😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $1,635 in Mazatlan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $2,259 in Mazatlan.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $2,882 in Mazatlan.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 36% more expensive than Mazatlan, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon66% above, Mazatlan22% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Mazatlan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.84
$10.49MX$184
54.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.3
$45.40MX$795
42.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.88
$8.44MX$148
22.99%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.37
$3.39MX$59.3
-18.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$1.38MX$24.17
63.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$1.03MX$18.03
52.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€2.99
$1.99MX$34.87
75.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.43
$2.57MX$44.89
55.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Mazatlan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.47MX$25.65
-26.53%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.49
$2.55MX$44.67
-31.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.49
$2.09MX$36.55
-16.75%
Eggs
$3.18€2.72
$2.32MX$40.59
37.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43€11.50
$7.70MX$135
74.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.84
$6.51MX$114
22.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€13.77
$7.37MX$129
118.32%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
$2.69MX$47.12
-15.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$1.62MX$28.32
6.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$1.77MX$31.02
9.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
$0.74MX$13.00
243.24%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$2.18MX$38.15
-16.06%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$2.55MX$44.56
-20.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98€1.69
$1.26MX$22.11
57.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$1.08MX$18.84
-21.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.87
$4.07MX$71.2
68.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€4.94
$16.08MX$281
-64.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$1.99MX$34.89
-31.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
$3.12MX$54.6
-7.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Mazatlan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.95
$0.66MX$11.58
245.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€40.10
$39.44MX$690
18.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.49
$3.34MX$58.5
22.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$1.83MX$32.05
-55.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27€15.64
$8.16MX$143
123.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.72
$1.30MX$22.75
54.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.2K
$21.3KMX$372.4K
65.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
$22.3KMX$390.9K
72.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Mazatlan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145€124
$56.0MX$980
159.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96€17.94
$21.20MX$371
-1.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05€34.29
$41.41MX$725
-3.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Mazatlan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79€41.76
$42.74MX$748
14.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€16.00
$16.01MX$280
16.74%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06€7.76
$4.05MX$70.9
123.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Mazatlan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607€519
$83.3MX$1,457
628.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$1,899MX$33.2K
759.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Mazatlan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.6
$60.5MX$1,059
72.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€35.06
$26.06MX$456
57.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€80.1
$105MX$1,835
-10.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€101
$78.0MX$1,365
52.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Mazatlan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,373
$869MX$15.2K
84.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,058
$874MX$15.3K
41.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046€2,607
$1,404MX$24.6K
117.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057€1,761
$1,077MX$18.8K
91.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709€6,599
$1,633MX$28.6K
372.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,652
$1,087MX$19.0K
292.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Mazatlan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584€1,356
$551MX$9,641
187.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
11.33
-66.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Last update for Mazatlan: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $869 in Mazatlan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 188% 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 $45.00 in Mazatlan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $248 per month, with Mazatlan 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 Mazatlan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Mazatlan?
Lisbon and Mazatlan differ by about 36% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $1,635 including rent). Mazatlan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Mazatlan?
Lisbon pays 188% 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 Mazatlan?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $869 in Mazatlan. 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 Mazatlan?
Childcare runs $607 in Lisbon versus $83.3 in Mazatlan. 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 9% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,635 in Mazatlan versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mazatlan but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Mazatlan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Mazatlan?
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 Mazatlan safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Mazatlan 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 Mazatlan?
Expats usually find Mazatlan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.