😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,243 in Lisbon versus $1,133 in Ciudad Lerdo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $1,783 in Ciudad Lerdo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,387 in Lisbon versus $2,434 in Ciudad Lerdo.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 98% more expensive than Ciudad Lerdo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 67% above, Ciudad Lerdo is 15% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Ciudad Lerdo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.73€13.42
$10.40MX$180
51.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.2€53.9
$38.59MX$669
63.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€8.80
$8.03MX$139
28.52%
Cappuccino
$2.81€2.40
$3.21MX$55.6
-12.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33€1.99
$1.24MX$21.43
87.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51€1.29
$0.95MX$16.50
58.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.37€2.87
$2.44MX$42.24
38.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.34
$4.01MX$69.4
-2.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Ciudad Lerdo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.92
$1.42MX$24.55
-23.94%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.49
$2.59MX$44.91
-32.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75€1.50
$1.57MX$27.16
11.46%
Eggs
$3.10€2.64
$2.41MX$41.76
28.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.28€11.33
$8.23MX$143
61.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.85€6.70
$7.96MX$138
-1.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.05€13.69
$10.41MX$180
54.18%
Apples(1kg)
$2.39€2.04
$2.57MX$44.51
-7.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.47
$1.44MX$24.99
19.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97€1.68
$1.73MX$29.93
13.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.17
$1.57MX$27.28
62.42%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
$1.85MX$32.13
-3.24%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97€1.68
$1.93MX$33.51
2.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.96€1.67
$1.24MX$21.52
58.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.71
$0.98MX$16.95
-14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.82€5.82
$4.14MX$71.8
64.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.85€4.99
$11.13MX$193
-47.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.18
$1.60MX$27.67
-13.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92€2.49
$2.86MX$49.63
2.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Ciudad Lerdo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.29€1.95
$0.64MX$11.16
257.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.88€39.99
$13.02MX$226
260.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.12€3.51
$2.65MX$45.84
55.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.69
$1.59MX$27.47
-49.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.94€16.16
$8.36MX$145
126.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09€1.78
$1.25MX$21.71
67.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K€30.0K
$21.3KMX$370.0K
64.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7K€33.9K
$22.2KMX$385.5K
78.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Ciudad Lerdo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150€128
$56.5MX$980
164.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.49€17.48
$22.20MX$385
-7.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.15€33.40
$27.71MX$480
41.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Ciudad Lerdo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.65€42.35
$36.18MX$627
37.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.47€15.76
$15.74MX$273
17.34%
Cinema Ticket
$9.20€7.84
$4.77MX$82.6
92.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Ciudad Lerdo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$624€533
$207MX$3,580
202.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9K€13.6K
$3,622MX$62.8K
339.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Ciudad Lerdo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€87.2
$53.5MX$927
91.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.88€34.87
$40.33MX$699
1.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.7€81.6
$89.8MX$1,555
6.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121€103
$77.8MX$1,348
55.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Ciudad Lerdo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,653€1,410
$503MX$8,719
228.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,233€1,051
$392MX$6,785
214.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,043€2,596
$943MX$16.3K
222.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,059€1,756
$771MX$13.4K
166.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,879€6,720
$1,964MX$34.0K
301.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,303€3,671
$1,293MX$22.4K
232.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Ciudad Lerdo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,566€1,336
$230MX$3,984
581.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
11.48
-66.81%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 21, 2026
Last update for Ciudad Lerdo: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,653 in Lisbon and $503 in Ciudad Lerdo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 581% 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 in Lisbon vs $39 in Ciudad Lerdo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $270 vs $250 per month, with Ciudad Lerdo 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 Ciudad Lerdo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Ciudad Lerdo?
Ciudad Lerdo wins on cost – living expenses run 98% lower than in Lisbon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ciudad Lerdo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lisbon or Ciudad Lerdo?
Lisbon pays 581% more on average, 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 vs Ciudad Lerdo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,653 in Lisbon versus $503 in Ciudad Lerdo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Lisbon vs Ciudad Lerdo?
A monthly transit pass in Ciudad Lerdo runs roughly 260% 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 Ciudad Lerdo?
Childcare runs $624 in Lisbon versus $207 in Ciudad Lerdo. 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 Ciudad Lerdo?
At $1,133 in Ciudad Lerdo versus $2,243 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ciudad Lerdo but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Ciudad Lerdo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Ciudad Lerdo?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ciudad Lerdo delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,133 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ciudad Lerdo hard to pass up.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Ciudad Lerdo?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Ciudad Lerdo 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 Ciudad Lerdo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 98% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.