😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,280 in Lisbon versus $865 in Paulinia.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,294 in Lisbon versus $1,380 in Paulinia.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,307 in Lisbon versus $1,896 in Paulinia.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 163% more expensive than in Paulinia, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Paulinia is 35% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Paulinia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75€13.64
$7.11R$36.06
121.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5€55.0
$31.88R$162
99.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.45€9.05
$6.87R$34.87
52.11%
Cappuccino
$2.91€2.52
$2.08R$10.56
39.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€1.98
$1.28R$6.48
78.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$0.87R$4.42
72.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.56€3.09
$1.78R$9.04
100.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96€3.43
$2.84R$14.40
39.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Paulinia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.94
$0.95R$4.82
13.68%
White Bread(500g)
$1.76€1.53
$1.52R$7.73
15.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70€1.47
$1.40R$7.08
21.43%
Eggs
$3.25€2.81
$2.41R$12.24
34.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.25€11.47
$12.41R$63.0
6.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.70€6.67
$4.08R$20.69
88.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.77€13.66
$8.66R$43.95
82.10%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.97
$1.61R$8.16
41.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66€1.43
$1.38R$6.99
20.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.02€1.75
$1.42R$7.22
42.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47€2.14
$1.66R$8.44
48.80%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.55
$1.25R$6.36
43.20%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07€1.79
$1.29R$6.52
60.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.71
$1.01R$5.12
95.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.72
$0.67R$3.41
23.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55€5.68
$2.13R$10.82
207.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.57€4.82
$7.91R$40.14
-29.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.15
$1.31R$6.65
1.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01€2.60
$2.08R$10.53
44.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Paulinia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.97
$0.88R$4.44
157.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.35€40.14
$38.23R$194
21.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.66
$1.16R$5.90
264.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$0.58R$2.95
46.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.83€16.31
$7.87R$39.94
139.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02€1.75
$1.07R$5.41
88.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.3K
$22.2KR$112.5K
57.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K€34.3K
$28.5KR$144.5K
39.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Paulinia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€128
$86.4R$438
71.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.77
$16.57R$84.1
23.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52€34.23
$22.12R$112
78.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Paulinia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.17€41.72
$36.40R$185
32.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39€15.92
$21.83R$111
-15.76%
Cinema Ticket
$9.10€7.88
$7.63R$38.71
19.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Paulinia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$615€532
$330R$1,676
86.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.1K
$8,131R$41.3K
100.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Paulinia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€88.0
$47.23R$240
115.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09€36.45
$44.24R$224
-4.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.3€79.9
$80.7R$409
14.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€106
$63.4R$322
92.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Paulinia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,612€1,396
$311R$1,579
417.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254€1,086
$219R$1,111
472.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,069€2,658
$576R$2,925
432.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,037€1,764
$438R$2,223
364.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,751€6,712
$1,604R$8,139
383.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,286€3,712
$1,189R$6,035
260.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Paulinia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,602€1,387
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
12
-68.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026
Last update for Paulinia: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Lisbon and $311 in Paulinia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $32.00 in Paulinia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $199 per month, with Paulinia 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 Paulinia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Paulinia?
Lisbon and Paulinia differ by about 163% in total monthly costs ($2,280 vs $865 including rent). Paulinia 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 Paulinia?
You'd need roughly $3,420 in Lisbon and $1,298 in Paulinia 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 Paulinia?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,612 in Lisbon versus $311 in Paulinia. 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 Paulinia?
Childcare runs $615 in Lisbon versus $330 in Paulinia. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 34% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $865 in Paulinia versus $2,280 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Paulinia but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Paulinia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Paulinia?
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 Paulinia safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Paulinia 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 Paulinia?
Expats usually find Paulinia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 163% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.