Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and LeonCost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Leon
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $2,291 per month in Lisbon vs $841 in Leon, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,322 per month in Lisbon vs $1,393 in Leon, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,354 per month in Lisbon vs $1,945 in Leon, rent included.
😐Lisbon costs about 172% more than Leon, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Lisbon sits 71% above the global median, while Leon is 37% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Leon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.17
$13.07MX$229
23.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.4
$39.23MX$688
61.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.03
$6.27MX$110
64.59%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$3.59MX$63.0
-21.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.00
$1.53MX$26.83
49.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$0.89MX$15.58
77.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$1.67MX$29.27
103.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.52
$4.18MX$73.4
-3.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Leon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.95
$1.28MX$22.47
-14.84%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$1.96MX$34.29
-10.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.19MX$20.80
47.90%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$1.63MX$28.55
94.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.54
$6.44MX$113
104.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.97
$5.37MX$94.2
48.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.59
$10.13MX$178
53.31%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$1.56MX$27.28
51.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$0.88MX$15.36
94.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$0.60MX$10.52
235.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$0.51MX$9.00
376.47%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.51MX$26.55
16.56%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$0.84MX$14.65
141.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$0.76MX$13.36
152.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$0.98MX$17.11
-13.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$4.07MX$71.5
61.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.88
$14.48MX$254
-61.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$1.29MX$22.64
3.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$2.82MX$49.51
5.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Leon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$0.69MX$12.13
230.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.06
$36.65MX$643
24.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$3.11MX$54.6
36.01%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$0.90MX$15.74
-10.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.13
$13.13MX$230
40.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$1.32MX$23.12
57.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.3K
$21.4KMX$375.1K
62.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$23.4KMX$409.7K
67.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Leon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$21.24MX$373
597.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.90
$23.58MX$414
-13.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.61
$22.22MX$390
78.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Leon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€41.99
$28.25MX$496
69.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.27
$15.98MX$280
16.40%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.07
$4.35MX$76.4
111.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Leon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€539
$208MX$3,642
196.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$2,822MX$49.5K
482.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Leon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€89.9
$57.5MX$1,008
78.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.52
$41.58MX$729
0.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€82.9
$51.5MX$904
83.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$27.99MX$491
335.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Leon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,428
$214MX$3,748
664.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,078
$219MX$3,849
461.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,711
$402MX$7,045
671.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,777
$427MX$7,495
375.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,851
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,840
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Leon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,406
$559MX$9,813
187.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
11.67
-67.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Last update for Leon: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,633 in Lisbon versus $214 in Leon. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 187% higher in Lisbon, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Lisbon versus $39.00 in Leon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $267 vs $200 – making Leon the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Leon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Leon?
Lisbon costs about 172% more than Leon, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Lisbon and in Leon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,437 per month in Lisbon and $1,261 in Leon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Lisbon or Leon?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Leon, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Lisbon or in Leon?
Groceries cost about 34% more in Lisbon, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Lisbon and in Leon?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Lisbon and $39.00 in Leon. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Lisbon or in Leon?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Leon, where all-in costs run around $841, than in Lisbon at $2,291. In Leon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Leon?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Leon costs $841 versus $2,291 in Lisbon. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Leon?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Lisbon or to Leon?
If budget matters most, go with Leon. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lisbon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.