😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $716 in Puerto la Cruz.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,159 in Puerto la Cruz.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $1,603 in Puerto la Cruz.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 209% more expensive than Puerto la Cruz, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Puerto la Cruz is 47% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Puerto la Cruz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.70
$7.35VES 4,108
116.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.8
$55.1VES 30.8K
17.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.05
$6.11VES 3,413
72.01%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$1.02VES 571
181.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$0.69VES 385
224.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$0.52VES 293
188.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.01
$0.98VES 548
256.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$1.46VES 818
165.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Puerto la Cruz
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.89VES 1,056
-39.68%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$2.71VES 1,515
-35.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$1.47VES 822
19.73%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$2.79VES 1,559
15.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.62
$9.93VES 5,553
35.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$7.32VES 4,092
8.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.67
$7.36VES 4,117
115.62%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$5.18VES 2,894
-55.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$1.82VES 1,016
-6.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$2.28VES 1,277
-11.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$1.98VES 1,106
24.24%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$2.56VES 1,429
-28.13%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$2.16VES 1,209
-7.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$1.31VES 731
47.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$1.87VES 1,044
-57.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.69
$3.89VES 2,176
69.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.93
$7.84VES 4,382
-27.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$1.46VES 817
-6.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$1.96VES 1,094
51.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Puerto la Cruz
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$0.24VES 133
887.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.23
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$3.04VES 1,699
41.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$2.77VES 1,549
-70.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.76
$5.02VES 2,805
264.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$0.49VES 272
320.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$25.3KVES 14.2M
35.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$39.3KVES 22.0M
0.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Puerto la Cruz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$20.59VES 11.5K
618.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.67
$10.07VES 5,630
103.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.11
$25.12VES 14.0K
57.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Puerto la Cruz
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.20
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.29
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.91
$5.86VES 3,274
56.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Puerto la Cruz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€529
$60.2VES 33.6K
920.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$5,418VES 3.0M
196.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Puerto la Cruz
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.1
$45.11VES 25.2K
132.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.22
$37.43VES 20.9K
12.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.9
$44.15VES 24.7K
112.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$40.16VES 22.5K
197.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Puerto la Cruz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,402
$180VES 100.5K
805.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,081
$186VES 104.2K
573.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,609
$443VES 247.4K
584.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,740
$198VES 110.7K
919.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,716
$522VES 291.8K
1394.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,679
$302VES 168.9K
1314.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Puerto la Cruz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,381
$221VES 123.6K
625.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
21.33
-82.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Puerto la Cruz: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $180 in Puerto la Cruz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 625% 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 $55.0 in Puerto la Cruz. Groceries flip the comparison at $269 vs $274, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.
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 Puerto la Cruz?
Lisbon and Puerto la Cruz differ by about 209% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $716 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?
Lisbon pays 625% 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 Puerto la Cruz?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $180 in Puerto la Cruz. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Puerto la Cruz?
All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $716 in Puerto la Cruz – a 209% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $716 in Puerto la Cruz versus $2,210 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 209% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.