Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Cotia Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Cotia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,210 per month in Lisbon vs $783 in Cotia, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,311 per month in Lisbon vs $1,296 in Cotia, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,411 per month in Lisbon vs $1,809 in Cotia, rent included.

Lisbon costs about 182% more than Cotia, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Lisbon sits 65% above the global median, while Cotia is 42% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Cotia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.81
$6.40 R$32.99
148.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €56.2
$33.31 R$172
94.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.12
$7.28 R$37.48
44.37%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.49
$1.80 R$9.28
59.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.95
$1.20 R$6.18
86.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.30
$0.83 R$4.26
80.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.03
$1.84 R$9.48
89.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.37
$2.83 R$14.56
37.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Cotia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.99
$1.03 R$5.30
10.68%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.52
$1.56 R$8.02
12.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.52
$1.30 R$6.67
35.38%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.79
$2.30 R$11.84
40.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.71
$8.41 R$43.30
60.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.87
$3.89 R$20.04
103.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.77
$8.71 R$44.89
82.20%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €2.00
$2.21 R$11.36
4.52%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.48
$1.72 R$8.86
-1.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.74
$1.47 R$7.58
36.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.13
$1.60 R$8.26
53.75%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.60
$1.25 R$6.41
47.20%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.74
$1.09 R$5.62
83.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.67
$0.75 R$3.84
157.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$0.64 R$3.31
23.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.73
$2.54 R$13.10
160.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.97
$9.07 R$46.70
-36.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.18
$1.29 R$6.66
6.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.58
$2.31 R$11.90
28.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Cotia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.06
$0.94 R$4.85
152.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.53
$38.08 R$196
19.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.72
$0.87 R$4.50
393.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.71
$0.75 R$3.87
9.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.88
$8.50 R$43.80
115.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.79
$1.01 R$5.20
103.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.7K
$22.0K R$113.4K
55.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €34.1K
$28.1K R$144.8K
39.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Cotia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €128
$47.55 R$245
210.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.80
$13.20 R$68.0
55.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.37
$18.93 R$97.5
109.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Cotia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.51
$22.32 R$115
114.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.42
$21.67 R$112
-12.69%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.97
$5.47 R$28.17
67.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Cotia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €533
$311 R$1,603
97.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.9K
$6,877 R$35.4K
133.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Cotia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.8
$51.9 R$267
101.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.49
$43.07 R$222
-2.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €81.5
$77.4 R$399
21.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €104
$72.3 R$373
65.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Cotia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,412
$309 R$1,592
426.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,089
$219 R$1,127
473.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,629
$581 R$2,995
421.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,753
$430 R$2,217
369.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,767
$1,659 R$8,546
370.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,707
$1,236 R$6,366
245.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Cotia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,391
-
-
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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Cotia: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,628 in Lisbon versus $309 in Cotia. 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 $65.0 in Lisbon versus $33.00 in Cotia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $269 vs $192 – making Cotia 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 Cotia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Cotia?
Lisbon costs about 182% more than Cotia, 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 Cotia?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,315 per month in Lisbon and $1,174 in Cotia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Lisbon or Cotia?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Cotia, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Lisbon vs Cotia?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Lisbon and $33.00 in Cotia. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Lisbon compared to Cotia?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,210 in Lisbon and $783 in Cotia. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Lisbon or Cotia?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Cotia, where all-in costs run around $783, than in Lisbon at $2,210. In Cotia 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 Cotia?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Cotia costs $783 versus $2,210 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 Cotia?
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 Cotia?
If budget matters most, go with Cotia. 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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