😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,316 in Lisbon versus $1,183 in Paso de los Libres.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,361 in Lisbon versus $2,009 in Paso de los Libres.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,405 in Lisbon versus $2,835 in Paso de los Libres.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 96% more expensive than in Paso de los Libres, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 69% above, Paso de los Libres is 14% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Paso de los Libres
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.30€14.87
$15.76ARS 23.8K
9.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€54.4
$57.6ARS 86.9K
9.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.39€9.79
$14.03ARS 21.2K
-18.82%
Cappuccino
$3.19€2.74
$4.02ARS 6,059
-20.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45€2.10
$1.80ARS 2,712
36.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.52
$1.88ARS 2,830
-6.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.59€3.09
$3.67ARS 5,535
-2.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39€2.92
$3.67ARS 5,536
-7.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Paso de los Libres
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.06
$1.24ARS 1,870
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.98€1.71
$2.29ARS 3,454
-13.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.52€1.31
$1.54ARS 2,327
-1.30%
Eggs
$4.04€3.47
$2.55ARS 3,844
58.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.54€11.64
$9.83ARS 14.8K
37.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.39€7.21
$6.73ARS 10.2K
24.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.25€15.69
$10.89ARS 16.4K
67.58%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.97
$2.08ARS 3,137
10.10%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74€1.50
$2.48ARS 3,745
-29.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86€1.60
$1.27ARS 1,908
46.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.63€2.26
$2.28ARS 3,445
15.35%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$1.02ARS 1,542
88.24%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09€1.80
$0.88ARS 1,324
137.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.24
$1.65ARS 2,487
-12.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.72
$1.78ARS 2,683
-52.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.83
$3.33ARS 5,024
103.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.71€4.91
$5.56ARS 8,381
2.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.18
$2.04ARS 3,078
-32.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22€1.91
$2.65ARS 3,999
-16.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Paso de los Libres
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.40€2.06
$1.13ARS 1,697
112.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.78€40.22
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.17€3.59
$1.39ARS 2,099
200.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.98
$1.15ARS 1,727
-0.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.68€15.20
$8.29ARS 12.5K
113.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.32€2.00
$1.26ARS 1,902
84.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.4K
$23.7KARS 35.8M
48.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€35.6K
$34.2KARS 51.5M
21.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Paso de los Libres
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170€146
$76.4ARS 115.2K
123.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.34€16.62
$18.74ARS 28.3K
3.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.64€28.92
$26.69ARS 40.3K
26.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Paso de los Libres
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.10€41.35
$29.32ARS 44.2K
64.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.90€17.11
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.92€8.53
$8.36ARS 12.6K
18.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Paso de los Libres
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$717€617
$261ARS 392.9K
175.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.5K€15.0K
$3,664ARS 5.5M
376.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Paso de los Libres
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.1
$122ARS 184.6K
-14.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.95€40.36
$77.2ARS 116.4K
-39.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€88.9
$115ARS 173.3K
-10.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€107
$120ARS 180.9K
3.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Paso de los Libres
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,677€1,441
$468ARS 705.5K
258.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,271€1,093
$312ARS 470.5K
307.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,985€2,566
$953ARS 1.4M
213.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,992€1,713
$691ARS 1.0M
188.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,826€6,728
$2,140ARS 3.2M
265.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,658€4,004
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Paso de los Libres
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,583€1,361
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.79
56.56
-93.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Last update for Paso de los Libres: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,677 in Lisbon and $468 in Paso de los Libres. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $58.0 in Paso de los Libres for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $283 vs $249 per month, with Paso de los Libres 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 Paso de los Libres: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Paso de los Libres?
Lisbon and Paso de los Libres differ by about 96% in total monthly costs ($2,316 vs $1,183 including rent). Paso de los Libres 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 Paso de los Libres?
You'd need roughly $3,474 in Lisbon and $1,775 in Paso de los Libres 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 Paso de los Libres?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,677 in Lisbon versus $468 in Paso de los Libres. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Paso de los Libres?
All in, you'll spend $2,316 per month in Lisbon versus $1,183 in Paso de los Libres – a 96% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,183 in Paso de los Libres versus $2,316 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Paso de los Libres but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Paso de los Libres the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Paso de los Libres?
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 Paso de los Libres safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Paso de los Libres 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 Paso de los Libres?
Expats usually find Paso de los Libres gentler on the wallet – expenses run 96% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.