😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,089 in Cuajimalpa.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,734 in Cuajimalpa.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $2,379 in Cuajimalpa.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 103% more expensive than Cuajimalpa, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Cuajimalpa is 19% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Cuajimalpa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.81
$10.47MX$183
51.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€56.2
$38.89MX$679
66.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.12
$8.10MX$142
29.75%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.49
$3.32MX$58.1
-13.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.95
$1.29MX$22.61
73.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$0.93MX$16.23
61.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.03
$2.37MX$41.36
47.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.37
$3.96MX$69.1
-2.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Cuajimalpa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.99
$1.47MX$25.71
-22.45%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.52
$2.61MX$45.50
-32.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.52
$1.62MX$28.32
8.64%
Eggs
$3.22€2.79
$2.41MX$42.03
33.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.71
$8.23MX$144
63.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.87
$7.85MX$137
0.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.77
$10.43MX$182
52.16%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€2.00
$2.67MX$46.56
-13.48%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.48
$1.44MX$25.18
18.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.74
$1.80MX$31.43
11.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.13
$1.57MX$27.49
56.69%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.60
$1.83MX$31.92
0.55%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.74
$2.00MX$34.99
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.67
$1.20MX$21.01
60.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$1.01MX$17.72
-21.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.73
$4.10MX$71.6
61.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.97
$10.87MX$190
-47.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$1.63MX$28.39
-15.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.58
$2.87MX$50.2
3.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Cuajimalpa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.06
$0.65MX$11.41
264.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.53
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.72
$2.65MX$46.20
61.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.71
$1.54MX$26.98
-46.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.88
$8.11MX$142
125.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.79
$1.32MX$22.99
56.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.7K
$20.9KMX$365.3K
63.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€34.1K
$22.2KMX$387.6K
77.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Cuajimalpa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€128
$57.2MX$998
158.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.80
$22.44MX$392
-8.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.37
$28.34MX$495
39.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Cuajimalpa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.51
$36.51MX$638
31.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.42
$15.67MX$274
20.74%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.97
$4.62MX$80.7
98.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Cuajimalpa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€533
$206MX$3,593
198.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.9K
$3,570MX$62.4K
349.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Cuajimalpa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.8
$51.9MX$906
101.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.49
$39.62MX$692
6.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€81.5
$90.2MX$1,575
4.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€104
$79.8MX$1,393
50.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Cuajimalpa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,412
$510MX$8,908
219.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,089
$394MX$6,882
218.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,629
$938MX$16.4K
223.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,753
$761MX$13.3K
165.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,767
$2,108MX$36.8K
270.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,707
$1,377MX$24.0K
210.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Cuajimalpa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,391
-
-
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Cuajimalpa: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $510 in Cuajimalpa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $39.00 in Cuajimalpa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $251 per month, with Cuajimalpa 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 Cuajimalpa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cuajimalpa cheaper than Lisbon?
Cuajimalpa is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 103% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,315 in Lisbon and $1,633 in Cuajimalpa to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Lisbon and Cuajimalpa?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $510 in Cuajimalpa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $206 in Cuajimalpa. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Lisbon or Cuajimalpa?
Dining out is cheaper in Cuajimalpa – a meal for two runs $39.00 versus $65.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Lisbon or Cuajimalpa?
At $1,089 in Cuajimalpa versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cuajimalpa but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Cuajimalpa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisbon or Cuajimalpa more family-friendly?
For families, Cuajimalpa 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 Cuajimalpa?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Cuajimalpa 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 Cuajimalpa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 103% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.