Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and PueblaCost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Puebla
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,270 in Puebla.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $2,020 in Puebla.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $2,770 in Puebla.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 74% more expensive than Puebla, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Puebla is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Puebla
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.69
$12.21MX$211
30.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.7
$52.7MX$912
22.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.04
$7.72MX$134
36.14%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$3.23MX$55.9
-11.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$1.17MX$20.32
91.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$0.85MX$14.66
76.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.00
$2.57MX$44.52
35.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$3.42MX$59.2
13.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Puebla
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.48MX$25.54
-22.97%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$2.87MX$49.69
-39.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$1.53MX$26.49
15.03%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$2.89MX$49.94
11.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$6.76MX$117
99.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$6.34MX$110
24.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.65
$10.99MX$190
44.40%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$2.47MX$42.79
-6.48%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$1.43MX$24.67
18.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.72MX$29.83
16.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$1.78MX$30.84
38.20%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$2.13MX$36.87
-13.62%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$1.90MX$32.81
5.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$1.23MX$21.31
56.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$1.28MX$22.08
-38.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.68
$4.54MX$78.5
45.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.92
$14.49MX$251
-60.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.17
$1.30MX$22.47
5.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$2.82MX$48.72
5.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Puebla
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$0.52MX$8.92
355.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.19
$27.76MX$480
64.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$3.12MX$53.9
37.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$1.66MX$28.78
-50.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.74
$10.77MX$186
69.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$1.29MX$22.37
59.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$22.2KMX$384.1K
54.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$24.3KMX$419.8K
61.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Puebla
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$67.9MX$1,175
117.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.65
$21.89MX$379
-6.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.08
$25.20MX$436
57.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Puebla
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.16
$48.30MX$835
-0.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.28
$12.63MX$218
49.80%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.90
$5.21MX$90.2
76.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Puebla
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€528
$375MX$6,486
63.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$19.2KMX$332.3K
-16.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Puebla
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.0
$54.5MX$942
92.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.18
$59.9MX$1,036
-29.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.8
$110MX$1,895
-14.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$101MX$1,752
18.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Puebla
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,400
$550MX$9,512
195.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,080
$440MX$7,606
185.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,607
$938MX$16.2K
222.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,738
$842MX$14.6K
140.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,709
$1,698MX$29.4K
359.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,675
$973MX$16.8K
338.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Puebla
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,379
$712MX$12.3K
125.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
11.25
-66.13%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Puebla: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $550 in Puebla. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 125% 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 $53.0 in Puebla for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $254 per month, with Puebla 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 Puebla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Puebla?
Lisbon and Puebla differ by about 74% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $1,270 including rent). Puebla is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Puebla?
Lisbon pays 125% 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 Puebla?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $550 in Puebla. 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 Puebla?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $375 in Puebla. 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 6% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,270 in Puebla versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Puebla but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Puebla the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Puebla?
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 Puebla safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Puebla 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 Puebla?
Expats usually find Puebla gentler on the wallet – expenses run 74% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.