Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Lima Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Lima

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $985 in Lima.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,537 in Lima.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $2,089 in Lima.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 124% more expensive than Lima, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Lima is 27% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Lima
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.70
$4.11 PEN 13.98
287.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.8
$32.93 PEN 112
96.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.05
$7.00 PEN 23.81
50.14%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$2.54 PEN 8.64
12.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$0.92 PEN 3.14
143.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.30
$0.61 PEN 2.06
145.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.01
$2.24 PEN 7.62
55.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$3.84 PEN 13.08
1.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Lima
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$1.41 PEN 4.79
-19.15%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$2.73 PEN 9.30
-35.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$1.30 PEN 4.44
35.38%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$2.96 PEN 10.07
8.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.62
$7.97 PEN 27.12
69.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$5.67 PEN 19.31
39.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.67
$10.58 PEN 36.01
50.00%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$2.02 PEN 6.88
14.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$1.07 PEN 3.66
58.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$1.13 PEN 3.86
77.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$1.25 PEN 4.26
96.80%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$1.03 PEN 3.52
78.64%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$0.96 PEN 3.25
108.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$0.87 PEN 2.96
121.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$0.88 PEN 3.00
-10.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.69
$5.46 PEN 18.58
21.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.93
$8.98 PEN 30.55
-36.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.18
$1.75 PEN 5.96
-21.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$3.08 PEN 10.48
-3.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Lima
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$0.67 PEN 2.26
253.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.23
$30.61 PEN 104
48.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$3.38 PEN 11.51
26.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$2.21 PEN 7.53
-62.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.76
$8.22 PEN 27.97
122.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$1.35 PEN 4.60
52.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$19.3K PEN 65.7K
77.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$24.3K PEN 82.7K
61.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Lima
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$56.7 PEN 193
160.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.67
$12.64 PEN 43.01
62.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.11
$24.00 PEN 81.7
65.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Lima
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.20
$30.10 PEN 102
58.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.29
$18.95 PEN 64.5
-0.16%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.91
$6.74 PEN 22.92
36.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Lima
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €529
$218 PEN 740
182.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$7,895 PEN 26.9K
103.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Lima
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.1
$49.95 PEN 170
109.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.22
$36.59 PEN 125
14.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.9
$89.7 PEN 305
4.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$88.1 PEN 300
35.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Lima
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,402
$606 PEN 2,063
168.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,081
$350 PEN 1,190
259.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,609
$1,036 PEN 3,525
192.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,740
$628 PEN 2,136
221.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,716
$2,367 PEN 8,056
229.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,679
$1,434 PEN 4,881
197.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Lima
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,381
$626 PEN 2,131
156.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
10.11
-62.31%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Lima: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $606 in Lima. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 156% 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: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $33.00 in Lima for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $222 per month, with Lima 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 Lima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Lima?
Lisbon and Lima differ by about 124% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $985 including rent). Lima is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Lima?
Lisbon pays 156% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Lima?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $606 in Lima. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lisbon and Lima?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $218 in Lima. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 22% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $985 in Lima versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lima but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Lima the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Lima?
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 Lima safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Lima 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 Lima?
Expats usually find Lima gentler on the wallet – expenses run 124% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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