😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $848 in Curitiba.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,333 in Curitiba.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $1,818 in Curitiba.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 161% more expensive than Curitiba, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Curitiba is 37% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Curitiba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.70
$5.35R$27.11
197.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.8
$32.23R$163
100.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.05
$6.16R$31.19
70.62%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$2.07R$10.47
38.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$1.13R$5.70
98.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$0.69R$3.49
117.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.01
$2.22R$11.23
57.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$3.31R$16.74
17.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Curitiba
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$0.97R$4.91
17.53%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$1.48R$7.49
18.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$1.14R$5.80
54.39%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$2.05R$10.40
57.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$8.15R$41.25
65.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$3.76R$19.03
110.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.67
$7.54R$38.16
110.48%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$2.13R$10.80
8.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$0.93R$4.72
82.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$0.96R$4.87
109.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$1.21R$6.12
103.31%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$1.04R$5.24
76.92%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$0.87R$4.42
129.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$0.59R$3.01
227.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.66R$3.34
19.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.69
$2.11R$10.67
213.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.93
$7.92R$40.13
-27.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$1.18R$5.99
16.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$2.15R$10.90
38.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Curitiba
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$1.07R$5.40
121.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.22
$47.33R$240
-3.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$1.10R$5.58
290.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.69R$3.50
18.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.76
$6.38R$32.31
186.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$1.22R$6.20
68.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$18.7KR$94.8K
83.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$26.2KR$132.7K
49.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Curitiba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$72.4R$366
104.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.67
$11.52R$58.3
78.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.10
$21.29R$108
86.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Curitiba
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.19
$25.34R$128
88.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.29
$16.61R$84.1
13.91%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.91
$6.43R$32.54
42.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Curitiba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€529
$286R$1,446
114.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$6,389R$32.4K
151.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Curitiba
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.1
$54.2R$274
93.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.21
$44.55R$226
-5.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.9
$82.9R$420
13.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$68.5R$347
74.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Curitiba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,401
$354R$1,794
359.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,081
$246R$1,247
409.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,609
$674R$3,415
349.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,739
$495R$2,506
308.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,715
$2,354R$11.9K
231.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,678
$1,721R$8,717
148.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Curitiba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,380
$656R$3,321
144.46%
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Curitiba: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $354 in Curitiba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 144% 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: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $32.00 in Curitiba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 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 161% 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 Curitiba?
Lisbon pays 144% more on average, 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 vs Curitiba?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $354 in Curitiba. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Lisbon vs Curitiba?
A monthly transit pass in Curitiba runs roughly 4% 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 Curitiba?
Childcare runs $614 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 Curitiba?
At $848 in Curitiba versus $2,210 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 $848 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 161% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.