😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,091 in Caranavi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,289 in Lisbon versus $1,522 in Caranavi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,369 in Lisbon versus $1,952 in Caranavi.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 103% more expensive than in Caranavi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Caranavi is 18% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Caranavi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.71€13.76
$2.43BOB 26.56
546.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€55.1
-
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.53€9.23
$7.15BOB 78.2
47.27%
Cappuccino
$2.88€2.53
$3.27BOB 35.86
-11.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.97
$0.75BOB 8.17
200.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56€1.36
$0.52BOB 5.73
200.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.39€2.97
$1.46BOB 16.00
132.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90€3.41
$3.37BOB 36.93
15.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Caranavi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.95
-
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.73€1.51
$1.47BOB 16.05
17.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$2.94BOB 32.20
-40.14%
Eggs
$3.16€2.77
$0.84BOB 9.17
276.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.64
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.87€6.89
$1.92BOB 21.06
309.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.84€13.88
$5.95BOB 65.2
166.22%
Apples(1kg)
$2.40€2.11
$3.26BOB 35.67
-26.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.49
$1.75BOB 19.19
-2.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$1.42BOB 15.59
42.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.52€2.21
$1.14BOB 12.49
121.05%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86€1.63
$1.06BOB 11.60
75.47%
Onion(1kg)
$2.06€1.81
$0.72BOB 7.88
186.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.00€1.75
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78€0.68
$1.04BOB 11.37
-25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.65€5.82
$3.26BOB 35.71
103.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€5.06
$3.80BOB 41.66
52.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.21
$2.15BOB 23.55
-35.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.64
$4.44BOB 48.59
-31.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Caranavi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.33€2.04
$0.52BOB 5.75
348.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.45€39.82
$14.49BOB 159
213.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.57
$1.42BOB 15.58
187.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.80€0.70
$1.69BOB 18.49
-52.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.65€16.34
$14.58BOB 160
27.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.00€1.75
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K€31.0K
$14.6KBOB 160.1K
142.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.1K€34.2K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Caranavi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150€132
$99.7BOB 1,091
50.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.55€18.01
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.45€34.56
$67.2BOB 736
-41.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Caranavi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.06€42.11
$14.64BOB 160
228.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.70€16.38
$21.79BOB 239
-14.18%
Cinema Ticket
$9.30€8.15
$6.34BOB 69.5
46.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Caranavi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$628€550
$145BOB 1,582
334.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.4K
$2,866BOB 31.4K
474.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Caranavi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€89.0
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.55€36.40
$30.62BOB 335
35.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.5€81.0
$50.8BOB 556
82.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123€107
$73.9BOB 809
65.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Caranavi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,426
$883BOB 9,668
84.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,233€1,080
$585BOB 6,401
110.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,126€2,739
$1,149BOB 12.6K
171.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,058€1,803
$987BOB 10.8K
108.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,762€6,801
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,386€3,843
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Caranavi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,621€1,420
$232BOB 2,541
598.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 21, 2026
Last update for Caranavi: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $883 in Caranavi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 599% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
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 Caranavi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Caranavi cheaper than Lisbon?
Caranavi is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 103% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or Caranavi?
Average pay runs 599% higher in Lisbon, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Lisbon and Caranavi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $883 in Caranavi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Lisbon and in Caranavi?
Supermarket bills run roughly 93% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Lisbon and in Caranavi?
All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $1,091 in Caranavi – a 103% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Lisbon or in Caranavi?
At $1,091 in Caranavi versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Caranavi but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Caranavi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisbon or Caranavi more family-friendly?
For families, Caranavi is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lisbon, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Caranavi?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Caranavi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Caranavi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 103% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.