Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Carlsbad, NM Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Carlsbad, NM

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,296 per month in Lisbon vs $2,223 in Carlsbad, NM, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,376 per month in Lisbon vs $3,167 in Carlsbad, NM, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,457 per month in Lisbon vs $4,110 in Carlsbad, NM, rent included.

Lisbon costs about 3% more than Carlsbad, NM, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Lisbon and Carlsbad, NM sit above the global median – Lisbon by 68%, Carlsbad, NM by 63%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.59 €15.33

$17.76 $17.76

-0.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.9 €54.8

$44.75 $44.75

40.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.58 €10.10

$12.10 $12.10

-4.30%

Cappuccino

$3.10 €2.70

$5.93 $5.93

-47.72%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 €2.17

$1.51 $1.51

64.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 €1.52

$1.25 $1.25

39.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.48 €3.03

$4.88 $4.88

-28.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 €3.00

$6.94 $6.94

-50.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 €1.00

$0.85 $0.85

35.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.91 €1.66

$3.53 $3.53

-45.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 €1.31

$3.75 $3.75

-60.00%

Eggs

$3.98 €3.47

$4.78 $4.78

-16.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.29 €11.59

$13.53 $13.53

-1.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.01 €6.98

$12.24 $12.24

-34.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.04 €15.73

$17.83 $17.83

1.18%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 €2.05

$4.25 $4.25

-44.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 €1.53

$2.03 $2.03

-13.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 €1.62

$3.53 $3.53

-47.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.55 €2.22

$4.06 $4.06

-37.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 €1.61

$2.24 $2.24

-17.86%

Onion (1kg)

$2.10 €1.83

$2.40 $2.40

-12.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.49 €1.30

$1.83 $1.83

-18.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 €0.71

$1.84 $1.84

-55.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.10 €6.19

$9.41 $9.41

-24.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.91 €5.15

$14.96 $14.96

-60.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 €1.15

$2.42 $2.42

-45.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 €1.86

$3.68 $3.68

-42.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.36 €2.05

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.62 €40.63

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.08 €3.55

$2.30 $2.30

77.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.14 €0.99

$2.43 $2.43

-53.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.09 €14.90

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.31 €2.01

$0.91 $0.91

153.85%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.1K €29.7K

$26.3K $26.3K

29.79%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$41.4K €36.1K

$23.9K $23.9K

73.26%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$169 €147

$176 $176

-4.46%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$19.33 €16.85

$56.9 $56.9

-66.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.51 €29.21

$77.2 $77.2

-56.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.84 €42.57

$41.39 $41.39

18.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.43 €16.94

Cinema Ticket

$9.57 €8.34

$10.05 $10.05

-4.78%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$696 €607

$686 $686

1.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.4K €15.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €91.8

$60.0 $60.0

75.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.75 €41.62

$32.12 $32.12

48.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 €87.6

$82.6 $82.6

21.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 €108

$103 $103

21.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,662 €1,449

$1,233 $1,233

34.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,246 €1,086

$1,002 $1,002

24.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,965 €2,584

$1,958 $1,958

51.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,049 €1,786

$1,580 $1,580

29.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,834 €6,829

$1,859 $1,859

321.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,464 €3,892

$1,835 $1,835

143.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,632 €1,422

$4,162 $4,162

-60.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.78

4.62

-18.18%

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

Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026

Last update for Carlsbad, NM: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,662 in Lisbon versus $1,233 in Carlsbad, NM. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 155% higher in Carlsbad, NM, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Lisbon versus $45.00 in Carlsbad, NM. Groceries tell a different story – $277 in Lisbon vs $391 in Carlsbad, NM – 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 Carlsbad, NM: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon, $2,223 in Carlsbad, NM – roughly 3% apart. Lisbon costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,444 per month in Lisbon and $3,335 in Carlsbad, NM. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Carlsbad, NM, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Lisbon and $45.00 in Carlsbad, NM. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 41% cheaper in Lisbon – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Carlsbad, NM, where all-in costs run around $2,223, than in Lisbon at $2,296. In Carlsbad, NM it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Lisbon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,223 in Carlsbad, NM to $2,296 in Lisbon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Carlsbad, NM. 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.