😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,243 in Lisbon versus $1,101 in Cuajimalpa.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $1,769 in Cuajimalpa.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,387 in Lisbon versus $2,438 in Cuajimalpa.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 104% more expensive than Cuajimalpa, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 67% above, Cuajimalpa is 18% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Cuajimalpa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.73€13.42
$10.61MX$184
48.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.2€53.9
$39.25MX$680
60.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€8.80
$8.00MX$139
29.00%
Cappuccino
$2.81€2.40
$3.21MX$55.6
-12.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33€1.99
$1.27MX$22.04
83.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51€1.29
$0.97MX$16.72
55.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.37€2.87
$2.39MX$41.50
41.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.34
$3.97MX$68.7
-1.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Cuajimalpa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.92
$1.50MX$26.03
-28.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.49
$2.52MX$43.65
-30.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75€1.50
$1.63MX$28.26
7.36%
Eggs
$3.10€2.64
$2.32MX$40.16
33.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.28€11.33
$7.93MX$138
67.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.85€6.70
$7.85MX$136
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.05€13.69
$10.38MX$180
54.62%
Apples(1kg)
$2.39€2.04
$2.61MX$45.25
-8.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.47
$1.45MX$25.18
18.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97€1.68
$1.80MX$31.22
9.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.17
$1.60MX$27.76
59.37%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
$1.93MX$33.53
-7.25%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97€1.68
$2.02MX$34.96
-2.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.96€1.67
$1.25MX$21.72
56.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.71
$1.02MX$17.59
-17.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.82€5.82
$4.06MX$70.3
67.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.85€4.99
$10.82MX$188
-45.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.18
$1.57MX$27.15
-12.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92€2.49
$2.77MX$47.98
5.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Cuajimalpa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.29€1.95
$0.65MX$11.33
252.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.88€39.99
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.12€3.51
$2.65MX$46.00
55.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.69
$1.60MX$27.72
-49.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.94€16.16
$8.50MX$147
122.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09€1.78
$1.27MX$21.98
64.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K€30.0K
$21.0KMX$364.0K
67.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7K€33.9K
$22.3KMX$386.0K
78.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Cuajimalpa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150€128
$56.2MX$974
166.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.49€17.48
$22.32MX$387
-8.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.15€33.40
$28.00MX$485
39.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Cuajimalpa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.65€42.35
$35.86MX$621
38.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.47€15.76
$16.14MX$280
14.44%
Cinema Ticket
$9.20€7.84
$4.70MX$81.5
95.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Cuajimalpa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$624€533
$208MX$3,600
200.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9K€13.6K
$3,536MX$61.3K
349.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Cuajimalpa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€87.2
$53.9MX$934
89.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.88€34.87
$39.27MX$680
4.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.7€81.6
$91.3MX$1,583
4.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121€103
$78.7MX$1,363
53.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Cuajimalpa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,653€1,410
$501MX$8,688
229.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,233€1,051
$389MX$6,741
216.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,043€2,596
$931MX$16.1K
226.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,059€1,756
$761MX$13.2K
170.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,879€6,720
$1,851MX$32.1K
325.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,303€3,671
$1,343MX$23.3K
220.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Cuajimalpa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,566€1,336
-
-
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 Cuajimalpa: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,653 in Lisbon and $501 in Cuajimalpa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63 in Lisbon vs $39 in Cuajimalpa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $270 vs $249 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 104% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,365 in Lisbon and $1,651 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: $1,653 in Lisbon versus $501 in Cuajimalpa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $624 in Lisbon versus $208 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 $63.0 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 $1,101 in Cuajimalpa versus $2,243 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 104% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.