Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Cayo Coco Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Cayo Coco

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,268 in Lisbon versus $1,205 in Cayo Coco.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,348 in Lisbon versus $1,691 in Cayo Coco.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,429 in Lisbon versus $2,177 in Cayo Coco.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 88% more expensive than in Cayo Coco, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 64% above, Cayo Coco is 13% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Cayo Coco
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.55 €15.09
$4.86 CUP 117
261.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.5 €55.5
$14.97 CUP 359
330.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.65 €10.01
$6.85 CUP 164
70.07%
Cappuccino
$3.26 €2.80
$1.02 CUP 24.51
219.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 €2.14
$2.02 CUP 48.57
23.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 €1.44
$0.98 CUP 23.62
70.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.47 €2.99
$1.96 CUP 47.01
77.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 €3.07
$2.94 CUP 70.7
21.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Cayo Coco
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 €1.02
$2.91 CUP 69.9
-59.45%
White Bread (500g)
$1.95 €1.67
$1.02 CUP 24.42
91.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 €1.34
$2.05 CUP 49.09
-23.90%
Eggs
$4.01 €3.45
$3.69 CUP 88.6
8.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.27 €11.41
$5.83 CUP 140
127.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.42 €7.24
$5.13 CUP 123
64.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.23 €15.68
$10.15 CUP 243
79.61%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 €2.00
$4.90 CUP 118
-52.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 €1.49
$1.03 CUP 24.72
67.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 €1.66
$1.03 CUP 24.61
87.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.64 €2.27
$0.98 CUP 23.63
169.39%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 €1.63
$0.98 CUP 23.61
93.88%
Onion (1kg)
$2.11 €1.82
$3.03 CUP 72.8
-30.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 €1.24
$0.98 CUP 23.59
46.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 €0.69
$0.98 CUP 23.57
-18.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.01 €6.03
$3.08 CUP 73.8
127.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.92 €5.09
$9.84 CUP 236
-39.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 €1.17
$2.03 CUP 48.83
-33.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 €1.85
$1.96 CUP 47.09
9.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Cayo Coco
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.38 €2.05
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.22 €39.74
$20.29 CUP 487
127.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.19 €3.60
$1.02 CUP 24.51
310.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.10 €0.94
$1.01 CUP 24.27
8.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.26 €14.84
$20.34 CUP 488
-15.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.25 €1.93
$0.98 CUP 23.46
129.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K €29.6K
$69.4K CUP 1.7M
-50.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.6K €35.8K
$78.7K CUP 1.9M
-47.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Cayo Coco
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$171 €147
$40.14 CUP 963
325.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.01 €16.34
$39.72 CUP 953
-52.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.28 €29.48
$219 CUP 5,268
-84.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Cayo Coco
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.65 €42.69
$39.25 CUP 942
26.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.51 €16.77
$10.19 CUP 245
91.46%
Cinema Ticket
$10.10 €8.68
$1.03 CUP 24.66
880.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Cayo Coco
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$699 €601
$91.3 CUP 2,192
665.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.8K €15.3K
$14.9K CUP 356.9K
19.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Cayo Coco
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €89.9
$40.44 CUP 970
158.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.97 €41.24
$29.62 CUP 711
61.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 €87.6
$73.5 CUP 1,765
38.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128 €110
$80.2 CUP 1,925
59.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Cayo Coco
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,661 €1,428
$407 CUP 9,762
308.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,228 €1,056
$420 CUP 10.1K
192.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,915 €2,506
$1,049 CUP 25.2K
177.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,023 €1,740
$614 CUP 14.7K
229.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,129 €6,989
$304 CUP 7,297
2573.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,635 €3,985
$345 CUP 8,286
1242.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Cayo Coco
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,619 €1,392
$20.09 CUP 482
7959.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.78
10
-62.20%

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

Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026

Last update for Cayo Coco: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,661 in Lisbon and $407 in Cayo Coco. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 7960% 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 $15.00 in Cayo Coco for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $281 vs $234 per month, with Cayo Coco 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 Cayo Coco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Cayo Coco?
Cayo Coco wins on cost – living expenses run 88% lower than in Lisbon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cayo Coco the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lisbon or in Cayo Coco?
Average pay runs 7960% higher in Lisbon, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lisbon compared to Cayo Coco?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,661 in Lisbon versus $407 in Cayo Coco. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Lisbon compared to Cayo Coco?
A monthly transit pass in Cayo Coco runs roughly 128% less than in Lisbon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Lisbon and in Cayo Coco?
Childcare runs $699 in Lisbon versus $91.3 in Cayo Coco. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Lisbon or in Cayo Coco?
At $1,205 in Cayo Coco versus $2,268 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Cayo Coco but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Cayo Coco the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Cayo Coco?
Both work as nomad bases, but Cayo Coco delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,205 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Cayo Coco hard to pass up.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Cayo Coco?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Cayo Coco 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Cayo Coco gentler on the wallet – expenses run 88% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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