😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $680 in Barbacena.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $1,075 in Barbacena.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $1,470 in Barbacena.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 227% more expensive than Barbacena, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Barbacena is 49% below.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Barbacena
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.84
$3.68R$18.36
339.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.3
$16.31R$81.4
295.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.88
$4.62R$23.07
124.68%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.37
$0.87R$4.34
218.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$1.35R$6.73
66.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$0.74R$3.70
112.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€2.99
$0.86R$4.27
305.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.43
$1.59R$7.93
151.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Barbacena
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.02R$5.07
5.88%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.49
$1.51R$7.53
15.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.49
$1.28R$6.37
35.94%
Eggs
$3.18€2.72
$1.81R$9.05
75.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43€11.50
$6.37R$31.78
110.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.84
$3.17R$15.81
152.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€13.77
$7.73R$38.56
108.15%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
$1.05R$5.26
117.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$1.52R$7.59
13.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$1.43R$7.13
35.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
$1.06R$5.31
139.62%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$0.69R$3.46
165.22%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$1.01R$5.03
101.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98€1.69
$0.57R$2.82
247.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$0.55R$2.77
54.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.87
$1.59R$7.94
330.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€4.94
$5.83R$29.10
-0.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$0.67R$3.32
104.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
$2.72R$13.57
6.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Barbacena
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.95
$0.92R$4.60
147.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€40.10
$38.60R$193
21.35%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.49
$1.05R$5.26
288.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.65R$3.23
26.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27€15.64
$7.17R$35.76
154.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.72
$1.01R$5.05
99.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.2K
$13.5KR$67.5K
160.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
$10.9KR$54.3K
253.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Barbacena
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145€124
$75.3R$376
93.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96€17.94
$20.18R$101
3.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05€34.29
$12.48R$62.3
220.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Barbacena
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79€41.76
$22.81R$114
113.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€16.00
$21.95R$110
-14.85%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06€7.76
$6.40R$31.91
41.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Barbacena
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607€519
$443R$2,212
36.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$6,379R$31.8K
155.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Barbacena
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.6
$65.1R$325
60.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€35.06
$35.53R$177
15.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€80.1
$95.9R$479
-2.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€101
$80.8R$403
46.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Barbacena
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,373
$208R$1,039
670.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,058
$154R$771
699.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046€2,607
$386R$1,928
688.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057€1,761
$279R$1,390
638.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709€6,599
$1,694R$8,454
354.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,652
$1,211R$6,044
252.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Barbacena
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584€1,356
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
11.6
-67.16%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Última actualización para Barbacena: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $208 in Barbacena. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $16.00 in Barbacena for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $155 per month, with Barbacena cheaper across the board.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Lisbon vs Barbacena: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Barbacena?
Lisbon and Barbacena differ by about 227% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $680 including rent). Barbacena is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Barbacena?
You'd need roughly $3,341 in Lisbon and $1,020 in Barbacena to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Barbacena?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $208 in Barbacena. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Barbacena?
All in, you'll spend $2,227 per month in Lisbon versus $680 in Barbacena – a 227% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Lisbon and Barbacena?
A monthly transit pass in Barbacena runs roughly 21% less than in Lisbon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $680 in Barbacena versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Barbacena but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Barbacena the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Barbacena?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Lisbon or Barbacena safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Barbacena are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Lisbon or Barbacena?
Expats usually find Barbacena gentler on the wallet – expenses run 227% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.