๐A single person spends $2,243 per month in Lisbon vs $721 in Cerquilho, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $3,315 per month in Lisbon vs $1,163 in Cerquilho, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $4,387 per month in Lisbon vs $1,605 in Cerquilho, rent included.
๐Lisbon costs about 211% more than Cerquilho, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Lisbon sits 67% above the global median, while Cerquilho is 46% below โ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Lisbon
Cerquilho
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.73โฌ13.42
$6.17R$30.68
154.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.2โฌ53.9
$28.26R$140
123.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32โฌ8.80
$7.12R$35.41
44.94%
Cappuccino
$2.81โฌ2.40
$1.76R$8.76
59.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33โฌ1.99
$1.33R$6.60
75.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51โฌ1.29
$0.86R$4.28
75.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.37โฌ2.87
$1.11R$5.50
203.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91โฌ3.34
$2.74R$13.63
42.70%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Cerquilho
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08โฌ0.92
$1.14R$5.66
-5.26%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75โฌ1.49
$1.42R$7.06
23.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75โฌ1.50
$1.26R$6.27
38.89%
Eggs
$3.10โฌ2.64
$2.41R$11.96
28.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.28โฌ11.33
$8.10R$40.25
63.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.85โฌ6.70
$1.85R$9.17
324.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.05โฌ13.69
$5.44R$27.03
195.04%
Apples(1kg)
$2.39โฌ2.04
$1.77R$8.78
35.03%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72โฌ1.47
$1.79R$8.90
-3.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97โฌ1.68
$1.10R$5.46
79.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55โฌ2.17
$1.57R$7.81
62.42%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79โฌ1.53
$1.24R$6.18
44.35%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97โฌ1.68
$0.53R$2.63
271.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.96โฌ1.67
$0.80R$4.00
145.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84โฌ0.71
$0.55R$2.75
52.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.82โฌ5.82
$1.28R$6.36
432.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.85โฌ4.99
$9.51R$47.25
-38.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38โฌ1.18
$1.11R$5.50
24.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92โฌ2.49
$2.75R$13.66
6.18%
๐ Getting Around
Lisbon
Cerquilho
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.29โฌ1.95
$0.94R$4.67
143.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.88โฌ39.99
$39.25R$195
19.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.12โฌ3.51
$0.93R$4.63
343.01%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81โฌ0.69
$1.07R$5.31
-24.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.94โฌ16.16
$8.78R$43.65
115.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09โฌ1.78
$1.02R$5.05
104.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1Kโฌ30.0K
$22.8KR$113.4K
53.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7Kโฌ33.9K
$28.9KR$143.7K
37.41%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Cerquilho
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150โฌ128
$47.88R$238
212.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.49โฌ17.48
$12.63R$62.8
62.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.15โฌ33.40
$14.14R$70.3
176.87%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Cerquilho
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.65โฌ42.35
$22.13R$110
124.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.47โฌ15.76
$21.77R$108
-15.16%
Cinema Ticket
$9.20โฌ7.84
$5.28R$26.22
74.24%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Cerquilho
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$624โฌ533
$314R$1,563
98.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9Kโฌ13.6K
$6,755R$33.6K
135.48%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Cerquilho
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102โฌ87.2
$30.33R$151
236.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.88โฌ34.87
$17.72R$88.1
130.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.7โฌ81.6
$54.9R$273
74.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121โฌ103
$72.3R$359
67.47%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Cerquilho
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,653โฌ1,410
$314R$1,561
426.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,233โฌ1,051
$213R$1,061
477.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,043โฌ2,596
$574R$2,851
430.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,059โฌ1,756
$422R$2,096
388.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,879โฌ6,720
$1,835R$9,120
329.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,303โฌ3,671
$1,021R$5,074
321.53%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Cerquilho
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,566โฌ1,336
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
10.92
-65.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 21, 2026
Last update for Cerquilho: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $1,653 in Lisbon versus $314 in Cerquilho. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $63 in Lisbon versus $28 in Cerquilho. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $270 vs $167 โ 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 211% 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 vs Cerquilho?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,365 per month in Lisbon and $1,082 in Cerquilho. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ 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 Cerquilho?
Kindergarten costs $624 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 Cerquilho?
Groceries cost about 62% 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 Cerquilho?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Cerquilho, where all-in costs run around $721, than in Lisbon at $2,243. 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 $721 versus $2,243 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 โ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Lisbon or 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.