Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Piedras Negras

For one person, living is cheaper in Piedras Negras: $1,143 a month against $2,202 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $12,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,202
/mo nomad
Piedras Negras
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,143
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Piedras Negras

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 Piedras Negras actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,202 in Lisbon versus $1,143 in Piedras Negras.

  • Lisbon $2,202
  • Piedras Negras $1,143

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,274 in Lisbon versus $1,832 in Piedras Negras.

  • Lisbon $3,274
  • Piedras Negras $1,832

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,346 in Lisbon versus $2,521 in Piedras Negras.

  • Lisbon $4,346
  • Piedras Negras $2,521

Living in Lisbon is roughly 93% more expensive than in Piedras Negras, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 62% above, Piedras Negras is 16% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Piedras Negras
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.04 €15.15
$11.07 MX$204
53.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.3 €55.4
$44.31 MX$819
40.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.02 €9.80
$8.74 MX$162
26.09%
Cappuccino
$3.12 €2.78
$3.64 MX$67.3
-14.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 €2.02
$1.40 MX$25.83
62.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.55
$1.06 MX$19.54
64.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.42 €3.04
$2.41 MX$44.57
41.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74 €3.33
$4.00 MX$73.9
-6.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Piedras Negras
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 €1.04
$1.59 MX$29.34
-26.42%
White Bread (500g)
$1.86 €1.66
$2.67 MX$49.36
-30.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.54 €1.37
$1.67 MX$30.82
-7.78%
Eggs
$4.06 €3.61
$2.43 MX$44.94
67.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.91 €11.49
$8.38 MX$155
54.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.90 €7.03
$8.51 MX$157
-7.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.64 €15.69
$11.31 MX$209
55.97%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 €2.01
$2.72 MX$50.2
-16.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.55
$1.54 MX$28.45
13.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 €1.68
$1.93 MX$35.67
-2.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.56 €2.27
$1.80 MX$33.34
42.22%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 €1.64
$1.93 MX$35.59
-4.15%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 €1.75
$1.82 MX$33.71
8.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 €1.29
$1.43 MX$26.41
1.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 €0.69
$1.12 MX$20.73
-31.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.71 €5.97
$4.28 MX$79.1
56.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.67 €5.04
$10.39 MX$192
-45.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.22
$1.76 MX$32.46
-22.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 €1.88
$3.23 MX$59.7
-34.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Piedras Negras
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.32 €2.07
$0.64 MX$11.90
262.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.43 €39.52
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.95 €3.51
$2.54 MX$46.95
55.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.05 €0.93
$2.01 MX$37.21
-47.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.15 €15.26
$10.83 MX$200
58.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.19 €1.95
$1.29 MX$23.90
69.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.8K €30.0K
$20.9K MX$386.5K
61.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.3K €34.0K
$23.9K MX$442.6K
59.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Piedras Negras
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$164 €146
$58.1 MX$1,073
182.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.48 €16.43
$23.02 MX$425
-19.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.96 €29.32
$29.92 MX$553
10.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Piedras Negras
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.87 €40.80
$33.75 MX$624
35.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.68 €16.61
$19.83 MX$366
-5.80%
Cinema Ticket
$9.75 €8.67
$5.33 MX$98.5
82.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Piedras Negras
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$684 €608
$219 MX$4,051
212.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.6K €15.7K
$4,618 MX$85.3K
281.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Piedras Negras
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 €92.3
$54.9 MX$1,015
88.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.20 €41.09
$40.64 MX$751
13.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.7 €88.7
$99.3 MX$1,835
0.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 €111
$90.7 MX$1,675
37.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Piedras Negras
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,589 €1,414
$599 MX$11.1K
165.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,169 €1,040
$391 MX$7,221
199.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,851 €2,536
$1,038 MX$19.2K
174.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,993 €1,773
$753 MX$13.9K
164.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,793 €6,932
$1,878 MX$34.7K
315.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,418 €3,930
$1,167 MX$21.6K
278.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Piedras Negras
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,600 €1,423
$1,645 MX$30.4K
-2.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
11.3
-65.93%

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

Last update for Lisbon: October 19, 2026

Last update for Piedras Negras: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Piedras Negras
$391 66.6% $778
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$273
Piedras Negras
$265 3% $8.3
Eating Out
Lisbon
$247
Piedras Negras
$188 23.9% $59
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$215
Piedras Negras
$111 48.4% $104
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$168
Piedras Negras
$128 23.7% $40
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$65
Piedras Negras
$44 32.1% $21
Getting Around
Lisbon
$63
Piedras Negras
$15 * 75.9% $48

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,589 in Lisbon and $599 in Piedras Negras. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Piedras Negras pays 3% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $62.0 in Lisbon vs $44.00 in Piedras Negras for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $273 vs $265 per month, with Piedras Negras cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇲🇽 Piedras Negras
🕒 Local time
14:16 2:16 PM
08:16 8:16 AM
6 h behind Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
173,959
💱 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 Piedras Negras 8,170 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Piedras Negras

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 Piedras Negras: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Piedras Negras?
Lisbon and Piedras Negras differ by about 93% in total monthly costs ($2,202 vs $1,143 including rent). Piedras Negras is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 3% lower in Piedras Negras. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in Piedras Negras?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,589 in Lisbon versus $599 in Piedras Negras. 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 3% 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 Piedras Negras?
All in, you'll spend $2,202 per month in Lisbon versus $1,143 in Piedras Negras – a 93% 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 $1,143 in Piedras Negras versus $2,202 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Piedras Negras but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Piedras Negras the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Piedras Negras?
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 Piedras Negras safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Piedras Negras 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 Piedras Negras?
Expats usually find Piedras Negras gentler on the wallet – expenses run 93% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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