😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $567 in El Progreso.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $893 in El Progreso.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $1,219 in El Progreso.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 299% more expensive than El Progreso, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, El Progreso is 58% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
El Progreso
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94€13.82
$5.72HNL 153
178.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4€55.0
$24.78HNL 661
155.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€9.01
$7.88HNL 210
31.73%
Cappuccino
$2.79€2.42
$1.47HNL 39.24
89.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34€2.03
$1.01HNL 26.89
131.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.36
$1.03HNL 27.38
52.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43€2.97
$1.16HNL 31.05
195.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.39
$1.99HNL 53.0
96.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
El Progreso
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.94
$1.29HNL 34.35
-16.28%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.53
$2.08HNL 55.5
-14.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71€1.48
$1.22HNL 32.63
40.16%
Eggs
$3.15€2.73
$2.04HNL 54.4
54.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.68€11.86
$4.45HNL 119
207.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.95
$3.89HNL 104
105.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.52€13.46
$7.84HNL 209
97.96%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.99
$2.97HNL 79.3
-22.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.42
$1.44HNL 38.34
13.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.68
$1.45HNL 38.66
33.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.51€2.18
$1.52HNL 40.51
65.13%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.55
$1.60HNL 42.66
11.87%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01€1.74
$1.35HNL 35.88
48.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.70
$0.89HNL 23.69
121.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$1.67HNL 44.45
-49.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79€5.89
$2.47HNL 65.9
174.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.67€4.92
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.21
$1.33HNL 35.58
4.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.62
$1.80HNL 48.01
67.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
El Progreso
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.97
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.44€39.40
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.72
$4.35HNL 116
-1.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.74
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.28€15.85
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99€1.72
$1.08HNL 28.79
84.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.4K
$19.5KHNL 520.2K
79.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K€34.3K
$19.4KHNL 518.0K
103.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
El Progreso
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146€127
$80.7HNL 2,150
81.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45€17.73
$9.07HNL 242
125.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98€33.80
$41.37HNL 1,103
-5.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
El Progreso
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.98€42.48
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83€16.33
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.52€8.26
$5.73HNL 153
66.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
El Progreso
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$608€527
$245HNL 6,538
147.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.3K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
El Progreso
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€90.1
$45.56HNL 1,214
128.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12€36.53
$35.67HNL 951
18.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.2€80.0
$111HNL 2,952
-16.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€104
$103HNL 2,750
16.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
El Progreso
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621€1,406
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,268€1,099
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,048€2,643
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,009€1,742
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,663€6,645
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,329€3,754
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
El Progreso
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,585€1,374
-
-
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for El Progreso: June 7, 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 299% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,394 in Lisbon and $850 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 El Progreso?
Supermarket bills run roughly 48% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Lisbon vs El Progreso?
All in, you'll spend $2,263 per month in Lisbon versus $567 in El Progreso – a 299% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Lisbon or El Progreso?
At $567 in El Progreso versus $2,263 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 299% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.