😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $1,221 in Cayo Coco.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $1,683 in Cayo Coco.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $2,145 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 71% above, Cayo Coco is 9% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Cayo Coco
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.17
$5.11CUP 123
216.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.4
$15.03CUP 361
321.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.03
$6.84CUP 164
50.88%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$0.98CUP 23.55
188.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.00
$2.06CUP 49.33
11.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$0.99CUP 23.70
59.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$1.98CUP 47.53
71.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.52
$2.98CUP 71.6
35.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Cayo Coco
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.95
$3.04CUP 72.9
-64.14%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$0.97CUP 23.40
80.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$2.03CUP 48.68
-13.30%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$3.66CUP 87.8
-13.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.54
$6.11CUP 147
115.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.97
$5.14CUP 123
55.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.59
$10.05CUP 241
54.53%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$5.12CUP 123
-53.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$1.02CUP 24.57
67.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$0.98CUP 23.62
105.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$0.98CUP 23.54
147.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$0.98CUP 23.42
79.59%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$3.04CUP 72.9
-33.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$1.01CUP 24.35
90.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$0.98CUP 23.53
-13.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$2.93CUP 70.4
124.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.88
$9.87CUP 237
-43.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$1.99CUP 47.70
-33.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$2.01CUP 48.34
47.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Cayo Coco
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.06
$20.26CUP 486
126.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$1.02CUP 24.45
314.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$0.98CUP 23.43
-17.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.13
$20.31CUP 488
-9.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$1.02CUP 24.49
103.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.3K
$71.4KCUP 1.7M
-51.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$79.2KCUP 1.9M
-50.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Cayo Coco
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$39.22CUP 941
277.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.90
$40.69CUP 977
-49.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.61
$217CUP 5,199
-81.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Cayo Coco
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€41.99
$40.13CUP 963
19.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.27
$10.14CUP 243
83.43%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.07
$1.02CUP 24.51
803.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Cayo Coco
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€539
$89.4CUP 2,146
588.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$15.2KCUP 365.3K
8.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Cayo Coco
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€89.9
$40.46CUP 971
153.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.52
$30.31CUP 728
37.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€82.9
$75.6CUP 1,813
25.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$78.5CUP 1,883
55.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Cayo Coco
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,428
$392CUP 9,419
315.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,078
$425CUP 10.2K
190.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,711
$1,032CUP 24.8K
200.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,777
$620CUP 14.9K
227.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,851
$298CUP 7,162
2524.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,840
$355CUP 8,511
1137.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Cayo Coco
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,406
$19.91CUP 478
7972.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
10
-61.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Last update for Cayo Coco: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $392 in Cayo Coco. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 7973% 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: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $15.00 in Cayo Coco for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $236 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 7973% 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: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $392 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 126% 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 $616 in Lisbon versus $89.4 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 $1,221 in Cayo Coco versus $2,291 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 $1,221 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.