😐A single person spends $2,210 per month in Lisbon vs $853 in Buff Bay, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,311 per month in Lisbon vs $1,412 in Buff Bay, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,411 per month in Lisbon vs $1,970 in Buff Bay, rent included.
😐Lisbon costs about 159% more than Buff Bay, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Lisbon sits 65% 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
$15.91€13.70
$7.64JMD 1,201
108.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.8
$61.8JMD 9,715
4.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.05
$4.86JMD 765
116.26%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$4.29JMD 675
-33.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$0.79JMD 124
183.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$0.65JMD 103
130.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.01
$1.93JMD 304
80.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$3.21JMD 505
20.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Buff Bay
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$4.19JMD 659
-72.79%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$3.58JMD 563
-51.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$1.63JMD 256
7.98%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$3.61JMD 568
-10.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.62
$11.18JMD 1,758
20.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$6.18JMD 972
27.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.67
$7.59JMD 1,194
109.09%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$6.14JMD 965
-62.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$3.10JMD 488
-45.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$4.23JMD 666
-52.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$2.95JMD 463
-16.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$2.01JMD 316
-8.46%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$1.99JMD 313
0.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$3.02JMD 475
-36.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$1.51JMD 237
-47.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.69
$8.54JMD 1,344
-22.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.93
$11.29JMD 1,775
-49.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$2.88JMD 453
-52.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$3.17JMD 498
-6.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Buff Bay
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.23
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$1.07JMD 169
300.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$3.12JMD 491
-73.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.76
$6.16JMD 969
197.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$1.23JMD 194
67.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$43.6KJMD 6.9M
-21.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$33.4KJMD 5.3M
17.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Buff Bay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$164JMD 25.7K
-9.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.67
$22.27JMD 3,502
-7.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.11
$50.1JMD 7,875
-20.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Buff Bay
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.20
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.29
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.91
$12.92JMD 2,032
-28.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Buff Bay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€529
$227JMD 35.7K
170.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$2,479JMD 389.8K
547.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Buff Bay
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.1
$26.59JMD 4,181
293.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.22
$25.86JMD 4,066
62.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.9
$71.8JMD 11.3K
30.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$74.9JMD 11.8K
59.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Buff Bay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,402
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,081
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,609
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,740
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,716
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,679
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Buff Bay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,381
-
-
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Buff Bay: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Lisbon versus $62.0 in Buff Bay. Groceries tell a different story – $269 in Lisbon vs $350 in Buff Bay – so Lisbon wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Buff Bay compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon, $853 in Buff Bay – roughly 159% 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 $3,315 per month in Lisbon and $1,280 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 $2,210 in Lisbon and $853 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 $614 per month in Lisbon and $227 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 $853, than in Lisbon at $2,210. 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 $853 in Buff Bay to $2,210 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.