😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,268 in Lisbon versus $771 in Criciuma.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,348 in Lisbon versus $1,122 in Criciuma.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,429 in Lisbon versus $1,474 in Criciuma.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 194% more expensive than in Criciuma, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 64% above, Criciuma is 44% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Criciuma
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.55€15.13
$5.81R$29.81
202.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.5€55.6
$21.54R$110
199.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.65€10.04
$5.79R$29.70
101.21%
Cappuccino
$3.26€2.81
$1.37R$7.01
137.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.15
$1.08R$5.55
130.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67€1.44
$0.77R$3.95
116.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47€2.99
$1.53R$7.85
126.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58€3.08
$1.93R$9.88
85.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Criciuma
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18€1.02
$0.91R$4.67
29.67%
White Bread(500g)
$1.95€1.68
$1.51R$7.75
29.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56€1.35
$1.07R$5.47
45.79%
Eggs
$4.01€3.46
$2.03R$10.39
97.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.27€11.45
$8.16R$41.85
62.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.42€7.26
$3.47R$17.80
142.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.23€15.72
$8.54R$43.76
113.47%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32€2.00
$2.03R$10.42
14.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73€1.49
$1.15R$5.90
50.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93€1.67
$0.91R$4.66
112.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.64€2.28
$1.60R$8.22
65.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.90€1.64
$1.23R$6.29
54.47%
Onion(1kg)
$2.11€1.82
$1.06R$5.42
99.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.24
$0.84R$4.30
71.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80€0.69
$0.64R$3.26
25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.01€6.04
$2.45R$12.54
186.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.92€5.11
$4.70R$24.09
25.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36€1.18
$1.09R$5.61
24.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15€1.85
$1.43R$7.31
50.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Criciuma
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.38€2.05
$1.00R$5.15
138.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.22€39.86
$38.87R$199
18.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.19€3.61
$0.49R$2.50
755.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.10€0.95
$0.80R$4.09
37.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.26€14.88
$2.38R$12.18
625.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.25€1.94
$1.30R$6.69
73.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K€29.7K
$23.5KR$120.5K
46.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.6K€35.9K
$30.5KR$156.2K
36.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Criciuma
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$171€147
$71.8R$368
137.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.01€16.39
$12.12R$62.1
56.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.28€29.56
$21.40R$110
60.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Criciuma
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.65€42.81
$28.46R$146
74.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.51€16.82
$39.67R$203
-50.82%
Cinema Ticket
$10.10€8.71
$6.92R$35.49
45.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Criciuma
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$699€603
$167R$855
319.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.8K€15.3K
$2,880R$14.8K
516.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Criciuma
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.2
$50.4R$259
107.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.97€41.36
$29.84R$153
60.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.8
$83.5R$428
21.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128€111
$42.77R$219
199.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Criciuma
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,661€1,433
$240R$1,229
592.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,228€1,059
$201R$1,031
510.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,915€2,514
$393R$2,014
642.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,023€1,745
$259R$1,330
679.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,129€7,010
$1,183R$6,063
587.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,635€3,997
$632R$3,242
632.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Criciuma
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,619€1,396
$303R$1,554
434.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
10.74
-64.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026
Last update for Criciuma: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,661 in Lisbon and $240 in Criciuma. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 434% 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: $64.0 in Lisbon vs $22.00 in Criciuma for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $281 vs $167 per month, with Criciuma 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 Criciuma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Criciuma cheaper than Lisbon?
Criciuma is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 194% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or Criciuma?
Average pay runs 434% higher in Lisbon, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Lisbon and Criciuma?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,661 in Lisbon versus $240 in Criciuma. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Criciuma runs roughly 19% less than in Lisbon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $699 in Lisbon versus $167 in Criciuma. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Lisbon or in Criciuma?
At $771 in Criciuma versus $2,268 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Criciuma but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Criciuma the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisbon or Criciuma more family-friendly?
For families, Criciuma is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lisbon, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Criciuma?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Criciuma 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Criciuma gentler on the wallet – expenses run 194% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.