😐A single person spends $2,291 per month in Lisbon vs $1,757 in Ahuachapan, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,322 per month in Lisbon vs $1,906 in Ahuachapan, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,354 per month in Lisbon vs $2,055 in Ahuachapan, rent included.
😐Lisbon costs about 30% more than Ahuachapan, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Lisbon and Ahuachapan sit above the global median – Lisbon by 71%, Ahuachapan by 32%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Ahuachapan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.17
$7.86$7.86
105.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.4
$35.42$35.42
78.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.03
$6.96$6.96
48.28%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$3.34$3.34
-15.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.00
$1.10$1.10
108.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$0.90$0.90
75.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$1.97$1.97
72.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.52
$3.04$3.04
32.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Ahuachapan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.95
$1.80$1.80
-39.44%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$2.04$2.04
-14.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.56$1.56
12.82%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$2.87$2.87
10.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.54
$7.09$7.09
86.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.97
$6.61$6.61
20.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.59
$10.86$10.86
43.00%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$3.20$3.20
-25.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$1.72$1.72
-0.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$2.56$2.56
-21.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$2.64$2.64
-7.95%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$2.21$2.21
-20.36%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$2.12$2.12
-4.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$1.01$1.01
90.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$1.08$1.08
-21.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$3.98$3.98
65.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.88
$11.96$11.96
-53.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$1.75$1.75
-24.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$2.48$2.48
19.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Ahuachapan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.06
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$5.65$5.65
-25.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$3.10$3.10
-73.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.13
$20.24$20.24
-8.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$1.01$1.01
105.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.3K
$25.4K$25.4K
36.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$27.7K$27.7K
41.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Ahuachapan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$105$105
41.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.90
$19.07$19.07
7.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.61
$42.06$42.06
-5.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Ahuachapan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€41.99
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.27
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.07
$5.38$5.38
71.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Ahuachapan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€539
$146$146
322.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$6,019$6,019
173.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Ahuachapan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€89.9
$66.0$66.0
55.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.52
$42.83$42.83
-2.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€82.9
$116$116
-18.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$106$106
14.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Ahuachapan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,428
$523$523
212.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,078
$1,012$1,012
21.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,711
$374$374
728.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,777
$387$387
424.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,851
$3,143$3,143
149.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,840
$1,272$1,272
245.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Ahuachapan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,406
$571$571
181.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
8.58
-55.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Last update for Ahuachapan: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,633 in Lisbon versus $523 in Ahuachapan. 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 182% 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 $35.00 in Ahuachapan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $267 vs $258 – making Ahuachapan 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 Ahuachapan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Lisbon and in Ahuachapan compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon, $1,757 in Ahuachapan – roughly 30% apart. Lisbon costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Ahuachapan?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,437 per month in Lisbon and $2,635 in Ahuachapan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Lisbon and Ahuachapan?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ahuachapan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Ahuachapan?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,291 in Lisbon and $1,757 in Ahuachapan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lisbon and Ahuachapan?
Kindergarten costs $616 per month in Lisbon and $146 in Ahuachapan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Ahuachapan, where all-in costs run around $1,757, than in Lisbon at $2,291. In Ahuachapan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Ahuachapan?
It depends on your priorities. Lisbon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,757 in Ahuachapan to $2,291 in Lisbon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Lisbon or Ahuachapan safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Lisbon and Ahuachapan?
If budget matters most, go with Ahuachapan. 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.