😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $959 in Puertollano.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $1,414 in Puertollano.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $1,868 in Puertollano.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 139% more expensive than in Puertollano, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Puertollano is 30% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Puertollano
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59€15.33
$14.03€12.23
25.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€54.8
$25.54€22.27
146.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.58€10.10
$9.03€7.87
28.24%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$1.70€1.49
82.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.17
$1.18€1.03
111.02%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74€1.52
$1.14€0.99
52.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.48€3.03
$2.27€1.98
53.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€3.00
$2.29€2.00
50.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Puertollano
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15€1.00
$1.30€1.14
-11.54%
White Bread(500g)
$1.91€1.66
$1.50€1.31
27.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50€1.31
$1.86€1.62
-19.35%
Eggs
$3.98€3.47
$3.15€2.74
26.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.59
$14.69€12.81
-9.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.98
$5.63€4.91
42.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.04€15.73
$11.37€9.91
58.66%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35€2.05
$2.06€1.79
14.08%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75€1.53
$1.92€1.67
-8.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85€1.62
$1.80€1.57
2.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.22
$2.37€2.07
7.59%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.61
$1.01€0.88
82.18%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10€1.83
$2.15€1.87
-2.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.30
$1.26€1.09
18.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.71
$0.62€0.54
32.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10€6.19
$6.71€5.85
5.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.91€5.15
$4.06€3.54
45.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.15
$1.16€1.01
12.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.86
$1.18€1.03
80.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Puertollano
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.36€2.05
$1.06€0.93
122.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.62€40.63
$13.89€12.11
235.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.55
$1.96€1.71
108.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.99
$1.22€1.06
-6.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.09€14.90
$22.67€19.76
-24.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.31€2.01
$1.71€1.49
35.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.7K
$22.6K€19.7K
50.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€36.1K
$29.5K€25.7K
40.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Puertollano
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169€147
$73.4€64.0
129.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33€16.85
$8.65€7.54
123.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51€29.21
$26.76€23.33
25.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Puertollano
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.84€42.57
$40.07€34.93
21.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43€16.94
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.57€8.34
$4.67€4.07
104.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Puertollano
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696€607
$844€736
-17.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.4K€15.1K
$10.8K€9,396
61.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Puertollano
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€91.8
$52.1€45.38
102.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75€41.62
$40.16€35.01
18.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.6
$45.90€40.01
119.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€108
$29.01€25.29
328.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Puertollano
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,662€1,449
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,246€1,086
$294€256
324.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,965€2,584
$699€609
324.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,049€1,786
$348€304
488.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,834€6,829
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,464€3,892
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Puertollano
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,632€1,422
$1,166€1,017
39.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
3.31
14.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Last update for Puertollano: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Lisbon pays 40% 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: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $26.00 in Puertollano for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $231 per month, with Puertollano 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 Puertollano: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Puertollano?
Lisbon and Puertollano differ by about 139% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $959 including rent). Puertollano is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Puertollano?
Average pay runs 40% higher in Lisbon, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lisbon and Puertollano?
Childcare runs $696 in Lisbon versus $844 in Puertollano. 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 20% 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 $959 in Puertollano versus $2,296 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Puertollano but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Puertollano the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Puertollano?
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 Puertollano safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Puertollano 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 Puertollano?
Expats usually find Puertollano gentler on the wallet – expenses run 139% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.