Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Isla Mujeres Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Isla Mujeres

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,316 in Lisbon versus $1,113 in Isla Mujeres.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,361 in Lisbon versus $1,743 in Isla Mujeres.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,405 in Lisbon versus $2,374 in Isla Mujeres.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 108% more expensive than in Isla Mujeres, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 69% above, Isla Mujeres is 19% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Isla Mujeres
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.30 €14.89
$10.49 MX$177
64.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3 €54.5
$38.49 MX$650
64.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.39 €9.81
$7.81 MX$132
45.84%
Cappuccino
$3.19 €2.75
$3.21 MX$54.2
-0.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 €2.11
$1.29 MX$21.76
89.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76 €1.52
$0.90 MX$15.14
95.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.59 €3.09
$2.17 MX$36.67
65.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 €2.92
$3.96 MX$66.8
-14.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Isla Mujeres
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 €1.06
$1.45 MX$24.42
-14.48%
White Bread (500g)
$1.98 €1.71
$2.62 MX$44.27
-24.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.52 €1.31
$1.56 MX$26.42
-2.56%
Eggs
$4.04 €3.48
$2.29 MX$38.59
76.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.54 €11.65
$8.06 MX$136
67.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.39 €7.22
$7.66 MX$129
9.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.25 €15.71
$10.64 MX$180
71.52%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 €1.97
$2.58 MX$43.56
-11.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 €1.50
$1.38 MX$23.36
26.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.86 €1.60
$1.77 MX$29.89
5.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.63 €2.26
$1.64 MX$27.77
60.37%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 €1.65
$1.85 MX$31.19
3.78%
Onion (1kg)
$2.09 €1.80
$1.93 MX$32.61
8.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 €1.24
$1.20 MX$20.32
20.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 €0.72
$0.98 MX$16.57
-14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78 €5.84
$4.15 MX$70.1
63.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.71 €4.92
$11.01 MX$186
-48.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 €1.18
$1.56 MX$26.27
-11.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 €1.91
$2.83 MX$47.87
-21.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Isla Mujeres
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.40 €2.07
$0.62 MX$10.45
287.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.78 €40.27
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.17 €3.59
$2.63 MX$44.40
58.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.14 €0.98
$1.54 MX$25.95
-25.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.68 €15.22
$8.40 MX$142
110.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.32 €2.00
$1.25 MX$21.16
85.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K €30.4K
$20.8K MX$351.9K
69.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K €35.7K
$22.6K MX$381.0K
83.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Isla Mujeres
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 €147
$56.7 MX$958
200.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.34 €16.65
$22.16 MX$374
-12.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.64 €28.96
$28.44 MX$480
18.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Isla Mujeres
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.10 €41.40
$36.49 MX$616
31.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.90 €17.13
$15.79 MX$267
26.03%
Cinema Ticket
$9.92 €8.54
$4.76 MX$80.3
108.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Isla Mujeres
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$717 €617
$209 MX$3,536
242.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.5K €15.0K
$3,661 MX$61.8K
377.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Isla Mujeres
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.2
$52.9 MX$894
97.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.95 €40.41
$40.40 MX$682
16.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 €89.0
$89.3 MX$1,508
15.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €107
$79.4 MX$1,341
56.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Isla Mujeres
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,677 €1,443
$512 MX$8,637
227.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,271 €1,094
$403 MX$6,801
215.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,985 €2,569
$949 MX$16.0K
214.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,992 €1,715
$756 MX$12.8K
163.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,826 €6,737
$1,759 MX$29.7K
344.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,658 €4,010
$1,155 MX$19.5K
303.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Isla Mujeres
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,583 €1,362
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.79
11.48
-66.99%

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

Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026

Last update for Isla Mujeres: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,677 in Lisbon and $512 in Isla Mujeres. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $38.00 in Isla Mujeres for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $283 vs $248 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 in Isla Mujeres?
Lisbon and Isla Mujeres differ by about 108% in total monthly costs ($2,316 vs $1,113 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 $3,474 in Lisbon and $1,669 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 in Isla Mujeres?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,677 in Lisbon versus $512 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 14% 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 $2,316 per month in Lisbon versus $1,113 in Isla Mujeres – a 108% 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 $1,113 in Isla Mujeres versus $2,316 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 108% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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