😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $565 in El Progreso.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,289 in Lisbon versus $896 in El Progreso.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,369 in Lisbon versus $1,227 in El Progreso.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 291% more expensive than in El Progreso, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, El Progreso is 58% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
El Progreso
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.71€13.80
$5.87HNL 157
167.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€55.2
$24.96HNL 667
151.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.53€9.25
$7.76HNL 208
35.70%
Cappuccino
$2.88€2.53
$1.46HNL 39.03
97.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.98
$1.00HNL 26.70
125.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56€1.37
$0.98HNL 26.18
59.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.39€2.98
$1.17HNL 31.19
189.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90€3.42
$1.99HNL 53.1
95.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
El Progreso
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.95
$1.33HNL 35.57
-18.80%
White Bread(500g)
$1.73€1.52
$2.10HNL 56.1
-17.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.55
$1.22HNL 32.66
44.26%
Eggs
$3.16€2.78
$2.10HNL 56.2
50.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.68
$4.28HNL 114
210.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.87€6.92
$3.69HNL 98.7
113.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.84€13.92
$7.77HNL 208
103.86%
Apples(1kg)
$2.40€2.11
$3.00HNL 80.4
-20.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.50
$1.46HNL 38.94
16.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$1.44HNL 38.46
40.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.52€2.21
$1.59HNL 42.45
58.49%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86€1.63
$1.62HNL 43.19
14.81%
Onion(1kg)
$2.06€1.81
$1.36HNL 36.43
51.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.00€1.76
$0.83HNL 22.28
140.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78€0.69
$1.71HNL 45.83
-54.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.65€5.84
$2.44HNL 65.3
172.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€5.08
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.22
$1.29HNL 34.46
6.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.65
$1.80HNL 48.27
67.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
El Progreso
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.33€2.05
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.45€39.94
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.58
$4.25HNL 114
-4.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.80€0.70
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.65€16.38
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.00€1.76
$1.08HNL 28.81
85.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K€31.1K
$19.5KHNL 521.1K
81.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.1K€34.3K
$19.0KHNL 508.5K
105.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
El Progreso
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150€132
$81.4HNL 2,176
84.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.55€18.06
$8.78HNL 235
134.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.45€34.66
$40.49HNL 1,083
-2.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
El Progreso
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.06€42.23
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.70€16.43
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.30€8.17
$5.93HNL 159
56.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
El Progreso
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$628€552
$246HNL 6,584
155.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.5K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
El Progreso
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€89.2
$45.70HNL 1,222
122.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.55€36.51
$35.35HNL 945
17.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.5€81.3
$109HNL 2,923
-15.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123€108
$104HNL 2,791
17.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
El Progreso
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,430
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,233€1,083
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,126€2,747
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,058€1,808
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,762€6,821
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,386€3,854
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
El Progreso
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,621€1,425
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
12
-68.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 21, 2026
Last update for El Progreso: July 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $25.00 in El Progreso for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $181 per month, with El Progreso 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 El Progreso: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is El Progreso cheaper than Lisbon?
El Progreso is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 291% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,315 in Lisbon and $848 in El Progreso 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.
How do food prices compare in Lisbon and in El Progreso?
Supermarket bills run roughly 49% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Lisbon and in El Progreso?
All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $565 in El Progreso – a 291% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Lisbon or in El Progreso?
At $565 in El Progreso versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in El Progreso but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes El Progreso the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisbon or El Progreso more family-friendly?
For families, El Progreso 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 El Progreso?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and El Progreso 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 El Progreso gentler on the wallet – expenses run 291% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.