628 in Lisbon versus $506 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 230% 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 $65.0 in Lisbon versus $32.00 in Acapulco. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $269 vs $268 – making Acapulco the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 131% 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 vs Acapulco?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,315 per month in Lisbon and $1,433 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 $2,210 in Lisbon and $955 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 Acapulco?
Kindergarten costs $614 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 Acapulco?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Acapulco, where all-in costs run around $955, than in Lisbon at $2,210. 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 $955 versus $2,210 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 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.