😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,316 in Lisbon versus $1,243 in Lazaro Cardenas.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,361 in Lisbon versus $1,952 in Lazaro Cardenas.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,405 in Lisbon versus $2,660 in Lazaro Cardenas.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 86% more expensive than in Lazaro Cardenas, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 69% above, Lazaro Cardenas is 10% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Lazaro Cardenas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.30€14.89
$11.78MX$199
46.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€54.4
$47.14MX$796
34.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.39€9.80
$8.89MX$150
28.12%
Cappuccino
$3.19€2.75
$3.78MX$63.8
-15.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45€2.10
$1.45MX$24.51
68.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.52
$1.14MX$19.22
54.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.59€3.09
$2.96MX$49.98
21.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39€2.92
$4.38MX$73.9
-22.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Lazaro Cardenas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.06
$1.70MX$28.71
-27.06%
White Bread(500g)
$1.98€1.71
$2.92MX$49.35
-32.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.52€1.31
$1.78MX$30.11
-14.61%
Eggs
$4.04€3.48
$2.63MX$44.31
53.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.54€11.65
$8.63MX$146
56.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.39€7.22
$8.02MX$135
4.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.25€15.70
$12.55MX$212
45.42%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.97
$2.97MX$50.2
-22.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74€1.50
$1.61MX$27.20
8.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86€1.60
$2.00MX$33.73
-7.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.63€2.26
$1.88MX$31.80
39.89%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$2.10MX$35.44
-8.57%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09€1.80
$1.90MX$32.04
10.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.24
$1.48MX$24.91
-2.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.72
$1.21MX$20.38
-30.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.83
$4.59MX$77.5
47.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.71€4.91
$11.42MX$193
-50.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.18
$1.95MX$32.92
-29.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22€1.91
$3.48MX$58.7
-36.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Lazaro Cardenas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.40€2.06
$0.74MX$12.52
224.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.78€40.25
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.17€3.59
$2.78MX$46.92
50.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.98
$2.09MX$35.25
-45.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.68€15.21
$11.69MX$197
51.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.32€2.00
$1.55MX$26.23
49.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.4K
$23.0KMX$389.0K
53.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€35.7K
$26.1KMX$441.2K
58.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Lazaro Cardenas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170€147
$62.4MX$1,054
172.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.34€16.64
$23.98MX$405
-19.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.64€28.95
$32.04MX$541
4.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Lazaro Cardenas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.10€41.39
$36.23MX$611
32.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.90€17.12
$21.74MX$367
-8.46%
Cinema Ticket
$9.92€8.54
$5.51MX$92.9
80.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Lazaro Cardenas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$717€617
$250MX$4,215
187.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.5K€15.0K
$4,912MX$82.9K
255.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Lazaro Cardenas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.2
$57.9MX$977
80.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.95€40.40
$45.58MX$769
3.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.0
$111MX$1,867
-6.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€107
$93.1MX$1,572
33.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Lazaro Cardenas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,677€1,443
$643MX$10.9K
160.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,271€1,094
$418MX$7,054
204.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,985€2,568
$1,098MX$18.5K
171.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,992€1,715
$810MX$13.7K
145.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,826€6,734
$2,007MX$33.9K
290.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,658€4,008
$1,247MX$21.0K
273.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Lazaro Cardenas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,583€1,362
$594MX$10.0K
166.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.79
11.3
-66.46%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Last update for Lazaro Cardenas: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,677 in Lisbon and $643 in Lazaro Cardenas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 166% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $47.00 in Lazaro Cardenas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $283 vs $280 per month, with Lazaro Cardenas 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 Lazaro Cardenas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Lazaro Cardenas?
Lazaro Cardenas wins on cost – living expenses run 86% lower than in Lisbon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lazaro Cardenas the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lisbon or in Lazaro Cardenas?
Average pay runs 166% higher in Lisbon, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lisbon compared to Lazaro Cardenas?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,677 in Lisbon versus $643 in Lazaro Cardenas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Lisbon and in Lazaro Cardenas?
Childcare runs $717 in Lisbon versus $250 in Lazaro Cardenas. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Lisbon and in Lazaro Cardenas?
Dining out is cheaper in Lazaro Cardenas – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $63.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Lisbon or in Lazaro Cardenas?
At $1,243 in Lazaro Cardenas versus $2,316 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Lazaro Cardenas but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Lazaro Cardenas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Lazaro Cardenas?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lazaro Cardenas delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,243 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lazaro Cardenas hard to pass up.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Lazaro Cardenas?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Lazaro Cardenas 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Lazaro Cardenas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 86% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.