😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,099 in Isla Mujeres.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,775 in Isla Mujeres.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $2,452 in Isla Mujeres.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 101% more expensive than Isla Mujeres, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Isla Mujeres is 18% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Isla Mujeres
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.81
$10.64MX$186
49.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€56.2
$38.90MX$679
66.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.12
$7.85MX$137
33.89%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.49
$3.25MX$56.8
-11.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.95
$1.29MX$22.59
73.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$0.96MX$16.72
56.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.03
$2.23MX$39.02
56.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.37
$4.00MX$69.8
-3.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Isla Mujeres
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.99
$1.44MX$25.11
-20.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.52
$2.59MX$45.31
-32.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.52
$1.61MX$28.16
9.32%
Eggs
$3.22€2.79
$2.39MX$41.69
34.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.71
$7.94MX$139
69.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.87
$7.90MX$138
0.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.77
$10.68MX$186
48.60%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€2.00
$2.71MX$47.34
-14.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.48
$1.39MX$24.28
22.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.74
$1.77MX$30.95
13.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.13
$1.70MX$29.74
44.71%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.60
$1.84MX$32.20
-
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.74
$2.02MX$35.27
-0.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.67
$1.20MX$21.03
60.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$1.02MX$17.86
-22.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.73
$4.08MX$71.3
62.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.97
$10.95MX$191
-47.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$1.60MX$27.87
-14.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.58
$2.76MX$48.24
7.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Isla Mujeres
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.06
$0.62MX$10.76
282.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.53
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.72
$2.64MX$46.06
62.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.71
$1.54MX$26.83
-46.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.88
$8.24MX$144
122.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.79
$1.30MX$22.75
58.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.7K
$21.0KMX$366.0K
63.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€34.1K
$22.7KMX$396.6K
73.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Isla Mujeres
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€128
$55.9MX$976
164.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.80
$21.95MX$383
-6.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.37
$27.75MX$485
42.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Isla Mujeres
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.51
$36.94MX$645
29.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.42
$16.11MX$281
17.44%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.97
$4.50MX$78.6
104.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Isla Mujeres
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€533
$209MX$3,653
193.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.9K
$3,540MX$61.8K
353.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Isla Mujeres
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.8
$52.5MX$916
99.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.49
$39.57MX$691
6.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€81.5
$90.4MX$1,579
3.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€104
$78.0MX$1,363
53.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Isla Mujeres
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,412
$504MX$8,806
222.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,089
$404MX$7,055
210.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,629
$946MX$16.5K
220.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,753
$758MX$13.2K
166.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,767
$1,784MX$31.2K
337.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,707
$1,186MX$20.7K
260.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Isla Mujeres
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,391
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
11.48
-66.81%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Isla Mujeres: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $504 in Isla Mujeres. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $39.00 in Isla Mujeres for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $251 per month, with Isla Mujeres 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 Isla Mujeres: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Isla Mujeres?
Lisbon and Isla Mujeres differ by about 101% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $1,099 including rent). Isla Mujeres is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Isla Mujeres?
You'd need roughly $3,315 in Lisbon and $1,648 in Isla Mujeres 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 apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Isla Mujeres?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $504 in Isla Mujeres. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Isla Mujeres?
All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $1,099 in Isla Mujeres – a 101% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,099 in Isla Mujeres versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Isla Mujeres but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Isla Mujeres the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Isla Mujeres?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Lisbon or Isla Mujeres safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Isla Mujeres are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Lisbon or Isla Mujeres?
Expats usually find Isla Mujeres gentler on the wallet – expenses run 101% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.