Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and El Centro, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and El Centro, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,243 per month in Lisbon vs $2,517 in El Centro, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,315 per month in Lisbon vs $3,599 in El Centro, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,387 per month in Lisbon vs $4,682 in El Centro, CA, rent included.

Lisbon is about 11% cheaper than El Centro, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Lisbon and El Centro, CA sit above the global median – Lisbon by 67%, El Centro, CA by 88%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.73 €13.42

$11.98 $11.98

31.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.2 €53.9

$39.95 $39.95

58.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.32 €8.80

$15.07 $15.07

-31.52%

Cappuccino

$2.81 €2.40

$4.03 $4.03

-30.27%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 €1.99

$2.04 $2.04

14.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 €1.29

$1.96 $1.96

-22.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.37 €2.87

$2.92 $2.92

15.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 €3.34

$7.05 $7.05

-44.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 €0.92

$1.16 $1.16

-6.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.75 €1.49

$4.14 $4.14

-57.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.75 €1.50

$4.72 $4.72

-62.92%

Eggs

$3.10 €2.64

$3.74 $3.74

-17.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.28 €11.33

$12.35 $12.35

7.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.85 €6.70

$16.46 $16.46

-52.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.05 €13.69

$15.21 $15.21

5.52%

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 €2.04

$4.46 $4.46

-46.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 €1.47

$1.66 $1.66

3.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.97 €1.68

$5.34 $5.34

-63.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.55 €2.17

$5.49 $5.49

-53.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 €1.53

$3.31 $3.31

-45.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.97 €1.68

$2.84 $2.84

-30.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 €1.67

$2.10 $2.10

-6.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 €0.71

$2.16 $2.16

-61.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.82 €5.82

$10.99 $10.99

-37.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.85 €4.99

$14.84 $14.84

-60.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 €1.18

$1.91 $1.91

-27.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 €2.49

$3.51 $3.51

-16.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.29 €1.95

$2.03 $2.03

12.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.88 €39.99

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.12 €3.51

$6.66 $6.66

-38.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 €0.69

$2.67 $2.67

-69.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.94 €16.16

$29.58 $29.58

-35.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.09 €1.78

$1.24 $1.24

68.55%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.1K €30.0K

$25.4K $25.4K

38.24%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$39.7K €33.9K

$28.3K $28.3K

40.19%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$150 €128

$158 $158

-5.24%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$20.49 €17.48

$54.7 $54.7

-62.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.15 €33.40

$58.3 $58.3

-32.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.65 €42.35

$42.74 $42.74

16.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.47 €15.76

Cinema Ticket

$9.20 €7.84

$14.91 $14.91

-38.30%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$624 €533

$1,474 $1,474

-57.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K €13.6K

$23.0K $23.0K

-30.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$102 €87.2

$47.72 $47.72

114.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.88 €34.87

$33.30 $33.30

22.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.7 €81.6

$104 $104

-7.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 €103

$101 $101

19.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 €1,410

$1,607 $1,607

2.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,233 €1,051

$1,344 $1,344

-8.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,043 €2,596

$2,619 $2,619

16.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,059 €1,756

$2,241 $2,241

-8.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,879 €6,720

$3,026 $3,026

160.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,303 €3,671

$2,655 $2,655

62.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,566 €1,336

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.81

6.64

-42.62%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lisbon: April 21, 2026

Last update for El Centro, CA: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,653 in Lisbon versus $1,607 in El Centro, CA. 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 $40 in El Centro, CA. Groceries tell a different story – $270 in Lisbon vs $429 in El Centro, CA – so Lisbon wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 El Centro, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,243 in Lisbon, $2,517 in El Centro, CA – roughly 12% apart. El Centro, CA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,365 per month in Lisbon and $3,775 in El Centro, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Lisbon, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,243 in Lisbon and $2,517 in El Centro, CA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $624 per month in Lisbon and $1,474 in El Centro, CA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,243 in Lisbon and $2,517 in El Centro, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Lisbon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,243 in Lisbon to $2,517 in El Centro, CA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Lisbon. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, El Centro, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.