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: $2,268 in Lisbon versus $609 in Caranavi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,348 in Lisbon versus $888 in Caranavi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,429 in Lisbon versus $1,167 in Caranavi.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 273% more expensive than in Caranavi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 64% above, Caranavi is 56% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Caranavi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.55 €15.12
$1.46 BOB 17.53
1102.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.5 €55.6
$9.38 BOB 112
587.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.65 €10.04
$4.03 BOB 48.31
189.08%
Cappuccino
$3.26 €2.81
$1.72 BOB 20.57
89.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 €2.15
$0.40 BOB 4.81
522.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 €1.44
$0.31 BOB 3.73
438.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.47 €2.99
$0.80 BOB 9.56
333.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 €3.08
$2.33 BOB 27.94
53.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Caranavi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 €1.02
$0.75 BOB 8.98
57.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.95 €1.68
$0.82 BOB 9.85
137.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 €1.35
$0.74 BOB 8.91
110.81%
Eggs
$4.01 €3.46
$0.53 BOB 6.37
656.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.27 €11.44
$3.62 BOB 43.33
266.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.42 €7.26
$1.13 BOB 13.52
645.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.23 €15.72
$3.29 BOB 39.39
454.10%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 €2.00
$1.66 BOB 19.95
39.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 €1.49
$0.54 BOB 6.49
220.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 €1.67
$0.45 BOB 5.44
328.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.64 €2.27
$0.64 BOB 7.68
312.50%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 €1.64
$0.59 BOB 7.06
222.03%
Onion (1kg)
$2.11 €1.82
$0.41 BOB 4.88
414.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 €1.24
$0.51 BOB 6.08
182.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 €0.69
$0.61 BOB 7.26
31.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.01 €6.04
$1.83 BOB 21.87
283.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.92 €5.11
$3.02 BOB 36.21
96.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 €1.18
$1.29 BOB 15.47
5.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 €1.85
$1.55 BOB 18.56
38.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Caranavi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.38 €2.05
$0.29 BOB 3.42
720.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.22 €39.85
$8.34 BOB 99.9
454.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.19 €3.61
$0.80 BOB 9.57
423.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.10 €0.95
$0.85 BOB 10.24
29.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.26 €14.88
$8.54 BOB 102
102.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.25 €1.94
$0.47 BOB 5.65
378.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K €29.7K
$8,590 BOB 102.9K
301.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.6K €35.9K
$11.9K BOB 142.3K
250.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Caranavi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$171 €147
$22.92 BOB 275
645.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.01 €16.38
$14.35 BOB 172
32.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.28 €29.55
$18.89 BOB 226
81.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Caranavi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.65 €42.80
$8.49 BOB 102
484.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.51 €16.81
$12.58 BOB 151
55.09%
Cinema Ticket
$10.10 €8.71
$3.82 BOB 45.73
164.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Caranavi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$699 €603
$84.4 BOB 1,011
728.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.8K €15.3K
$1,287 BOB 15.4K
1280.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Caranavi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.2
$15.96 BOB 191
555.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.97 €41.35
$17.82 BOB 213
169.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 €87.8
$28.75 BOB 344
254.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128 €111
$35.05 BOB 420
266.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Caranavi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,661 €1,432
$513 BOB 6,148
223.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,228 €1,059
$331 BOB 3,962
271.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,915 €2,513
$678 BOB 8,128
329.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,023 €1,744
$557 BOB 6,678
262.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,129 €7,007
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,635 €3,996
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Caranavi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,619 €1,396
$211 BOB 2,522
669.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.78
8.15
-53.62%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026

Last update for Caranavi: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,661 in Lisbon and $513 in Caranavi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 669% 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: $64.0 in Lisbon vs $9.00 in Caranavi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $281 vs $91.0 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 273% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or Caranavi?
Average pay runs 669% 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: $1,661 in Lisbon versus $513 in Caranavi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Lisbon or in Caranavi?
Dining out is cheaper in Caranavi – a meal for two runs $9.00 versus $64.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Lisbon and in Caranavi?
All in, you'll spend $2,268 per month in Lisbon versus $609 in Caranavi – a 273% 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 $609 in Caranavi versus $2,268 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 273% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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