😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $1,263 in Mercedes.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $1,924 in Mercedes.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $2,585 in Mercedes.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 82% more expensive than in Mercedes, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Mercedes is 8% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Mercedes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59€15.32
$14.80UYU 595
18.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€54.8
$61.2UYU 2,459
2.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.58€10.09
$13.59UYU 546
-14.79%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$2.49UYU 100
24.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.17
$2.73UYU 110
-8.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74€1.52
$0.91UYU 36.63
91.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.48€3.03
$2.43UYU 97.5
43.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€3.00
$3.80UYU 153
-9.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Mercedes
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15€1.00
$1.36UYU 54.7
-15.44%
White Bread(500g)
$1.91€1.66
$2.88UYU 116
-33.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50€1.31
$1.46UYU 58.8
2.74%
Eggs
$3.98€3.47
$2.75UYU 110
44.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.58
$13.91UYU 559
-4.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.98
$11.47UYU 461
-30.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.04€15.71
$7.40UYU 297
143.78%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35€2.05
$2.02UYU 81.1
16.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75€1.52
$2.51UYU 101
-30.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85€1.62
$1.14UYU 45.90
62.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.22
$3.04UYU 122
-16.12%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.61
$2.08UYU 83.5
-11.54%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10€1.83
$2.17UYU 87.2
-3.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.29
$1.40UYU 56.4
6.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.71
$1.65UYU 66.4
-50.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10€6.18
$5.00UYU 201
42.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.91€5.14
$8.63UYU 346
-31.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.15
$2.28UYU 91.8
-42.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.86
$2.86UYU 115
-25.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Mercedes
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.36€2.05
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.62€40.60
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.55
$1.91UYU 76.7
113.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.99
$0.43UYU 17.41
165.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.09€14.89
$10.33UYU 415
65.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.31€2.01
$2.17UYU 87.3
6.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.7K
$26.8KUYU 1.1M
27.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€36.0K
$37.8KUYU 1.5M
9.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Mercedes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169€147
$192UYU 7,695
-12.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33€16.84
$18.83UYU 756
2.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51€29.19
$43.59UYU 1,751
-23.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Mercedes
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.84€42.54
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43€16.93
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.57€8.33
$11.99UYU 482
-20.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Mercedes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696€606
$611UYU 24.5K
13.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.4K€15.1K
$10.8KUYU 432.8K
61.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Mercedes
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€91.7
$101UYU 4,039
4.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75€41.59
$57.5UYU 2,309
-16.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.6
$124UYU 4,985
-18.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€108
$134UYU 5,377
-7.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Mercedes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,662€1,447
$578UYU 23.2K
187.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,246€1,085
$294UYU 11.8K
323.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,965€2,582
$614UYU 24.7K
382.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,049€1,784
$443UYU 17.8K
362.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,834€6,823
$3,045UYU 122.3K
157.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,464€3,888
$2,000UYU 80.3K
123.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Mercedes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,632€1,421
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
5.6
-32.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Last update for Mercedes: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $578 in Mercedes. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $61.0 in Mercedes. Groceries flip the comparison at $277 vs $296, 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 82% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $1,263 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 $3,444 in Lisbon and $1,894 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: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $578 in Mercedes. 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 7% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Mercedes?
All in, you'll spend $2,296 per month in Lisbon versus $1,263 in Mercedes – a 82% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,263 in Mercedes versus $2,296 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 82% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.