Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Portoviejo Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Portoviejo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $910 in Portoviejo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,434 in Portoviejo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $1,959 in Portoviejo.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 143% more expensive than Portoviejo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Portoviejo is 32% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Portoviejo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.69
$3.52 $3.52
351.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.7
$46.93 $46.93
38.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.04
$8.23 $8.23
27.70%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$2.54 $2.54
12.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$0.90 $0.90
148.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$0.62 $0.62
141.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.00
$3.02 $3.02
15.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$4.63 $4.63
-16.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Portoviejo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$1.08 $1.08
5.56%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$1.77 $1.77
-1.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$1.76 $1.76
-
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$2.51 $2.51
28.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.61
$6.04 $6.04
123.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$5.16 $5.16
53.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.65
$6.16 $6.16
157.63%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$2.04 $2.04
13.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$1.09 $1.09
55.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$1.10 $1.10
82.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$1.04 $1.04
136.54%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$1.87 $1.87
-1.60%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$1.47 $1.47
36.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$0.74 $0.74
160.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$1.02 $1.02
-22.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.68
$5.89 $5.89
12.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.92
$12.04 $12.04
-52.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.17
$1.61 $1.61
-14.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$2.18 $2.18
36.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Portoviejo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$0.36 $0.36
558.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.19
$24.34 $24.34
87.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$2.72 $2.72
57.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$0.99 $0.99
-17.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.74
$10.03 $10.03
82.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$0.67 $0.67
207.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$25.0K $25.0K
37.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$29.0K $29.0K
35.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Portoviejo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$37.34 $37.34
296.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.65
$13.72 $13.72
49.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.08
$31.97 $31.97
23.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Portoviejo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.16
$30.24 $30.24
58.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.28
$14.46 $14.46
30.84%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.90
$7.80 $7.80
17.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Portoviejo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €528
$314 $314
95.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$5,786 $5,786
177.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Portoviejo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.0
$52.6 $52.6
99.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.18
$43.03 $43.03
-2.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.8
$103 $103
-8.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$110 $110
9.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Portoviejo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,400
$343 $343
374.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,080
$319 $319
293.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,607
$630 $630
380.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,738
$501 $501
302.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,709
$1,206 $1,206
546.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,675
$794 $794
438.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Portoviejo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,379
$329 $329
387.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
9.35
-59.25%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Portoviejo: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $343 in Portoviejo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 387% 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 Portoviejo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $195 per month, with Portoviejo 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 Portoviejo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Portoviejo?
Lisbon and Portoviejo differ by about 143% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $910 including rent). Portoviejo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Portoviejo?
Lisbon pays 387% 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 Portoviejo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $343 in Portoviejo. 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 Portoviejo?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $314 in Portoviejo. 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 39% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $910 in Portoviejo versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Portoviejo but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Portoviejo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Portoviejo?
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 Portoviejo safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Portoviejo 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 Portoviejo?
Expats usually find Portoviejo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 143% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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