😐A single person spends $2,210 per month in Lisbon vs $799 in Arapiraca, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,311 per month in Lisbon vs $1,257 in Arapiraca, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,411 per month in Lisbon vs $1,715 in Arapiraca, rent included.
😐Lisbon costs about 177% more than Arapiraca, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Lisbon sits 65% above the global median, while Arapiraca is 40% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Arapiraca
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.69
$4.85R$24.29
228.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.7
$27.80R$139
132.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.04
$6.88R$34.42
52.76%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$1.76R$8.81
63.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$0.83R$4.15
169.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$0.52R$2.62
188.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.00
$1.48R$7.42
135.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$2.92R$14.63
32.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Arapiraca
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.15R$5.74
-0.87%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$1.40R$7.01
25.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$1.26R$6.29
39.68%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$2.35R$11.76
37.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$6.87R$34.36
96.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$3.50R$17.49
126.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.65
$6.99R$34.99
127.04%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$2.17R$10.86
6.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$1.24R$6.19
37.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.12R$5.59
79.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$1.56R$7.80
57.69%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$1.29R$6.46
42.64%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$1.08R$5.41
85.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$0.50R$2.50
286.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.71R$3.55
11.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.68
$1.66R$8.29
298.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.92
$8.10R$40.56
-29.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.17
$1.19R$5.96
15.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$1.60R$7.98
85.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Arapiraca
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$0.86R$4.28
175.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.19
$39.07R$196
16.61%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$1.15R$5.73
273.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.62R$3.09
32.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.74
$3.59R$17.95
409.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$1.09R$5.44
88.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$16.3KR$81.6K
110.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$22.3KR$111.7K
76.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Arapiraca
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$71.5R$358
106.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.65
$16.17R$80.9
26.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.08
$16.87R$84.4
134.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Arapiraca
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.16
$22.23R$111
115.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.28
$21.57R$108
-12.29%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.90
$6.26R$31.31
46.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Arapiraca
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€528
$259R$1,298
136.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$6,414R$32.1K
150.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Arapiraca
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.0
$43.03R$215
143.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.18
$51.6R$258
-18.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.8
$83.0R$415
13.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$77.3R$387
54.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Arapiraca
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,400
$313R$1,567
419.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,080
$217R$1,086
478.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,607
$575R$2,877
427.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,738
$434R$2,174
365.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,709
$1,547R$7,741
404.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,675
$1,023R$5,118
317.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Arapiraca
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,379
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
15
-74.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Arapiraca: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,628 in Lisbon versus $313 in Arapiraca. 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 $65.0 in Lisbon versus $28.00 in Arapiraca. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $269 vs $171 – making Arapiraca 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 Arapiraca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Lisbon and Arapiraca compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon, $799 in Arapiraca – roughly 177% apart. Lisbon costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Arapiraca?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,315 per month in Lisbon and $1,199 in Arapiraca. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Lisbon and Arapiraca?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Arapiraca, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lisbon and Arapiraca?
Kindergarten costs $614 per month in Lisbon and $259 in Arapiraca. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 57% more in Lisbon, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Arapiraca, where all-in costs run around $799, than in Lisbon at $2,210. In Arapiraca 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 Arapiraca?
It depends on your priorities. Lisbon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $799 in Arapiraca to $2,210 in Lisbon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Lisbon or Arapiraca 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 Arapiraca?
If budget matters most, go with Arapiraca. 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.