😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $829 in Maceio - Alagoas.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $1,243 in Maceio - Alagoas.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $1,656 in Maceio - Alagoas.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 169% more expensive than Maceio - Alagoas, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Maceio - Alagoas is 38% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.84
$4.76R$23.77
239.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.3
$21.33R$106
202.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.88
$5.34R$26.63
94.38%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.37
$1.81R$9.05
53.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$0.96R$4.81
134.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$0.42R$2.12
273.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€2.99
$1.43R$7.12
144.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.43
$2.56R$12.76
56.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.07R$5.33
0.93%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.49
$1.25R$6.24
39.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.49
$0.95R$4.76
83.16%
Eggs
$3.18€2.72
$2.28R$11.40
39.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43€11.50
$6.57R$32.76
104.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.84
$3.32R$16.58
140.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€13.77
$7.15R$35.68
125.03%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
$2.49R$12.44
-8.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$1.03R$5.13
66.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$1.29R$6.43
50.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
$1.27R$6.32
100.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$1.33R$6.64
37.59%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$1.12R$5.61
82.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98€1.69
$0.57R$2.86
247.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$0.62R$3.09
37.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.87
$1.90R$9.50
260.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€4.94
$7.04R$35.12
-17.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$1.39R$6.93
-1.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
$1.29R$6.44
124.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.95
$0.74R$3.70
208.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€40.10
$39.18R$195
19.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.49
$0.37R$1.85
1002.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.35R$1.76
134.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27€15.64
$6.23R$31.08
193.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.72
$1.10R$5.48
82.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.2K
$25.4KR$127.0K
38.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
$29.2KR$145.6K
31.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145€124
$73.6R$367
97.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96€17.94
$17.56R$87.6
19.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05€34.29
$15.76R$78.6
154.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79€41.76
$22.81R$114
113.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€16.00
$21.49R$107
-13.03%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06€7.76
$5.42R$27.07
67.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607€519
$236R$1,176
157.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$4,929R$24.6K
231.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.6
$49.58R$247
111.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€35.06
$69.7R$348
-41.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€80.1
$90.9R$453
2.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€101
$72.6R$362
63.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,373
$246R$1,229
551.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,058
$252R$1,259
389.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046€2,607
$537R$2,682
466.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057€1,761
$407R$2,030
405.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709€6,599
$1,559R$7,779
394.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,652
$709R$3,537
501.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584€1,356
$611R$3,048
159.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
9.5
-59.89%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Last update for Maceio - Alagoas: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $246 in Maceio - Alagoas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 159% 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 $21.00 in Maceio - Alagoas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $164 per month, with Maceio - Alagoas 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 Maceio - Alagoas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Maceio - Alagoas?
Lisbon and Maceio - Alagoas differ by about 169% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $829 including rent). Maceio - Alagoas is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Maceio - Alagoas?
Lisbon pays 159% 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 Maceio - Alagoas?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $246 in Maceio - Alagoas. 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 Maceio - Alagoas?
Childcare runs $607 in Lisbon versus $236 in Maceio - Alagoas. 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 65% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $829 in Maceio - Alagoas versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Maceio - Alagoas but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Maceio - Alagoas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Maceio - Alagoas?
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 Maceio - Alagoas safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Maceio - Alagoas 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 Maceio - Alagoas?
Expats usually find Maceio - Alagoas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 169% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.