Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Cayey Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Cayey

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $2,293 in Cayey.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $3,473 in Cayey.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $4,653 in Cayey.

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 3% less than in Cayey, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 66% above, Cayey 71% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Cayey
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17 €13.84
$19.13 $19.13
-15.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6 €55.3
$82.0 $82.0
-21.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 €8.88
$9.68 $9.68
7.23%
Cappuccino
$2.77 €2.37
$3.57 $3.57
-22.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 €1.92
$1.78 $1.78
26.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 €1.35
$1.45 $1.45
8.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €2.99
$2.93 $2.93
19.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00 €3.43
$4.63 $4.63
-13.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Cayey
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.93
$2.49 $2.49
-56.63%
White Bread (500g)
$1.74 €1.49
$3.47 $3.47
-49.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 €1.49
$2.16 $2.16
-19.44%
Eggs
$3.18 €2.72
$6.06 $6.06
-47.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.43 €11.50
$8.58 $8.58
56.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.99 €6.84
$8.38 $8.38
-4.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.09 €13.77
$12.64 $12.64
27.29%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 €1.95
$5.85 $5.85
-61.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 €1.48
$2.65 $2.65
-35.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 €1.66
$3.98 $3.98
-51.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.54 €2.18
$4.08 $4.08
-37.75%
Potato (1kg)
$1.83 €1.57
$4.10 $4.10
-55.37%
Onion (1kg)
$2.04 €1.75
$2.96 $2.96
-31.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.98 €1.69
$3.09 $3.09
-35.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.73
$1.93 $1.93
-55.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85 €5.87
$12.15 $12.15
-43.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.78 €4.94
$15.44 $15.44
-62.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.18
$2.48 $2.48
-44.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 €2.48
$3.22 $3.22
-9.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Cayey
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €1.95
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.84 €40.10
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.08 €3.49
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$1.49 $1.49
-44.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.27 €15.64
$15.19 $15.19
20.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.01 €1.72
$1.00 $1.00
101.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K €30.2K
$36.0K $36.0K
-2.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K €32.9K
$27.0K $27.0K
42.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Cayey
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$145 €124
$491 $491
-70.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96 €17.94
$80.0 $80.0
-73.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05 €34.29
$75.2 $75.2
-46.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Cayey
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.79 €41.76
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69 €16.00
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.06 €7.76
$12.18 $12.18
-25.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Cayey
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$607 €519
$475 $475
27.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K €14.0K
$10.5K $10.5K
55.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Cayey
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €89.6
$45.11 $45.11
132.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95 €35.06
$56.0 $56.0
-26.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.6 €80.1
$92.2 $92.2
1.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €101
$106 $106
11.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Cayey
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,604 €1,373
$1,218 $1,218
31.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,236 €1,058
$812 $812
52.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,046 €2,607
$1,818 $1,818
67.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,057 €1,761
$1,811 $1,811
13.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,709 €6,599
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,266 €3,652
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Cayey
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,584 €1,356
$3,703 $3,703
-57.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
5.71
-33.27%

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

Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026

Last update for Cayey: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $1,218 in Cayey. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cayey pays 134% 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: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $82.0 in Cayey for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $383 per month, with Lisbon 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 Cayey: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Cayey?
Lisbon and Cayey differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $2,293 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Cayey earns 134% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Cayey?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $1,218 in Cayey. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lisbon and Cayey?
Childcare runs $607 in Lisbon versus $475 in Cayey. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Lisbon – a meal for two runs $65.0 versus $82.0 in Cayey. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,227 in Lisbon versus $2,293 in Cayey, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Cayey. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Cayey?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Lisbon or Cayey safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Cayey are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Lisbon or Cayey?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Cayey. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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