😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $1,351 in Mercedes.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $2,022 in Mercedes.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $2,692 in Mercedes.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 67% more expensive than Mercedes, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon68% above, Mercedes1% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Mercedes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94€13.73
$16.26UYU 659
-1.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4€54.6
$54.7UYU 2,216
15.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.95
$12.30UYU 499
-15.61%
Cappuccino
$2.79€2.40
$4.22UYU 171
-33.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34€2.01
$2.27UYU 92.2
3.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$1.71UYU 69.2
-8.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43€2.95
$4.33UYU 176
-20.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.37
$3.64UYU 147
7.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Mercedes
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.28UYU 51.8
-15.62%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.52
$2.87UYU 116
-38.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71€1.47
$1.44UYU 58.5
18.75%
Eggs
$3.15€2.71
$2.61UYU 106
20.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.68€11.79
$13.40UYU 543
2.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.90
$10.90UYU 442
-26.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.52€13.37
$7.23UYU 293
114.66%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.98
$1.89UYU 76.6
21.16%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.41
$2.38UYU 96.5
-31.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.67
$1.11UYU 45.07
74.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.51€2.17
$2.91UYU 118
-13.75%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.54
$2.12UYU 86.0
-15.57%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.94UYU 78.8
3.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.69
$1.35UYU 54.8
45.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$1.68UYU 68.2
-50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79€5.85
$4.84UYU 196
40.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.67€4.89
$9.83UYU 399
-42.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$2.35UYU 95.4
-40.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.60
$2.95UYU 120
2.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Mercedes
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.95
$1.20UYU 48.48
89.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.44€39.15
$44.37UYU 1,799
2.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.70
$1.44UYU 58.3
197.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$1.56UYU 63.2
-45.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.28€15.75
$10.89UYU 442
67.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99€1.71
$1.82UYU 74.0
9.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.2K
$34.1KUYU 1.4M
2.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K€34.1K
$36.0KUYU 1.5M
9.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Mercedes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146€126
$171UYU 6,917
-14.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45€17.62
$16.32UYU 662
25.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98€33.58
$50.2UYU 2,037
-22.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Mercedes
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.98€42.21
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83€16.22
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.52€8.21
$10.67UYU 433
-10.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Mercedes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$608€524
$481UYU 19.5K
26.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.2K
$8,995UYU 364.7K
83.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Mercedes
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€89.5
$96.4UYU 3,906
7.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12€36.29
$48.38UYU 1,962
-12.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.2€79.5
$114UYU 4,620
-19.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$122UYU 4,931
-1.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Mercedes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621€1,397
$568UYU 23.0K
185.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,268€1,092
$297UYU 12.0K
326.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,048€2,626
$623UYU 25.3K
389.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,009€1,731
$435UYU 17.6K
362.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,663€6,602
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,329€3,730
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Mercedes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,585€1,366
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
5.68
-32.92%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026
Last update for Mercedes: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $568 in Mercedes. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $55.0 in Mercedes. Groceries flip the comparison at $269 vs $290, 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 Mercedes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Mercedes?
Lisbon and Mercedes differ by about 67% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $1,351 including rent). Mercedes 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 Mercedes?
You'd need roughly $3,394 in Lisbon and $2,026 in Mercedes 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 Mercedes?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $568 in Mercedes. 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 Mercedes?
Childcare runs $608 in Lisbon versus $481 in Mercedes. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,351 in Mercedes versus $2,263 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mercedes but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Mercedes the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Mercedes?
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 Mercedes safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Mercedes 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 Mercedes?
Expats usually find Mercedes gentler on the wallet – expenses run 67% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.