😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,526 in Plasencia.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $2,170 in Plasencia.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $2,813 in Plasencia.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 45% more expensive than Plasencia, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon65% above, Plasencia14% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Plasencia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.69
$11.68€10.05
36.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.7
$47.20€40.60
37.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.04
$10.55€9.07
-0.38%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$1.73€1.48
65.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$2.04€1.75
9.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$1.41€1.22
6.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.00
$2.29€1.97
52.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$2.86€2.46
35.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Plasencia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.19€1.02
-4.20%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$1.56€1.35
12.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$1.37€1.18
28.47%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$2.03€1.75
58.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$13.96€12.01
-3.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$7.96€6.85
-0.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.65
$17.81€15.32
-10.89%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$1.37€1.18
68.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$1.78€1.53
-4.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.81€1.55
11.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$2.68€2.30
-8.21%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$1.72€1.48
6.98%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$2.04€1.75
-1.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$1.15€0.99
67.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.61€0.53
29.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.68
$6.55€5.63
0.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.92
$6.03€5.19
-5.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.17
$1.37€1.17
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$1.06€0.91
180.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Plasencia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$1.66€1.43
42.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.19
$34.20€29.42
33.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$2.22€1.91
93.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$1.09€0.94
-24.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.74
$24.89€21.41
-26.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$1.77€1.52
16.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$38.8K€33.4K
-11.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$28.5K€24.5K
38.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Plasencia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$110€94.6
34.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.65
$24.83€21.36
-17.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.08
$36.98€31.81
7.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Plasencia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.16
$46.81€40.27
2.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.28
$15.33€13.19
23.42%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.90
$9.53€8.20
-3.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Plasencia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€528
$382€329
60.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$6,532€5,619
145.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Plasencia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.0
$45.60€39.22
129.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.18
$34.94€30.06
20.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.8
$57.3€49.27
64.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$70.3€60.5
70.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Plasencia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,400
$856€736
90.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,080
$701€603
78.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,607
$1,306€1,123
132.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,738
$1,000€860
101.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,709
$3,382€2,909
130.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,675
$2,353€2,024
81.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Plasencia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,379
$1,409€1,212
13.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
3.51
8.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Plasencia: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $856 in Plasencia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 14% 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: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $47.00 in Plasencia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $257 per month, with Plasencia 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 Plasencia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Plasencia?
Lisbon and Plasencia differ by about 45% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $1,526 including rent). Plasencia is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Plasencia?
Lisbon pays 14% more on average, 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 Plasencia?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $856 in Plasencia. 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 Plasencia?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $382 in Plasencia. 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 5% 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 $1,526 in Plasencia versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Plasencia but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Plasencia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Plasencia?
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 Plasencia safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Plasencia 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 Plasencia?
Expats usually find Plasencia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.