Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Cerquilho Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Cerquilho

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,280 per month in Lisbon vs $718 in Cerquilho, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,294 per month in Lisbon vs $1,181 in Cerquilho, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,307 per month in Lisbon vs $1,643 in Cerquilho, rent included.

Lisbon costs about 218% more than Cerquilho, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Lisbon sits 71% above the global median, while Cerquilho is 46% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Cerquilho
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75 €13.74
$6.16 R$31.51
155.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5 €55.3
$28.94 R$148
119.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.45 €9.11
$7.20 R$36.83
45.14%
Cappuccino
$2.91 €2.54
$1.82 R$9.34
59.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.00
$1.33 R$6.80
72.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.31
$0.85 R$4.37
76.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.56 €3.11
$1.07 R$5.47
232.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 €3.46
$2.64 R$13.51
50.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Cerquilho
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.94
$1.14 R$5.83
-5.26%
White Bread (500g)
$1.76 €1.54
$1.42 R$7.25
23.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 €1.48
$1.26 R$6.45
34.92%
Eggs
$3.25 €2.83
$2.33 R$11.91
39.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.25 €11.55
$7.97 R$40.78
66.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 €6.72
$1.85 R$9.49
316.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.77 €13.75
$5.25 R$26.86
200.38%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 €1.99
$1.77 R$9.05
28.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 €1.44
$1.74 R$8.89
-4.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.02 €1.76
$1.06 R$5.41
90.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.47 €2.16
$1.59 R$8.14
55.35%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 €1.56
$1.23 R$6.28
45.53%
Onion (1kg)
$2.07 €1.80
$0.56 R$2.89
269.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 €1.72
$0.74 R$3.81
166.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 €0.73
$0.56 R$2.87
48.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55 €5.71
$1.24 R$6.34
428.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.57 €4.85
$8.52 R$43.61
-34.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.16
$1.05 R$5.36
26.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 €2.62
$2.75 R$14.06
9.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Cerquilho
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.27 €1.98
$0.93 R$4.78
144.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.35 €40.41
$38.89 R$199
19.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.23 €3.69
$0.92 R$4.69
359.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 €0.74
$1.02 R$5.24
-16.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.83 €16.41
$8.48 R$43.41
122.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.02 €1.76
$1.01 R$5.19
100.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K €30.5K
$22.6K R$115.4K
55.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K €34.6K
$29.4K R$150.4K
34.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Cerquilho
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €129
$46.61 R$239
217.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.89
$12.45 R$63.7
64.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52 €34.46
$14.46 R$74.0
173.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Cerquilho
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.17 €42.00
$22.69 R$116
112.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39 €16.03
$21.44 R$110
-14.23%
Cinema Ticket
$9.10 €7.93
$5.30 R$27.13
71.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Cerquilho
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$615 €536
$314 R$1,604
96.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K €14.2K
$6,841 R$35.0K
138.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Cerquilho
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 €88.6
$30.42 R$156
233.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09 €36.69
$17.78 R$91.0
136.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.3 €80.5
$54.8 R$280
68.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 €106
$73.0 R$373
67.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Cerquilho
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,612 €1,405
$312 R$1,596
416.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,254 €1,093
$212 R$1,086
490.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,069 €2,676
$591 R$3,025
419.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,037 €1,776
$434 R$2,222
369.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,751 €6,757
$1,467 R$7,505
428.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,286 €3,737
$1,141 R$5,839
275.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Cerquilho
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,602 €1,396
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
10.92
-65.11%

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

Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026

Last update for Cerquilho: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,612 in Lisbon versus $312 in Cerquilho. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Lisbon versus $29.00 in Cerquilho. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $267 vs $163 – making Cerquilho the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Cerquilho: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Cerquilho?
Lisbon costs about 218% more than Cerquilho, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Lisbon and in Cerquilho?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,420 per month in Lisbon and $1,077 in Cerquilho. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Lisbon or Cerquilho?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Cerquilho, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Lisbon and in Cerquilho?
Kindergarten costs $615 per month in Lisbon and $314 in Cerquilho. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Lisbon or in Cerquilho?
Groceries cost about 64% more in Lisbon, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Lisbon or in Cerquilho?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Cerquilho, where all-in costs run around $718, than in Lisbon at $2,280. In Cerquilho it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Cerquilho?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Cerquilho costs $718 versus $2,280 in Lisbon. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Cerquilho?
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.
Should I move to Lisbon or to Cerquilho?
If budget matters most, go with Cerquilho. 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.

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