😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,115 in Puerto Varas.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,717 in Puerto Varas.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $2,320 in Puerto Varas.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 98% more expensive than Puerto Varas, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Puerto Varas is 17% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Puerto Varas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.69
$12.75CLP 11.3K
24.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.7
$42.72CLP 37.9K
51.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.04
$8.00CLP 7,097
31.37%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$3.13CLP 2,777
-8.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$1.09CLP 967
105.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$0.90CLP 796
66.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.00
$3.26CLP 2,893
7.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$4.10CLP 3,639
-5.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Puerto Varas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.22CLP 1,087
-6.56%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$1.58CLP 1,400
10.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$1.85CLP 1,639
-4.86%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$3.60CLP 3,191
-10.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$10.54CLP 9,351
27.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$6.71CLP 5,959
17.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.65
$10.84CLP 9,624
46.40%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$1.86CLP 1,653
24.19%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$1.50CLP 1,331
13.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.53CLP 1,360
31.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$1.50CLP 1,328
64.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$1.24CLP 1,096
48.39%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$1.36CLP 1,207
47.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$1.21CLP 1,078
59.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$1.18CLP 1,051
-33.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.68
$5.24CLP 4,648
26.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.92
$6.10CLP 5,414
-6.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.17
$1.54CLP 1,368
-11.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$2.28CLP 2,024
30.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Puerto Varas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$0.59CLP 520
301.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.19
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$0.47CLP 420
812.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.74
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$1.41CLP 1,256
46.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$19.5KCLP 17.3M
75.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$21.0KCLP 18.7M
86.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Puerto Varas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$130CLP 115.3K
13.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.65
$13.41CLP 11.9K
53.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.08
$21.83CLP 19.4K
81.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Puerto Varas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.16
$38.69CLP 34.3K
23.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.28
$21.65CLP 19.2K
-12.61%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.90
$5.83CLP 5,171
57.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Puerto Varas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€528
$428CLP 379.7K
43.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Puerto Varas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.0
$50.7CLP 45.0K
106.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.18
$29.93CLP 26.6K
40.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.8
$62.8CLP 55.8K
49.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$81.0CLP 71.9K
47.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Puerto Varas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,400
$473CLP 419.6K
244.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,080
$374CLP 331.7K
235.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,607
$897CLP 796.0K
237.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,738
$601CLP 533.5K
236.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,709
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,675
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Puerto Varas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,379
$592CLP 525.4K
170.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
5.18
-26.45%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Puerto Varas: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $473 in Puerto Varas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 171% 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 $43.00 in Puerto Varas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $229 per month, with Puerto Varas 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 Varas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Puerto Varas?
Lisbon and Puerto Varas differ by about 98% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $1,115 including rent). Puerto Varas is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Puerto Varas?
Lisbon pays 171% 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 Varas?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $473 in Puerto Varas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Puerto Varas?
All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $1,115 in Puerto Varas – a 98% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,115 in Puerto Varas versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Puerto Varas but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Puerto Varas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Puerto Varas?
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 Varas safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Puerto Varas 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 Varas?
Expats usually find Puerto Varas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 98% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.