😐A single person spends $2,243 per month in Lisbon vs $1,103 in Cuauhtémoc, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,315 per month in Lisbon vs $1,767 in Cuauhtémoc, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,387 per month in Lisbon vs $2,431 in Cuauhtémoc, rent included.
😐Lisbon costs about 103% more than Cuauhtémoc, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Lisbon sits 67% above the global median, while Cuauhtémoc is 18% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Cuauhtémoc
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.73€13.42
$10.68MX$185
47.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.2€53.9
$38.26MX$663
65.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€8.80
$7.96MX$138
29.65%
Cappuccino
$2.81€2.40
$3.24MX$56.1
-13.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33€1.99
$1.29MX$22.38
80.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51€1.29
$0.90MX$15.58
67.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.37€2.87
$2.42MX$42.01
39.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.34
$3.95MX$68.5
-1.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Cuauhtémoc
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.92
$1.42MX$24.63
-23.94%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.49
$2.55MX$44.18
-31.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75€1.50
$1.61MX$27.94
8.70%
Eggs
$3.10€2.64
$2.38MX$41.29
30.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.28€11.33
$8.12MX$141
63.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.85€6.70
$8.04MX$139
-2.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.05€13.69
$10.49MX$182
53.00%
Apples(1kg)
$2.39€2.04
$2.59MX$44.85
-7.72%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.47
$1.44MX$24.99
19.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97€1.68
$1.72MX$29.72
14.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.17
$1.59MX$27.55
60.38%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
$1.93MX$33.42
-7.25%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97€1.68
$1.99MX$34.53
-1.01%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.96€1.67
$1.25MX$21.63
56.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.71
$1.01MX$17.53
-16.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.82€5.82
$4.07MX$70.6
67.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.85€4.99
$11.73MX$203
-50.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.18
$1.56MX$27.04
-11.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92€2.49
$2.88MX$49.83
1.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Cuauhtémoc
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.29€1.95
$0.60MX$10.39
281.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.88€39.99
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.12€3.51
$2.53MX$43.86
62.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.69
$1.53MX$26.52
-47.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.94€16.16
$8.49MX$147
123.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09€1.78
$1.30MX$22.54
60.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K€30.0K
$20.9KMX$361.4K
68.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7K€33.9K
$22.7KMX$393.6K
74.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Cuauhtémoc
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150€128
$56.0MX$970
167.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.49€17.48
$21.97MX$381
-6.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.15€33.40
$28.64MX$496
36.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Cuauhtémoc
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.65€42.35
$36.60MX$634
35.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.47€15.76
$15.58MX$270
18.55%
Cinema Ticket
$9.20€7.84
$4.75MX$82.4
93.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Cuauhtémoc
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$624€533
$205MX$3,557
204.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9K€13.6K
$3,663MX$63.5K
334.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Cuauhtémoc
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€87.2
$53.9MX$934
89.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.88€34.87
$39.11MX$678
4.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.7€81.6
$90.7MX$1,572
5.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121€103
$78.2MX$1,355
54.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Cuauhtémoc
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,653€1,410
$511MX$8,847
223.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,233€1,051
$395MX$6,847
212.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,043€2,596
$929MX$16.1K
227.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,059€1,756
$749MX$13.0K
174.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,879€6,720
$1,710MX$29.6K
360.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,303€3,671
$1,434MX$24.9K
200.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Cuauhtémoc
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 Cuauhtémoc: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,653 in Lisbon versus $511 in Cuauhtémoc. 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 $63 in Lisbon versus $38 in Cuauhtémoc. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $270 vs $252 – making Cuauhtémoc 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 Cuauhtémoc: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cuauhtémoc cheaper than Lisbon?
Yes – Lisbon is pricier by about 103%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,365 per month in Lisbon and $1,654 in Cuauhtémoc. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Cuauhtémoc, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Lisbon or Cuauhtémoc?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Lisbon and $38.00 in Cuauhtémoc. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Lisbon and Cuauhtémoc?
Groceries cost about 7% more in Lisbon, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Lisbon or Cuauhtémoc?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cuauhtémoc, where all-in costs run around $1,103, than in Lisbon at $2,243. In Cuauhtémoc it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Lisbon or Cuauhtémoc more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Cuauhtémoc – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Cuauhtémoc?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Cuauhtémoc. 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.