😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $668 in Porlamar.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $935 in Porlamar.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $1,201 in Porlamar.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 233% more expensive than Porlamar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Porlamar is 50% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Porlamar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.84
$4.54VES 2,214
256.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.3
$49.78VES 24.2K
29.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.88
$7.83VES 3,816
32.57%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.37
$1.54VES 748
79.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$1.63VES 796
38.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$0.79VES 383
98.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€2.99
$1.33VES 647
162.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.43
$2.26VES 1,101
76.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Porlamar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.66VES 809
-34.94%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.49
$1.52VES 741
14.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.49
$1.12VES 546
55.36%
Eggs
$3.18€2.72
$2.03VES 986
56.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43€11.50
$6.14VES 2,992
118.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.84
$6.36VES 3,098
25.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€13.77
$7.60VES 3,701
111.71%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
$4.15VES 2,021
-45.06%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$1.80VES 878
-4.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$1.47VES 718
31.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
$1.79VES 873
41.90%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$1.69VES 825
8.28%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$1.52VES 741
34.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98€1.69
$1.77VES 864
11.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$0.98VES 477
-13.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.87
$2.94VES 1,433
132.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€4.94
$6.59VES 3,212
-12.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$0.77VES 377
77.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
$1.58VES 771
83.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Porlamar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.95
$0.49VES 236
365.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€40.10
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.49
$5.03VES 2,450
-18.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$2.94VES 1,432
-72.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27€15.64
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.72
$0.52VES 251
286.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.2K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Porlamar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145€124
$29.69VES 14.5K
389.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96€17.94
$9.93VES 4,837
111.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05€34.29
$35.06VES 17.1K
14.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Porlamar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79€41.76
$50.4VES 24.5K
-3.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€16.00
$10.08VES 4,908
85.42%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06€7.76
$2.94VES 1,431
208.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Porlamar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607€519
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Porlamar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.6
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€35.06
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€80.1
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€101
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Porlamar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,373
$198VES 96.5K
710.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,058
$202VES 98.3K
512.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046€2,607
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057€1,761
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709€6,599
$399VES 194.1K
1834.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,652
$152VES 73.8K
2715.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Porlamar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584€1,356
$217VES 105.8K
629.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Last update for Porlamar: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $198 in Porlamar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 629% 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 $50.0 in Porlamar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $211 per month, with Porlamar 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 Porlamar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Porlamar?
Lisbon and Porlamar differ by about 233% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $668 including rent). Porlamar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Porlamar?
Lisbon pays 629% 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 Porlamar?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $198 in Porlamar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Porlamar – a meal for two runs $50.0 versus $65.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Porlamar?
All in, you'll spend $2,227 per month in Lisbon versus $668 in Porlamar – a 233% 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 $668 in Porlamar versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Porlamar but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Porlamar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Porlamar?
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 Porlamar safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Porlamar 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 Porlamar?
Expats usually find Porlamar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 233% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.