Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and May Pen Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and May Pen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,316 in Lisbon versus $713 in May Pen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,361 in Lisbon versus $818 in May Pen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,405 in Lisbon versus $924 in May Pen.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 225% more expensive than in May Pen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 69% above, May Pen is 48% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.30 €14.87

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.3 €54.4

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.39 €9.79

Cappuccino

$3.19 €2.74

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 €2.10

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 €1.52

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.59 €3.09

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 €2.92

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 €1.06

$2.20 JMD 346

-43.64%

White Bread (500g)

$1.98 €1.71

$3.87 JMD 610

-48.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 €1.31

$3.25 JMD 511

-53.23%

Eggs

$4.04 €3.47

$3.46 JMD 545

16.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.54 €11.64

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.39 €7.21

$7.79 JMD 1,228

7.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.25 €15.69

$5.19 JMD 817

251.64%

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 €1.97

$1.54 JMD 243

48.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 €1.50

$5.10 JMD 804

-65.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.86 €1.60

$6.30 JMD 993

-70.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.63 €2.26

$1.85 JMD 292

42.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 €1.65

$1.87 JMD 294

2.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.09 €1.80

$1.93 JMD 304

8.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.44 €1.24

$3.23 JMD 509

-55.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 €0.72

$2.78 JMD 438

-69.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.78 €5.83

Wine (Bottle)

$5.71 €4.91

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 €1.18

$2.27 JMD 358

-39.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 €1.91

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.40 €2.06

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.78 €40.22

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.17 €3.59

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.14 €0.98

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.68 €15.20

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.32 €2.00

$1.38 JMD 217

68.12%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.3K €30.4K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$41.4K €35.6K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$170 €146

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$19.34 €16.62

$43.22 JMD 6,811

-55.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.64 €28.92

$54.7 JMD 8,625

-38.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.10 €41.35

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.90 €17.11

Cinema Ticket

$9.92 €8.53

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$717 €617

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.5K €15.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €90.1

$15.94 JMD 2,512

557.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.95 €40.36

$21.70 JMD 3,420

116.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 €88.9

$41.25 JMD 6,500

150.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 €107

$54.2 JMD 8,537

128.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,677 €1,441

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,271 €1,093

$284 JMD 44.8K

347.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,985 €2,566

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,992 €1,713

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,826 €6,728

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,658 €4,004

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,583 €1,361

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.79

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

Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026

Last update for May Pen: August 30, 2026

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 May Pen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lisbon and May Pen differ by about 225% in total monthly costs ($2,316 vs $713 including rent). May Pen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $3,474 in Lisbon and $1,070 in May Pen 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,316 per month in Lisbon versus $713 in May Pen – a 225% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $713 in May Pen versus $2,316 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in May Pen but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes May Pen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Lisbon and May Pen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find May Pen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 225% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.