Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Morelia

For one person, living is cheaper in Morelia: $1,151 a month against $2,202 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $12,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,202
/mo nomad
Morelia
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,151
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Morelia

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lisbon and in Morelia actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,202 in Lisbon versus $1,151 in Morelia.

  • Lisbon $2,202
  • Morelia $1,151

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,274 in Lisbon versus $1,859 in Morelia.

  • Lisbon $3,274
  • Morelia $1,859

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,346 in Lisbon versus $2,566 in Morelia.

  • Lisbon $4,346
  • Morelia $2,566

Living in Lisbon is roughly 91% more expensive than in Morelia, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 62% above, Morelia is 15% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Morelia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.04 €15.15
$6.87 MX$127
148.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.3 €55.4
$38.64 MX$714
61.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.02 €9.80
$6.09 MX$112
80.95%
Cappuccino
$3.12 €2.78
$3.51 MX$64.9
-11.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 €2.02
$1.22 MX$22.60
86.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.55
$1.14 MX$21.14
52.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.42 €3.04
$2.79 MX$51.6
22.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74 €3.33
$3.69 MX$68.1
1.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Morelia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 €1.04
$1.69 MX$31.16
-30.77%
White Bread (500g)
$1.86 €1.66
$3.04 MX$56.2
-38.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.54 €1.37
$1.95 MX$36.03
-21.03%
Eggs
$4.06 €3.61
$2.73 MX$50.5
48.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.91 €11.49
$11.77 MX$218
9.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.90 €7.03
$9.71 MX$179
-18.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.64 €15.69
$14.52 MX$268
21.49%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 €2.01
$3.00 MX$55.4
-24.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.55
$1.61 MX$29.73
8.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 €1.68
$1.97 MX$36.49
-4.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.56 €2.27
$2.30 MX$42.59
11.30%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 €1.64
$2.03 MX$37.46
-8.87%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 €1.75
$1.79 MX$33.04
10.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 €1.29
$1.45 MX$26.72
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 €0.69
$1.32 MX$24.37
-41.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.71 €5.97
$3.78 MX$69.9
77.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.67 €5.04
$14.74 MX$272
-61.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.22
$1.87 MX$34.60
-26.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 €1.88
$3.52 MX$65.1
-40.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Morelia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.32 €2.07
$0.59 MX$10.88
293.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.43 €39.52
$24.29 MX$449
82.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.95 €3.51
$1.38 MX$25.45
186.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.05 €0.93
$0.52 MX$9.52
101.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.15 €15.26
$5.55 MX$103
209.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.19 €1.95
$1.48 MX$27.37
47.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.8K €30.0K
$21.8K MX$403.5K
54.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.3K €34.0K
$23.4K MX$433.1K
63.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Morelia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$164 €146
$60.0 MX$1,109
172.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.48 €16.43
$28.39 MX$525
-34.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.96 €29.32
$33.68 MX$622
-2.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Morelia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.87 €40.80
$50.8 MX$938
-9.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.68 €16.61
$27.11 MX$501
-31.10%
Cinema Ticket
$9.75 €8.67
$4.42 MX$81.7
120.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Morelia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$684 €608
$213 MX$3,937
221.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.6K €15.7K
$2,841 MX$52.5K
520.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Morelia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 €92.3
$55.4 MX$1,024
87.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.20 €41.09
$37.34 MX$690
23.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.7 €88.7
$106 MX$1,964
-6.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 €111
$93.2 MX$1,722
33.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Morelia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,589 €1,414
$337 MX$6,236
370.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,169 €1,040
$347 MX$6,406
237.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,851 €2,536
$928 MX$17.1K
207.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,993 €1,773
$714 MX$13.2K
179.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,793 €6,932
$1,654 MX$30.6K
371.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,418 €3,930
$653 MX$12.1K
576.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Morelia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,600 €1,423
$660 MX$12.2K
142.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
10.53
-63.44%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lisbon: October 19, 2026

Last update for Morelia: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Morelia
$347 70.3% $822
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$273
Morelia
$315 15.2% $42
Eating Out
Lisbon
$247
Morelia
$146 41% $101
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$215
Morelia
$122 43.3% $93
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$168
Morelia
$131 21.9% $37
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$65
Morelia
$60 8.8% $5.8
Getting Around
Lisbon
$63
Morelia
$31 51.4% $32

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,589 in Lisbon and $337 in Morelia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 142% 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: $62.0 in Lisbon vs $39.00 in Morelia. Groceries flip the comparison at $273 vs $315, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇲🇽 Morelia
🕒 Local time
15:53 3:53 PM
08:53 8:53 AM
7 h behind Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
743,275
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Morelia 8,830 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Morelia

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Morelia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Morelia?
Lisbon and Morelia differ by about 91% in total monthly costs ($2,202 vs $1,151 including rent). Morelia is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Morelia?
Average pay runs 142% higher in Lisbon, 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 in Morelia?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,589 in Lisbon versus $337 in Morelia. 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 Morelia?
Childcare runs $684 in Lisbon versus $213 in Morelia. 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 15% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,151 in Morelia versus $2,202 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Morelia but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Morelia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Morelia?
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 Morelia safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Morelia 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 Morelia?
Expats usually find Morelia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 91% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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