😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,268 in Lisbon versus $750 in Puerto la Cruz.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,348 in Lisbon versus $1,316 in Puerto la Cruz.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,429 in Lisbon versus $1,882 in Puerto la Cruz.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 202% more expensive than in Puerto la Cruz, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 64% above, Puerto la Cruz is 46% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Puerto la Cruz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.55€15.12
$9.91VES 8,231
77.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.5€55.6
$60.2VES 50.0K
7.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.65€10.04
$7.52VES 6,244
54.92%
Cappuccino
$3.26€2.81
$3.56VES 2,955
-8.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.15
$0.65VES 541
283.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67€1.44
$0.45VES 377
271.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47€2.99
$1.21VES 1,008
186.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58€3.08
$1.47VES 1,219
143.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Puerto la Cruz
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18€1.02
$1.94VES 1,612
-39.18%
White Bread(500g)
$1.95€1.68
$1.22VES 1,015
59.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56€1.35
$1.17VES 975
33.33%
Eggs
$4.01€3.46
$2.36VES 1,962
69.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.27€11.44
$6.85VES 5,691
93.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.42€7.26
$8.89VES 7,380
-5.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.23€15.72
$11.15VES 9,260
63.50%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32€2.00
$7.39VES 6,134
-68.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73€1.49
$1.33VES 1,106
30.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93€1.67
$0.52VES 429
271.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$2.33VES 1,931
13.30%
Potato(1kg)
$1.90€1.64
$2.25VES 1,866
-15.56%
Onion(1kg)
$2.11€1.82
$2.23VES 1,853
-5.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.24
$1.64VES 1,358
-12.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80€0.69
$1.63VES 1,357
-50.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.01€6.04
$3.94VES 3,272
77.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.92€5.11
$7.76VES 6,448
-23.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36€1.18
$0.99VES 821
37.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15€1.85
$1.54VES 1,278
39.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Puerto la Cruz
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.38€2.05
$0.39VES 327
510.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.22€39.85
$30.65VES 25.5K
50.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.19€3.61
$2.95VES 2,453
42.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.10€0.95
$2.79VES 2,316
-60.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.26€14.88
$9.95VES 8,266
73.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.25€1.94
$0.48VES 401
368.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K€29.7K
$25.1KVES 20.9M
37.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.6K€35.9K
$37.4KVES 31.0M
11.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Puerto la Cruz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$171€147
$23.22VES 19.3K
635.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.01€16.38
$9.87VES 8,197
92.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.28€29.55
$27.45VES 22.8K
24.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Puerto la Cruz
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.65€42.80
$30.18VES 25.1K
64.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.51€16.81
$25.41VES 21.1K
-23.22%
Cinema Ticket
$10.10€8.71
$4.87VES 4,043
107.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Puerto la Cruz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$699€603
$59.2VES 49.2K
1081.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.8K€15.3K
$3,030VES 2.5M
486.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Puerto la Cruz
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.2
$46.86VES 38.9K
123.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.97€41.35
$33.55VES 27.9K
42.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.8
$44.59VES 37.0K
128.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128€111
$46.70VES 38.8K
174.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Puerto la Cruz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,661€1,432
$153VES 126.8K
988.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,228€1,059
$94.0VES 78.1K
1206.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,915€2,513
$309VES 256.9K
842.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,023€1,744
$198VES 164.2K
923.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,129€7,007
$752VES 624.6K
980.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,635€3,996
$374VES 310.7K
1138.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Puerto la Cruz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,619€1,396
$229VES 190.1K
607.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
15
-74.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026
Last update for Puerto la Cruz: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,661 in Lisbon and $153 in Puerto la Cruz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 607% 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: $64.0 in Lisbon vs $60.0 in Puerto la Cruz for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $281 vs $264 per month, with Puerto la Cruz 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 Puerto la Cruz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Puerto la Cruz?
Lisbon and Puerto la Cruz differ by about 202% in total monthly costs ($2,268 vs $750 including rent). Puerto la Cruz is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Puerto la Cruz?
Average pay runs 607% higher in Lisbon, 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 in Puerto la Cruz?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,661 in Lisbon versus $153 in Puerto la Cruz. 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 Puerto la Cruz?
Childcare runs $699 in Lisbon versus $59.2 in Puerto la Cruz. 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 7% 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 $750 in Puerto la Cruz versus $2,268 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Puerto la Cruz but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Puerto la Cruz the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Puerto la Cruz?
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 Puerto la Cruz safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Puerto la Cruz 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 Puerto la Cruz?
Expats usually find Puerto la Cruz gentler on the wallet – expenses run 202% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.