😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,280 in Lisbon versus $1,318 in Mercedes.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,294 in Lisbon versus $2,003 in Mercedes.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,307 in Lisbon versus $2,688 in Mercedes.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 73% more expensive than in Mercedes, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Mercedes is 1% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Mercedes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75€13.74
$15.84UYU 637
-0.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5€55.3
$55.9UYU 2,247
13.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.45€9.11
$12.40UYU 499
-15.73%
Cappuccino
$2.91€2.54
$4.27UYU 172
-31.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.00
$2.20UYU 88.5
4.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.31
$1.69UYU 68.1
-11.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.56€3.11
$4.52UYU 182
-21.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96€3.46
$3.60UYU 145
10.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Mercedes
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.94
$1.27UYU 51.2
-14.96%
White Bread(500g)
$1.76€1.54
$2.75UYU 111
-36.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70€1.48
$1.40UYU 56.1
21.43%
Eggs
$3.25€2.83
$2.77UYU 111
17.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.25€11.55
$13.54UYU 545
-2.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.70€6.72
$10.59UYU 426
-27.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.77€13.75
$7.28UYU 293
116.62%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.99
$1.90UYU 76.4
20.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66€1.44
$2.38UYU 95.8
-30.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.02€1.76
$1.13UYU 45.52
78.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47€2.16
$2.99UYU 120
-17.39%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.56
$2.04UYU 82.2
-12.25%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07€1.80
$1.87UYU 75.1
10.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.72
$1.33UYU 53.4
48.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.73
$1.71UYU 68.6
-51.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55€5.71
$4.78UYU 192
37.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.57€4.85
$8.65UYU 348
-35.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.16
$2.38UYU 95.6
-44.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01€2.62
$3.06UYU 123
-1.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Mercedes
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.98
$1.21UYU 48.61
87.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.35€40.41
$44.71UYU 1,798
3.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.69
$1.43UYU 57.4
195.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.74
$1.51UYU 60.9
-43.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.83€16.41
$10.93UYU 439
72.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02€1.76
$1.88UYU 75.5
7.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.5K
$34.8KUYU 1.4M
0.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K€34.6K
$35.7KUYU 1.4M
10.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Mercedes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€129
$171UYU 6,883
-13.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.89
$16.48UYU 663
24.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52€34.46
$49.34UYU 1,984
-19.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Mercedes
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.17€42.00
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39€16.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.10€7.93
$10.31UYU 415
-11.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Mercedes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$615€536
$495UYU 19.9K
24.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.2K
$8,837UYU 355.4K
84.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Mercedes
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€88.6
$96.2UYU 3,869
5.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09€36.69
$48.05UYU 1,932
-12.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.3€80.5
$116UYU 4,656
-20.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€106
$125UYU 5,017
-2.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Mercedes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,612€1,405
$573UYU 23.0K
181.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254€1,093
$294UYU 11.8K
325.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,069€2,676
$622UYU 25.0K
393.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,037€1,776
$438UYU 17.6K
365.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,751€6,757
$2,974UYU 119.6K
160.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,286€3,737
$1,988UYU 80.0K
115.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Mercedes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,602€1,396
-
-
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Mercedes: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Lisbon and $573 in Mercedes. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $56.0 in Mercedes. Groceries flip the comparison at $267 vs $287, 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 in Mercedes?
Lisbon and Mercedes differ by about 73% in total monthly costs ($2,280 vs $1,318 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 $3,420 in Lisbon and $1,977 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 in Mercedes?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,612 in Lisbon versus $573 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 $615 in Lisbon versus $495 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 7% 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 $1,318 in Mercedes versus $2,280 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 73% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.