😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $1,483 in Mayaguez.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $2,194 in Mayaguez.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $2,906 in Mayaguez.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 54% more expensive than in Mayaguez, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon71% above, Mayaguez11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Mayaguez
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.15
$13.10$13.10
23.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.3
$60.6$60.6
4.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.02
$8.79$8.79
17.41%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.47
$3.49$3.49
-18.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.00
$1.34$1.34
70.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$1.24$1.24
27.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.97
$2.96$2.96
14.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.52
$3.97$3.97
1.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Mayaguez
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.95
$1.69$1.69
-35.50%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$2.31$2.31
-24.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$2.21$2.21
-20.36%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$2.77$2.77
14.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.53
$8.92$8.92
47.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.96
$8.70$8.70
-8.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.57
$9.39$9.39
65.39%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$5.37$5.37
-55.87%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$2.75$2.75
-37.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.75
$1.23$1.23
63.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.12
$4.01$4.01
-39.40%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.69$1.69
4.14%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$1.12$1.12
81.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$2.29$2.29
-16.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$1.98$1.98
-57.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.75
$10.18$10.18
-35.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.87
$15.70$15.70
-64.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.16
$2.54$2.54
-47.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$3.25$3.25
-8.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Mayaguez
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.01
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.69
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$1.47$1.47
-44.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.11
$14.98$14.98
23.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$1.01$1.01
105.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.3K
$30.6K$30.6K
13.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.2K
$24.6K$24.6K
59.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Mayaguez
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€129
$272$272
-45.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.88
$78.5$78.5
-73.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.56
$65.1$65.1
-39.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Mayaguez
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€41.93
$36.89$36.89
30.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.25
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.06
$7.77$7.77
18.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Mayaguez
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€538
$474$474
30.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$10.3K$10.3K
60.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Mayaguez
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€89.7
$46.64$46.64
120.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.47
$57.0$57.0
-26.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€82.8
$64.5$64.5
46.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$71.1$71.1
71.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Mayaguez
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,426
$611$611
167.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,077
$396$396
211.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,707
$1,794$1,794
72.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,775
$615$615
230.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,842
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,835
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Mayaguez
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,404
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
3.25
17.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Last update for Mayaguez: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $611 in Mayaguez. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $61.0 in Mayaguez. Groceries flip the comparison at $267 vs $317, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.
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 Mayaguez: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Mayaguez?
Lisbon and Mayaguez differ by about 54% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $1,483 including rent). Mayaguez is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Mayaguez?
You'd need roughly $3,437 in Lisbon and $2,225 in Mayaguez 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in Mayaguez?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $611 in Mayaguez. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 19% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Mayaguez?
All in, you'll spend $2,291 per month in Lisbon versus $1,483 in Mayaguez – a 54% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,483 in Mayaguez versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Mayaguez but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Mayaguez the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Mayaguez?
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 Mayaguez safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Mayaguez 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 Mayaguez?
Expats usually find Mayaguez gentler on the wallet – expenses run 54% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.