Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Caranavi Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Caranavi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,243 in Lisbon versus $1,117 in Caranavi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $1,499 in Caranavi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,387 in Lisbon versus $1,882 in Caranavi.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 101% more expensive than Caranavi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 67% above, Caranavi is 17% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Caranavi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.73 €13.42
$2.48 BOB 17.22
534.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.2 €53.9
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.32 €8.80
$7.20 BOB 49.88
43.33%
Cappuccino
$2.81 €2.40
$3.33 BOB 23.06
-15.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 €1.99
$0.71 BOB 4.94
228.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 €1.29
$0.54 BOB 3.71
179.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.37 €2.87
$1.43 BOB 9.89
135.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 €3.34
$3.19 BOB 22.13
22.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Caranavi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.92
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.49
$1.43 BOB 9.88
22.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.75 €1.50
$2.98 BOB 20.66
-41.28%
Eggs
$3.10 €2.64
$0.84 BOB 5.81
269.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.28 €11.33
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.85 €6.70
$1.93 BOB 13.36
306.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.05 €13.69
$5.69 BOB 39.44
182.07%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 €2.04
$3.26 BOB 22.58
-26.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 €1.47
$1.72 BOB 11.89
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.97 €1.68
$1.46 BOB 10.14
34.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.55 €2.17
$1.18 BOB 8.15
116.10%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 €1.53
$1.07 BOB 7.39
67.29%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 €1.68
$0.71 BOB 4.89
177.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.96 €1.67
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 €0.71
$1.04 BOB 7.22
-19.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.82 €5.82
$3.14 BOB 21.77
117.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.85 €4.99
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 €1.18
$2.12 BOB 14.70
-34.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 €2.49
$4.46 BOB 30.89
-34.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Caranavi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.29 €1.95
$0.50 BOB 3.46
358.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.88 €39.99
$14.69 BOB 102
219.13%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.12 €3.51
$1.48 BOB 10.27
178.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 €0.69
$1.78 BOB 12.35
-54.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.94 €16.16
$14.73 BOB 102
28.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.09 €1.78
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K €30.0K
$14.4K BOB 99.7K
144.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7K €33.9K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Caranavi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$150 €128
$99.4 BOB 689
50.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.49 €17.48
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.15 €33.40
$66.8 BOB 463
-41.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Caranavi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.65 €42.35
$14.34 BOB 99.4
246.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.47 €15.76
$21.43 BOB 149
-13.81%
Cinema Ticket
$9.20 €7.84
$6.36 BOB 44.07
44.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Caranavi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$624 €533
$144 BOB 998
333.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.9K €13.6K
$2,863 BOB 19.8K
455.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Caranavi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 €87.2
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.88 €34.87
$30.15 BOB 209
35.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.7 €81.6
$50.4 BOB 349
90.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 €103
$73.7 BOB 511
64.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Caranavi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,653 €1,410
$887 BOB 6,147
86.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,233 €1,051
$573 BOB 3,973
115.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,043 €2,596
$1,146 BOB 7,941
165.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,059 €1,756
$986 BOB 6,832
108.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,879 €6,720
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,303 €3,671
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Caranavi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,566 €1,336
$365 BOB 2,529
329.26%
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: April 21, 2026

Last update for Caranavi: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,653 in Lisbon and $887 in Caranavi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 329% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $63 in Lisbon vs $0 in Caranavi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $270 vs $131 per month, with Caranavi cheaper across the board.

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 101% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or Caranavi?
Lisbon pays 329% 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: $1,653 in Lisbon versus $887 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 105% 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 $2,243 per month in Lisbon versus $1,117 in Caranavi – a 101% 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 $1,117 in Caranavi versus $2,243 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 101% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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