😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,104 in Caranavi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,535 in Caranavi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $1,966 in Caranavi.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 100% more expensive than 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
$15.91€13.81
$2.51BOB 17.20
533.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€56.2
-
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.12
$7.44BOB 51.0
41.26%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.49
$3.29BOB 22.58
-12.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.95
$0.75BOB 5.14
198.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$0.49BOB 3.39
206.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.03
$1.48BOB 10.14
135.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.37
$3.30BOB 22.63
17.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Caranavi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.99
-
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.52
$1.42BOB 9.76
23.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.52
$2.93BOB 20.13
-39.93%
Eggs
$3.22€2.79
$0.83BOB 5.71
287.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.71
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.87
$1.95BOB 13.35
305.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.77
$5.90BOB 40.49
168.98%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€2.00
$3.30BOB 22.61
-30.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.48
$1.69BOB 11.58
0.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.74
$1.49BOB 10.23
34.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.13
$1.17BOB 8.05
110.26%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.60
$1.07BOB 7.32
71.96%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.74
$0.71BOB 4.86
181.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.67
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$1.03BOB 7.08
-23.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.73
$3.13BOB 21.44
111.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.97
$5.80BOB 39.80
-1.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$2.20BOB 15.12
-37.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.58
$4.25BOB 29.12
-30.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Caranavi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.06
$0.52BOB 3.57
355.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.53
$14.22BOB 97.6
220.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.72
$1.47BOB 10.08
191.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.71
$1.79BOB 12.28
-54.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.88
$14.43BOB 99.0
26.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.79
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.7K
$14.5KBOB 99.4K
136.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€34.1K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Caranavi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€128
$99.3BOB 681
48.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.80
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.37
$67.2BOB 461
-41.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Caranavi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.51
$14.40BOB 98.8
232.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.42
$21.67BOB 149
-12.69%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.97
$6.72BOB 46.13
36.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Caranavi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€533
$148BOB 1,013
315.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.9K
$2,847BOB 19.5K
463.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Caranavi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.8
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.49
$29.97BOB 206
40.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€81.5
$50.1BOB 344
87.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€104
$71.2BOB 489
67.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Caranavi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,412
$866BOB 5,942
87.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,089
$582BOB 3,994
115.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,629
$1,143BOB 7,842
165.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,753
$960BOB 6,584
110.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,767
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,707
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Caranavi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,391
$358BOB 2,453
348.34%
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Caranavi: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $866 in Caranavi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 348% 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 100% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or Caranavi?
Lisbon pays 348% more on average, 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 $866 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 Caranavi?
Supermarket bills run roughly 88% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Lisbon vs Caranavi?
All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $1,104 in Caranavi – a 100% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Lisbon or Caranavi?
At $1,104 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 100% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.