😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $842 in Curitiba.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $1,360 in Curitiba.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $1,878 in Curitiba.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 172% more expensive than in Curitiba, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Curitiba is 37% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Curitiba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.18
$5.46R$27.82
196.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.5
$31.78R$162
99.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.04
$6.25R$31.81
65.12%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$2.02R$10.31
40.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.01
$1.08R$5.50
112.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$0.68R$3.44
132.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$2.20R$11.19
54.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.53
$3.19R$16.25
26.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Curitiba
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.96
$0.92R$4.67
18.48%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$1.41R$7.17
24.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.19R$6.07
47.90%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$2.12R$10.77
49.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.56
$8.23R$41.88
60.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.98
$3.78R$19.25
110.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.60
$7.65R$38.96
103.01%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$2.07R$10.52
14.49%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$0.96R$4.87
78.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$0.97R$4.93
107.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$1.20R$6.13
102.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.01R$5.16
74.26%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$0.93R$4.76
118.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$0.61R$3.09
214.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$0.66R$3.36
28.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$2.19R$11.14
200.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.89
$7.66R$38.99
-27.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$1.17R$5.96
13.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$2.27R$11.53
30.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Curitiba
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$1.05R$5.36
117.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.10
$47.01R$239
-2.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$1.10R$5.58
284.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$0.71R$3.63
14.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.15
$6.40R$32.61
188.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$1.17R$5.93
77.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.4K
$18.4KR$93.9K
87.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$26.2KR$133.6K
49.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Curitiba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$72.7R$370
103.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.92
$11.43R$58.2
79.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.64
$21.22R$108
86.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Curitiba
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€42.03
$26.04R$133
84.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.29
$16.67R$84.9
11.58%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.08
$6.48R$33.01
42.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Curitiba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€540
$286R$1,454
115.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$6,461R$32.9K
154.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Curitiba
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€90.0
$54.6R$278
88.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.55
$44.98R$229
-7.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€83.0
$82.1R$418
15.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$69.2R$352
76.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Curitiba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,430
$359R$1,826
355.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,079
$247R$1,259
398.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,713
$671R$3,414
362.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,779
$494R$2,514
311.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,858
$2,373R$12.1K
230.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,844
$1,736R$8,837
152.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Curitiba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,408
$639R$3,252
151.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
11
-65.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Last update for Curitiba: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $359 in Curitiba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 152% 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: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $32.00 in Curitiba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $170 per month, with Curitiba 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 Curitiba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Curitiba?
Curitiba wins on cost – living expenses run 172% lower than in Lisbon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Curitiba the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lisbon or in Curitiba?
Average pay runs 152% higher in Lisbon, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lisbon compared to Curitiba?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $359 in Curitiba. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Lisbon compared to Curitiba?
A monthly transit pass in Curitiba runs roughly 3% less than in Lisbon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Lisbon and in Curitiba?
Childcare runs $616 in Lisbon versus $286 in Curitiba. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Lisbon or in Curitiba?
At $842 in Curitiba versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Curitiba but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Curitiba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Curitiba?
Both work as nomad bases, but Curitiba delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $842 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Curitiba hard to pass up.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Curitiba?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Curitiba 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Curitiba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 172% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.