😐A single person spends $2,291 per month in Lisbon vs $855 in Buff Bay, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,322 per month in Lisbon vs $1,404 in Buff Bay, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,354 per month in Lisbon vs $1,952 in Buff Bay, rent included.
😐Lisbon costs about 168% more than Buff Bay, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Lisbon sits 71% above the global median, while Buff Bay is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Buff Bay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.17
$7.31JMD 1,153
121.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.4
$62.7JMD 9,881
1.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.03
$5.15JMD 812
100.39%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$4.39JMD 691
-35.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.00
$0.77JMD 121
197.40%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$0.61JMD 95.8
159.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$1.90JMD 299
78.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.52
$3.15JMD 497
27.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Buff Bay
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.95
$4.29JMD 677
-74.59%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$3.49JMD 551
-49.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.63JMD 257
7.98%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$3.44JMD 543
-7.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.54
$11.00JMD 1,733
19.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.97
$6.50JMD 1,025
22.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.59
$7.76JMD 1,223
100.13%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$5.93JMD 935
-60.03%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$3.16JMD 498
-45.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$4.12JMD 649
-51.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$2.99JMD 471
-18.73%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$2.11JMD 333
-16.59%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$1.95JMD 308
4.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$3.12JMD 492
-38.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$1.44JMD 226
-40.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$8.95JMD 1,411
-26.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.88
$11.18JMD 1,762
-50.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$2.78JMD 438
-52.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$3.10JMD 488
-4.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Buff Bay
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
$1.12JMD 176
277.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$3.09JMD 487
-73.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.13
$6.08JMD 958
203.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$1.25JMD 197
66.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.3K
$42.1KJMD 6.6M
-17.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$33.4KJMD 5.3M
17.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Buff Bay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$162JMD 25.5K
-8.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.90
$22.43JMD 3,535
-8.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.61
$50.5JMD 7,959
-21.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Buff Bay
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€41.99
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.27
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.07
$13.35JMD 2,104
-30.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Buff Bay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€539
$225JMD 35.4K
174.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$2,461JMD 387.9K
567.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Buff Bay
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€89.9
$26.23JMD 4,134
291.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.52
$25.98JMD 4,094
60.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€82.9
$69.6JMD 11.0K
36.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$75.7JMD 11.9K
61.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Buff Bay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,428
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,078
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,711
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,777
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,851
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,840
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Buff Bay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,406
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
9.15
-58.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Last update for Buff Bay: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Lisbon versus $63.0 in Buff Bay. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $267 vs $349 – making Lisbon 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 Buff Bay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Lisbon and in Buff Bay compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon, $855 in Buff Bay – roughly 168% apart. Lisbon costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Buff Bay?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,437 per month in Lisbon and $1,283 in Buff Bay. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Buff Bay?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,291 in Lisbon and $855 in Buff Bay. 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 Buff Bay?
Kindergarten costs $616 per month in Lisbon and $225 in Buff Bay. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Buff Bay, where all-in costs run around $855, than in Lisbon at $2,291. In Buff Bay 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 Buff Bay?
It depends on your priorities. Lisbon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $855 in Buff Bay to $2,291 in Lisbon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Lisbon or Buff Bay 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 Buff Bay?
If budget matters most, go with Buff Bay. 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.